To Kill a Mockingbird

An Epilogue…
“Jem?”
“Mmmmhh…”
“Are you aliv…awake?” I corrected myself just in time.
Atticus had asked me to not let Jem feel morbid on the
very first day of his new life. I couldn’t let Atticus
down.
“Mmmmhh…”, whispered Jem in a muffled tone.
“Jem, you know what happened yonder at the school
yard last night? ”, I was bursting to tell him everything.
“Yes Scout…’, Jem’s voice was a faint murmur.
“No of course you don’t. Well, guess who was after us
at the school yard last night? ”
“Mr. Ewell, Scout, I know it all…”
“But I am sure you have no idea that Mr. Arthur Radley
rescued us!”
“What?” Jem stirred as if a spasm had shaken him.
“Yes Jem, he’s real nice. He carried you home and
stroked your hair before leaving.”
“Hmm…Scout, he must have been the one who kept all
those stuff in the knot hole…”
“Uh huh.”
“Scout, he gave us so much, and above all, our lives…
What should we give him?”
“Let’s ask Atticus”
“Scout, did he speak to you?”
“Oh no Jem. Poor Boo, he is as timid as a lamb. Sat
with me at the swing yonder in the front porch. Didn’t
say a word. His hands were white yet so warm, Jem. In
a quivering voice, he asked me to take him home…”
“And did you?”
“Oh yes, I did. But I asked him to stoop down a bit and
made it look like he was escorting me…”
“Well done Scout! You are not becoming like a girl
after all!”
“Umm thanks”, I muttered.
I ran to the front door to fetch my father but was soon
pushed back inside by Aunt Alexandra, who was
carrying a large wooden bowl filled with cold water.
I looked at her awestruck, as she managed to enter the
room with poise, balancing the bowl in her hands.
“And now Mr. Jem Finch, you need a good sponging to
freshen yourself up. ”
“Alright Aunty”, Jem smiled radiantly. “But Aunty,
what’s this bridge work? Have I got a fracture?”. Jem’s
voice grew anxious.
“Oh of course not, don’t worry about that”, Aunt
Alexandra responded, “Now Miss Jean Louise, if you
could fetch me the towel in that cupboard yonder”
I ran along and found a cream white towel that smelled
of lilac talcum.
“This one, Aunty?”
“Yes Miss Jean Louise”
I ran forward and bumped into Atticus’ vest front.
“Now watch out Scout…”, he said gently.
“Jem, how are you doing son?”
“Good sir, but have I got a fracture?”
“You might have son, Dr. Reynolds would attend to
that in an hour’s time”, remarked Atticus frankly, “Son,
I have a word with you, tell me when you are ready for
it.”
“Yes sir”
Aunty sponged Jem with the towel and I fetched him
the ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ and a couple of
yellowed football magazines.
After about half an hour, Atticus strode into the room
and asked me and Aunty to leave. As we left, I heard
Atticus shut the door behind him.
He would tell Jem about Boo, I knew it. Jem would be
excited at first, like a flickering candle, but the flame
would soon become steady.
Jem and I would live our long lives, always indebted to
one man, Mr. Arthur Radley. No, Boo.