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Chapter 9
HenryandhiswifedepositedFrancisathisgrandparents’everyChristmas,thenpursuedtheirownpleasures.
NoamountofsighingcouldinduceAtticustoletusspendChristmasdayathome.WewenttoFinch’sLandingeveryChristmasinmymemory.ThefactthatAuntywasagoodcookwassomecompensationforbeingforcedtospendareligiousholidaywithFrancisHancock.HewasayearolderthanI,andIavoidedhimonprinciple:heenjoyedeverythingIdisapprovedof,anddislikedmyingenuousdiversions.
AuntAlexandrawasAtticus’ssister,butwhenJemtoldmeaboutchangelingsandsiblings,Idecidedthatshehadbeenswappedatbirth,thatmygrandparentshadperhapsreceivedaCrawfordinsteadofaFinch.HadIeverharboredthemysticalnotionsaboutmountainsthatseemtoobsesslawyersandjudges,AuntAlexandrawouldhavebeenanalogoustoMountEverest:throughoutmyearlylife,shewascoldandthere.
WhenUncleJackjumpeddownfromthetrainChristmasEveday,wehadtowaitfortheportertohandhimtwolongpackages.JemandIalwaysthoughtitfunnywhenUncleJackpeckedAtticusonthecheek;theyweretheonlytwomenweeversawkisseachother.UncleJackshookhandswithJemandswungmehigh,butnothighenough:UncleJackwasaheadshorterthanAtticus;thebabyofthefamily,hewasyoungerthanAuntAlexandra.HeandAuntylookedalike,butUncleJackmadebetteruseofhisface:wewereneverwaryofhissharpnoseandchin.
Hewasoneofthefewmenofsciencewhoneverterrifiedme,probablybecauseheneverbehavedlikeadoctor.WheneverheperformedaminorserviceforJemandme,asremovingasplinterfromafoot,hewouldtellusexactlywhathewasgoingtodo,giveusanestimationofhowmuchitwouldhurt,andexplaintheuseofanytongsheemployed.
