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           UncleJackraisedhiseyebrowsandsaidnothing.Iwasproceedingonthedimtheory,asidefromtheinnateattractivenessofsuchwords,thatifAtticusdiscoveredIhadpickedthemupatschoolhewouldn’tmakemego.

           ButatsupperthateveningwhenIaskedhimtopassthedamnham,please,UncleJackpointedatme."Seemeafterwards,younglady,"hesaid.

           Whensupperwasover,UncleJackwenttothelivingroomandsatdown.Heslappedhisthighsformetocomesitonhislap.Ilikedtosmellhim:hewaslikeabottleofalcoholandsomethingpleasantlysweet.Hepushedbackmybangsandlookedatme."You’remorelikeAtticusthanyourmother,"hesaid."You’realsogrowingoutofyourpantsalittle."

           "Ireckontheyfitallright."

           "Youlikewordslikedamnandhellnow,don’tyou?"

           IsaidIreckonedso.

           "WellIdon’t,"saidUncleJack,"notunlessthere’sextremeprovocationconnectedwith‘em.I’llbehereaweek,andIdon’twanttohearanywordslikethatwhileI’mhere.Scout,you’llgetintroubleifyougoaroundsayingthingslikethat.Youwanttogrowuptobealady,don’tyou?"

           Isaidnotparticularly.

           "Ofcourseyoudo.Nowlet’sgettothetree."

           Wedecoratedthetreeuntilbedtime,andthatnightIdreamedofthetwolongpackagesforJemandme.NextmorningJemandIdivedforthem:theywerefromAtticus,whohadwrittenUncleJacktogetthemforus,andtheywerewhatwehadaskedfor.