Chapter 11

           Whenweweresmall,JemandIconfinedouractivitiestothesouthernneighborhood,butwhenIwaswellintothesecondgradeatschoolandtormentingBooRadleybecamepasse,thebusinesssectionofMaycombdrewusfrequentlyupthestreetpasttherealpropertyofMrs.HenryLafayetteDubose.Itwasimpossibletogototownwithoutpassingherhouseunlesswewishedtowalkamileoutoftheway.Previousminorencounterswithherleftmewithnodesireformore,butJemsaidIhadtogrowupsometime.

           Mrs.DuboselivedaloneexceptforaNegrogirlinconstantattendance,twodoorsupthestreetfromusinahousewithsteepfrontstepsandadog-trothall.Shewasveryold;shespentmostofeachdayinbedandtherestofitinawheelchair.ItwasrumoredthatshekeptaCSApistolconcealedamonghernumerousshawlsandwraps.

           JemandIhatedher.Ifshewasontheporchwhenwepassed,wewouldberakedbyherwrathfulgaze,subjectedtoruthlessinterrogationregardingourbehavior,andgivenamelancholypredictiononwhatwewouldamounttowhenwegrewup,whichwasalwaysnothing.Wehadlongagogivenuptheideaofwalkingpastherhouseontheoppositesideofthestreet;thatonlymadeherraisehervoiceandletthewholeneighborhoodinonit.

           Wecoulddonothingtopleaseher.IfIsaidassunnilyasIcould,"Hey,Mrs.Dubose,"Iwouldreceiveforananswer,"Don’tyousayheytome,youuglygirl!Yousaygoodafternoon,Mrs.Dubose!"

           Shewasvicious.OncesheheardJemrefertoourfatheras"Atticus"andherreactionwasapoplectic.Besidesbeingthesassiest,mostdisrespectfulmuttswhoeverpassedherway,weweretoldthatitwasquiteapityourfatherhadnotremarriedafterourmother’sdeath.