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Chapter 11
Ihadlonghadmyeyeonthatbaton:itwasatV.J.Elmore’s,itwasbedeckedwithsequinsandtinsel,itcostseventeencents.ItwasthenmyburningambitiontogrowupandtwirlwiththeMaycombCountyHighSchoolband.HavingdevelopedmytalenttowhereIcouldthrowupastickandalmostcatchitcomingdown,IhadcausedCalpurniatodenymeentrancetothehouseeverytimeshesawmewithastickinmyhand.IfeltthatIcouldovercomethisdefectwitharealbaton,andIthoughtitgenerousofJemtobuyoneforme.
Mrs.Dubosewasstationedonherporchwhenwewentby.
"Whereareyoutwogoingatthistimeofday?"sheshouted."Playinghooky,Isuppose.I’lljustcalluptheprincipalandtellhim!"Sheputherhandsonthewheelsofherchairandexecutedaperfectrightface.
"Aw,it’sSaturday,Mrs.Dubose,"saidJem.
"Makesnodifferenceifit’sSaturday,"shesaidobscurely."Iwonderifyourfatherknowswhereyouare?"
"Mrs.Dubose,we’vebeengoin’totownbyourselvessincewewerethishigh."Jemplacedhishandpalmdownabouttwofeetabovethesidewalk.
"Don’tyoulietome!"sheyelled."JeremyFinch,MaudieAtkinsontoldmeyoubrokedownherscuppernongarborthismorning.She’sgoingtotellyourfatherandthenyou’llwishyouneversawthelightofday!Ifyouaren’tsenttothereformschoolbeforenextweek,myname’snotDubose!"
Jem,whohadn’tbeennearMissMaudie’sscuppernongarborsincelastsummer,andwhoknewMissMaudiewouldn’ttellAtticusifhehad,issuedageneraldenial.
