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Chapter 12
Mycuriosityburst:"Whywereyoualltakin’upcollectionforTomRobinson’swife?"
"Didn’tyouhearwhy?"askedReverendSykes."Helen’sgotthreelittle’unsandshecan’tgoouttowork—"
"Whycan’tshetake‘emwithher,Reverend?"Iasked.ItwascustomaryforfieldNegroeswithtinychildrentodeposittheminwhatevershadetherewaswhiletheirparentsworked—usuallythebabiessatintheshadebetweentworowsofcotton.Thoseunabletositwerestrappedpapoose-styleontheirmothers’backs,orresidedinextracottonbags.
ReverendSykeshesitated."Totellyouthetruth,MissJeanLouise,Helen’sfindingithardtogetworkthesedays...whenit’spickingtime,IthinkMr.LinkDeas’lltakeher."
"Whynot,Reverend?"
Beforehecouldanswer,IfeltCalpurnia’shandonmyshoulder.AtitspressureIsaid,"Wethankyouforlettin’uscome."Jemechoedme,andwemadeourwayhomeward.
"Cal,IknowTomRobinson’sinjailan’he’sdonesomethin’awful,butwhywon’tfolkshireHelen?"Iasked.
Calpurnia,inhernavyvoiledressandtubofahat,walkedbetweenJemandme."It’sbecauseofwhatfolkssayTom’sdone,"shesaid."Folksaren’tanxiousto—tohaveanythingtodowithanyofhisfamily."
"Justwhatdidhedo,Cal?"
Calpurniasighed."OldMr.BobEwellaccusedhimofrapin’hisgirlan’hadhimarrestedan’putinjail—"
