Chapter 13

           "Putmybaginthefrontbedroom,Calpurnia,"wasthefirstthingAuntAlexandrasaid."JeanLouise,stopscratchingyourhead,"wasthesecondthingshesaid.

           CalpurniapickedupAunty’sheavysuitcaseandopenedthedoor."I’lltakeit,"saidJem,andtookit.Iheardthesuitcasehitthebedroomfloorwithathump.Thesoundhadadullpermanenceaboutit.

           "Haveyoucomeforavisit,Aunty?"Iasked.AuntAlexandra’svisitsfromtheLandingwererare,andshetraveledinstate.SheownedabrightgreensquareBuickandablackchauffeur,bothkeptinanunhealthystateoftidiness,buttodaytheywerenowheretobeseen.

           "Didn’tyourfathertellyou?"sheasked.

           JemandIshookourheads.

           "Probablyheforgot.He’snotinyet,ishe?"

           "Nome,hedoesn’tusuallygetbacktilllateafternoon,"saidJem.

           "Well,yourfatherandIdecideditwastimeIcametostaywithyouforawhile."

           "Forawhile"inMaycombmeantanythingfromthreedaystothirtyyears.JemandIexchangedglances.

           "Jem’sgrowingupnowandyouaretoo,"shesaidtome."Wedecidedthatitwouldbebestforyoutohavesomefeminineinfluence.Itwon’tbemanyyears,JeanLouise,beforeyoubecomeinterestedinclothesandboys—"

           Icouldhavemadeseveralanswerstothis:Cal’sagirl,itwouldbemanyyearsbeforeIwouldbeinterestedinboys,Iwouldneverbeinterestedinclothes...butIkeptquiet.

           "WhataboutUncleJimmy?"askedJem.