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Chapter 2
Everybodydid;mostofthefirstgradehadfaileditlastyear.
Isupposeshechosemebecausesheknewmyname;asIreadthealphabetafaintlineappearedbetweenhereyebrows,andaftermakingmereadmostofMyFirstReaderandthestock-marketquotationsfromTheMobileRegisteraloud,shediscoveredthatIwasliterateandlookedatmewithmorethanfaintdistaste.MissCarolinetoldmetotellmyfathernottoteachmeanymore,itwouldinterferewithmyreading.
"Teachme?"Isaidinsurprise."Hehasn’ttaughtmeanything,MissCaroline.Atticusain’tgottimetoteachmeanything,"Iadded,whenMissCarolinesmiledandshookherhead."Why,he’ssotiredatnighthejustsitsinthelivingroomandreads."
"Ifhedidn’tteachyou,whodid?"MissCarolineaskedgood-naturedly."Somebodydid.Youweren’tbornreadingTheMobileRegister."
"JemsaysIwas.HereadinabookwhereIwasaBullfinchinsteadofaFinch.Jemsaysmyname’sreallyJeanLouiseBullfinch,thatIgotswappedwhenIwasbornandI’mreallya—"
MissCarolineapparentlythoughtIwaslying."Let’snotletourimaginationsrunawaywithus,dear,"shesaid."Nowyoutellyourfathernottoteachyouanymore.It’sbesttobeginreadingwithafreshmind.YoutellhimI’lltakeoverfromhereandtrytoundothedamage—"
"Ma’am?"
"Yourfatherdoesnotknowhowtoteach.Youcanhaveaseatnow."
