Убить пересмешника

           Hegentlyreleasedmyhand,openedthedoor,wentinside,andshutthedoorbehindhim.Ineversawhimagain.

           Neighborsbringfoodwithdeathandflowerswithsicknessandlittlethingsinbetween.Boowasourneighbor.Hegaveustwosoapdolls,abrokenwatchandchain,apairofgood-luckpennies,andourlives.Butneighborsgiveinreturn.Weneverputbackintothetreewhatwetookoutofit:wehadgivenhimnothing,anditmademesad.

           Iturnedtogohome.Streetlightswinkeddownthestreetallthewaytotown.Ihadneverseenourneighborhoodfromthisangle.TherewereMissMaudie’s,MissStephanie’s—therewasourhouse,Icouldseetheporchswing—MissRachel’shousewasbeyondus,plainlyvisible.IcouldevenseeMrs.Dubose’s.

           Ilookedbehindme.Totheleftofthebrowndoorwasalongshutteredwindow.Iwalkedtoit,stoodinfrontofit,andturnedaround.Indaylight,Ithought,youcouldseetothepostofficecorner.

           Daylight...inmymind,thenightfaded.Itwasdaytimeandtheneighborhoodwasbusy.MissStephanieCrawfordcrossedthestreettotellthelatesttoMissRachel.MissMaudiebentoverherazaleas.Itwassummertime,andtwochildrenscampereddownthesidewalktowardamanapproachinginthedistance.Themanwaved,andthechildrenracedeachothertohim.

           Itwasstillsummertime,andthechildrencamecloser.Aboytrudgeddownthesidewalkdraggingafishingpolebehindhim.Amanstoodwaitingwithhishandsonhis.