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           Summertime,andhischildrenplayedinthefrontyardwiththeirfriend,enactingastrangelittledramaoftheirowninvention.

           Itwasfall,andhischildrenfoughtonthesidewalkinfrontofMrs.Dubose’s.Theboyhelpedhissistertoherfeet,andtheymadetheirwayhome.Fall,andhischildrentrottedtoandfroaroundthecorner,theday’swoesandtriumphsontheirfaces.Theystoppedatanoaktree,delighted,puzzled,apprehensive.

           Winter,andhischildrenshiveredatthefrontgate,silhouettedagainstablazinghouse.Winter,andamanwalkedintothestreet,droppedhisglasses,andshotadog.

           Summer,andhewatchedhischildren’sheartbreak.Autumnagain,andBoo’schildrenneededhim.

           Atticuswasright.Onetimehesaidyouneverreallyknowamanuntilyoustandinhisshoesandwalkaroundinthem.JuststandingontheRadleyporchwasenough.

           Thestreetlightswerefuzzyfromthefinerainthatwasfalling.AsImademywayhome,Ifeltveryold,butwhenIlookedatthetipofmynoseIcouldseefinemistybeads,butlookingcross-eyedmademedizzysoIquit.AsImademywayhome,IthoughtwhatathingtotellJemtomorrow.He’dbesomadhemissedithewouldn’tspeaktomefordays.AsImademywayhome,IthoughtJemandIwouldgetgrownbuttherewasn’tmuchelseleftforustolearn,exceptpossiblyalgebra.

           Iranupthestepsandintothehouse.AuntAlexandrahadgonetobed,andAtticus’sroomwasdark.IwouldseeifJemmightbereviving.AtticuswasinJem’sroom,sittingbyhisbed.Hewasreadingabook.