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           HisfamilywasfromMaycombCountyoriginally,hismotherworkedforaphotographerinMeridian,hadenteredhispictureinaBeautifulChildcontestandwonfivedollars. ShegavethemoneytoDill,whowenttothepictureshowtwentytimesonit. 

           "Don’thaveanypictureshowshere,exceptJesusonesinthecourthousesometimes,"saidJem. "Everseeanythinggood?" 

           DillhadseenDracula,arevelationthatmovedJemtoeyehimwiththebeginningofrespect. "Tellittous,"hesaid. 

           Dillwasacuriosity. Heworebluelinenshortsthatbuttonedtohisshirt,hishairwassnowwhiteandstucktohisheadlikeduckfluff; hewasayearmyseniorbutItoweredoverhim. Ashetoldustheoldtalehisblueeyeswouldlightenanddarken; hislaughwassuddenandhappy; hehabituallypulledatacowlickinthecenterofhisforehead. 

           WhenDillreducedDraculatodust,andJemsaidtheshowsoundedbetterthanthebook,IaskedDillwherehisfatherwas: "Youain’tsaidanythingabouthim." 

           "Ihaven’tgotone." 

           "Ishedead?" 

           "No..." 

           "Thenifhe’snotdeadyou’vegotone,haven’tyou?" 

           DillblushedandJemtoldmetohush,asuresignthatDillhadbeenstudiedandfoundacceptable.