Chapter 7

           Jemstayedmoodyandsilentforaweek.AsAtticushadonceadvisedmetodo,ItriedtoclimbintoJem’sskinandwalkaroundinit:ifIhadgonealonetotheRadleyPlaceattwointhemorning,myfuneralwouldhavebeenheldthenextafternoon.SoIleftJemaloneandtriednottobotherhim.

           Schoolstarted.Thesecondgradewasasbadasthefirst,onlyworse—theystillflashedcardsatyouandwouldn’tletyoureadorwrite.MissCaroline’sprogressnextdoorcouldbeestimatedbythefrequencyoflaughter;however,theusualcrewhadflunkedthefirstgradeagain,andwerehelpfulinkeepingorder.TheonlythinggoodaboutthesecondgradewasthatthisyearIhadtostayaslateasJem,andweusuallywalkedhometogetheratthreeo’clock.

           Oneafternoonwhenwewerecrossingtheschoolyardtowardhome,Jemsuddenlysaid:"There’ssomethingIdidn’ttellyou."

           Asthiswashisfirstcompletesentenceinseveraldays,Iencouragedhim:"Aboutwhat?"

           "Aboutthatnight."

           "You’venevertoldmeanythingaboutthatnight,"Isaid.

           Jemwavedmywordsawayasiffanninggnats.Hewassilentforawhile,thenhesaid,"WhenIwentbackformybreeches—theywereallinatanglewhenIwasgettin’outof‘em,Icouldn’tget‘emloose.WhenIwentback—"Jemtookadeepbreath."WhenIwentback,theywerefoldedacrossthefence...liketheywereexpectin’me."

           "Across—"