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Chapter 7
Lessthantwoweekslaterwefoundawholepackageofchewinggum,whichweenjoyed,thefactthateverythingontheRadleyPlacewaspoisonhavingslippedJem’smemory.
Thefollowingweektheknot-holeyieldedatarnishedmedal.JemshowedittoAtticus,whosaiditwasaspellingmedal,thatbeforewewereborntheMaycombCountyschoolshadspellingcontestsandawardedmedalstothewinners.Atticussaidsomeonemusthavelostit,andhadweaskedaround?Jemcamel-kickedmewhenItriedtosaywherewehadfoundit.JemaskedAtticusifherememberedanybodywhoeverwonone,andAtticussaidno.
Ourbiggestprizeappearedfourdayslater.Itwasapocketwatchthatwouldn’trun,onachainwithanaluminumknife.
"Youreckonit’swhitegold,Jem?"
"Don’tknow.I’llshowittoAtticus."
Atticussaiditwouldprobablybeworthtendollars,knife,chainandall,ifitwerenew."Didyouswapwithsomebodyatschool?"heasked.
"Oh,nosir!"Jempulledouthisgrandfather’swatchthatAtticuslethimcarryonceaweekifJemwerecarefulwithit.Onthedayshecarriedthewatch,Jemwalkedoneggs."Atticus,ifit’sallrightwithyou,I’dratherhavethisoneinstead.MaybeIcanfixit."
Whenthenewworeoffhisgrandfather’swatch,andcarryingitbecameaday’sburdensometask,Jemnolongerfeltthenecessityofascertainingthehoureveryfiveminutes.
Hedidafairjob,onlyonespringandtwotinypiecesleftover,butthewatchwouldnotrun."Oh-h,"hesighed,"it’llnevergo.Scout—?"
