Journal #3- Chapters 7-8 from the perspective of Uncle Jack
It took me just a short period of time to pack up for Maycomb. I had a list that stayed the same for years, I brought the same things each time. I was excited to see Scout and Jem like always, and each year they'd seem to have grown so much more than before. I could only hope they were to be please at my arrival as well. I suspected them to be, as they always seemed. Scout had been getting in trouble lately and I wondered if that had died down at all. I knew Miss Maudie would look as beautiful as each year before, and of course she'd ignore me as I yelled to her to marry me. I loved her sun hat, the way it glistened in the sun. I supposed she didn't see me quiet the same, and even though I was mostly joking, I think she took me not at all serious.
Once I arrive to Maycomb, excited as ever – I waited as usual in Maycomb Junction. Sometimes I'd wait a very extensive amount of time, but mostly they were there fairly soon. I heard Jem call my name, and I soon saw the whole family approach with shimmering smiles. The waited for my two large bags to be placed down for me, and Atticus and I kissed each other on the cheek. This amused Scout and Jem, as they never saw any two men but us kiss. I decided because of that, their welcome greeting would not be as hearty as before. I simply shook Jem's hand and lifted Scout, but nowhere as high as usual. Because I had not lifted Jem, I could tell he felt somewhat isolated. Looking at Scout, I could tell she had some perplexity in why, but I ignored it.
“What are those packages?” Scout asked, passing her confusedness.
“None of your business.” I replied, and it wasn't. We started a conversation about Rose Alymer, my nice little cat. The kids were always fanatical about her. I always joked that she was the only women that I could stand for keeps – and it was true for the most part. I told the kids they were getting fat- and Scout surprised me with her response.
“Aw, that's a damn story.” She said casually. I gave her a shocked look and sent it over to Atticus. He told me she had been cussing often lately according to Cal. I was surprised Atticus wasn't already next to her and whipping her. I let it slide, hoping to not hear her foul language again.
At dinner, Scout asked me to pass the damn ham, and I willingly did but told her I needed talk to her afterwards. After dinner I told her that if she wanted to grow up to be a lady, which she did that she better stop using words like damn and hell. She didn't have much to say. I ignored that as well and we went to go decorate the tree.
The next day, Christmas day – we went to Finch's Landing. Jem and Scout didn't like going but the rest of us looked forward to it. I was to getting weary of the place but it was always nice to see Francis Hancock. He was quiet a character. Aunt Alexandra was rather perky as well. Finch's landing was beautiful though, it had 366 steps down a high bluff. Beyond the bluff there were streams and an old cotton landing that used to have working Negroes. They unloaded blocks of ice, flour, sugar, and farm equipment.
As the day went on I noticed, not for the first time that Scout and Francis didn't get along very well. I would just say they were acquainted with each other. They constantly argued, and I found Scout avoiding Francis all together. But I did see them argue once again about what they had gotten for Christmas. I reckoned they both thought they had received a better gift than each other. Suddenly, they broke loose. They started flying harsh words at each other and they began insulting each others family members. Aunt Alexandra came in and hushed them up, but I waited a while in case things heated up again. She yelled at Scout for saying hell, which she denied. I heard it clearly though. Obviously my talk with her made no difference.
As soon as Aunt Alexandra left, just as I expected they started up again. They started to argue and I saw Scout punch him right on his teeth. That was enough. I expected her to be more mature than that. I ran up and grabbed her arms and pinned them to her side. I yelled at her to stand still. This was to much. Aunt Alexandra got a hold of Francis. I wasn't there for the start so I demanded to know who started the argument. Francis blamed Grandma, and Scout agreed.
Scout broke out and started telling me that she hated me. Later that night after I had given her time, I went up to her room.
“Do you hate me?” I asked her. She said she didn't and she still loved me and entrusted me, but that I didn't understand children. Of course I did, I was once one. She said I wasn't fair and that I never got to hear her side of the story. She furthermore told me, and I began to understand. The little girl seemed to have taught me a lesson. I confronted Atticus, and apologized for romping on her. She was right, after all. Atticus chuckled. He never hurt her, threats would do. Atticus realized that Scout was watching – and he quickly told her to hurry off to bed. But both he and I hoped she had heard everything.

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