Chapter 10

 

    Atticus is nearly fifty and he doesn't do much with me and Jem. Sometimes he will play football with Jem, but once Jem starts to tackle him, he says he is too old. When we gave us our air-rifles, Uncle Jack taught us how to use them, because Atticus wouldn't. We were told to only shoot blue jays, or tin cans, but never mocking birds. If you killed a mocking bird, it was a sin. Mocking birds only bring people joy, at least that's what Atticus said. When they sing, it makes the people of Maycomb happy and the birds do no harm. In my opinion, they are almost a symbol of the people in the town who are innocent and gentle.

     Tim Johnson is the dog of Tom Robinson. He's almost like the pet of Maycomb and he's a liver-colored bird dog. Jem and I noticed him walking in a funny way around town so we told Calpurnia. Once we showed her, she ran us home and called Atticus' office. Next, she called Eula May and asked her to warn anyone with a phone about the dog, but the Radley's didn't have a phone. Calpurnia ordered us to stay in the house while she ran to the Radley's so they were warned too. Atticus arrived home along with Maycombs sheriff, Mr. Heck Tate. As we watched Atticus and Heck through the screen door, Heck handed the riffle to Atticus and said "Mr. Finch, this is a one-shot job." Atticus ran into the street as Tim came down the road and he shot Tim. He didn't even know what hit him.