TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Chapter 14
Chapter 14
In town, Scout and Jem hear people talk about their family. One of the people she passes uses a word Scout has heard before: rape. She decides to ask her father what it means. That night, she asks Atticus what it means: “Atticus, what’s rape?”
Atticus answers calmly, “Rape is having sex with a woman without her permission, without her consent.” Scout is not impressed with the answer. “If that’s all rape is,” she says, “Why didn’t Cal tell me when we came back from her church?” “You went to Cal’s church?” he says, a little surprised. “And she said I could visit her at her house whenever I want,” says Scout. “Can I visit her?” “No, you can’t,” says Aunt Alexadra. “I didn’t ask you, Aunty,” says Scout, angry.
“You apologize to your aunt right now, Scout,” says Atticus. Scout and her father have an argument. Atticus says Scout should not treat her aunt with disrespect. Scout thinks her aunt is being disrespectful to her!
Later, Scout hears her father and Aunt Alexandra talking. Alexandra says Calpurnia is a bad influence on Scout and Jem. But Atticus is firm. He thinks Cal is a very positive influence on his children. And he thinks the children love her.
“Stop making Aunt Alexandra mad,” Jem tells Scout. They are in their bedroom, ready to go to sleep. “Don’t tell me what to do,” Scout says. “Dad is busy with his case,” Jem says. “He is worried about Tom Robinson. We need to be good.” “Don’t act all big,” Scout says. “Don’t act like you are smarter than me!” “Be careful,” Jem says. “I will punish you.” “You can’t punish me,” Scout yells.
Scout wants to fight Jem. She moves to hit him, but she steps on something. She thinks it is a snake! But it is only Dill. He is hiding under the bed. “Why are you here,” Jem asks. “I ran away from home. I’m not going back,” Dill says.
Jem worries that Dill's mom doesn't know where he is. He calls Atticus. Dill gets scared. Atticus tells Scout to get Dill some food. He calms Dill down. He says he will check if Dill can stay. Dill eats. Atticus calls Dill’s mom. She says he can stay the night. Scout asks him why he ran away. Dill says his parents ignore him. “My mom and my new dad just go into their room,” Dill says. “They don’t want to be with me. They buy me everything I want, and then they tell me to go play. They don’t want to know about me.”
Scout is happy Dill can stay, because she likes Dill very much. Everything seems like it will be wonderful now.
