TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Chapter 4
Chapter 4
One day, Jem and Scout find something cool. It's a tree near the Radley house. There is a hole in the tree trunk. They find gifts in this hole. They don't know who is leaving these gifts.
First, they find gum. Then, they find pennies. They are old pennies. Scout and Jem are very happy. They think it's a secret friend. Dill comes back for summer. He is their best friend. They tell him about the gifts. They all think the gifts are cool.
The children have lots of free time, now that it’s summer. But they can't decide what game to play. Dill says he smells death at the Radley house. They argue about Hot Steams. Hot Steams are ghosts. Jem is afraid. He doesn’t want to talk about Hot Steams. Scout calls Jem a coward. Scout suggests they play with a tire. Jem and Dill agree.
Scout is the first to get into the tire. Jem pushes her hard. As the tire rolls, Scout feels like she can't breathe. The tire crashes in the Radley's front yard. Now it’s Scout who is scared. “Run!” Jem yells. “Run fast.’
Scout runs back to Jem and Dill. She forgets to bring the tire with her. She and Jem argue about the tire. Scout doesn’t want to go and get the tire. Jem is mad. He goes to get the tire himself. He tells Scout she acts like a girl. A little later, Calpurnia calls them for lemonade.
While they drink lemonade, Jem says they should do a Boo Radley play. Scout knows Jem wants to look brave. He wants to make her look scared. Jem gives everyone a role in the play. Scout is Mrs. Radley. Dill is old Mr. Radley. Jem is Boo. Scout is worried. She doesn’t want to play only this kind of game all summer. She thinks Jem will, though.
Atticus, their father, is not happy with this game. “It isn’t nice to make fun of people. You don’t know his story,” their dad says. “Sorry we weren’t nice,” Jem says. “But we just want to see who Boo is. He never comes out,” Scout says. “Please leave him alone, children,” Atticus says.
