Jem's Journal

We walked home from the trial, defeated and tired, Tom was give another chance, at a much better court. Anyone i their right mind should've believed Tom, Atticus has shown a completely different side of himself. He had said all the evidence and made it perfectly clear that Tom Robinson was innocent, but the jury was ignorant and stubborn, just like the rest of Maycomb. Atticus was so precise and clear, I was surprised I never notice how professional he was at being a lawyer. We were all sure that Tom would be set free, but then I realized the full extent the jury will go through just to prove that nergroes are trash.

I felt sorry for Mayella Ewell, she had no one to turn to, she was trapped by poverty and her father. Scout doesn't have much friends that are girls but she's got me, Dill and Atticus. Even though Mayella looks like a lying scum to some people who defended Tom, she wants to be different, if you just look close enough, you can just about see the fear in her eyes, and not fear of Tom Robinson.

The next day, that morning was greeted by heaps of gifts. Cal told us that it was from the people who appreciated all that Atticus had done for Tom. Atticus even got tears in his eyes. Miss Stephanie came around sniffing at our food, then she told us about Bob Ewell's threat to Atticus. I felt my hands begin to shake, just like it did when we went afte Atticus that night and he was almost killed with Tom. Dill, Scout and I dragged our bodies everyday, worry weighing us down. Then Atticus told us to stop worrying and he was willing to be beaten by Bob Ewell if it meant one less for those Ewell children.

Even though Atticus told us not to worry, I felt the weight of Tom's trial, Bob's threat, the gifts from the people, and I wondered if this is how Atticus felt, everyday. Even though money is tight, there were bigger things to worry about for Atticus. I could still feel my frustration building up inside me and I try not to snap at Dill and Scout. Miss Stephaie has been spreading rumours and Tom is facing juries and hate, but I want to be just as smart and brave as Atticus, brave enough to be pelted with hate everyday, just because of what I believe in.