Week 3: To Kill a Mockingbird (3)

I am still reading To Kill a Mockingbird.   I was able to read for an hour and a half today and got through a few more chapters.  At this point I am really beginning to see the development of the characters, especially the narrator, Scout.  Scout is about seven at this point in the novel and has recently started second grade.  She hates going to school, but, without her realizing it, school is opening her up to an entire new world--the real world.  In the previous section Scout, her older brother Jem, and their friend Dill were attempting to get a man to come out of his house.  Through the grapevine of small town talk they have heard that this man is crazy and attempted to kill his father with scissors; they call him "Boo" Radley (his name is Arthur).  No matter what they try, though, they end up getting caught by an adult, usually Scout and Jem's father, Atticus.  The point of this brief summary is to explain something which, as it was meant to be, was ironic; however, it was also a let down of sorts for the children.  One night there is a fire at a house across the street from Scout and Jem's.  While everyone is outside and taking precautions to prevent the rest of the neighborhood from catching fire the kids are standing in front of the Radley home.  While standing there freezing, Scout gets a blanket put around her shoulders by "Boo" Radley, but does not realize it until they get home.  The children are devastated.  The book is full of little moments like these, however, that people of any age level could relate to.  It's wonderful!