Post 4 - Chapters 10-12 - Calpurnia

Journal #4
Chapters 9-10
Perspective: Calpurnia

Mad Dog

Today Scout was talking to me about if I knew anything about her daddy and if he could do anything. I could tell by the look on Scouts face that she thinks her dad is lazy and just reads all the time. But he's not lazy, he's just getting old. Scout tells me that everyone else’s parents are around the same contemporaries, but he's not. I tried to tell her that her dad could do a lot of things, he just doesn’t choose to do them right now.
Scout and Jem went to go play with their air rifles while I was in the kitchen washing the dishes from this morning’s breakfast. Jem and Scout raced in the kitchen “Cal. Cal.” Jem said out of breath “can you come down the sidewalk a minute?” he asked. “What for, Jem? I can’t always come down the sidewalk every time you want me.” I replied “There’s something wrong with an old dog yonder.” He said. “Wow. I know that it’s sad to see a dog hurt but sometimes you can’t always help them, sometimes you just have to walk away.” I thought to myself. “I can’t wrap up any dog’s foot now. There’s some gauze in the bathroom, go get it and do it yourself.” I told Jem. “He's sick, Cal. Something’s wrong with him.” Jem said. “Is he trying to catch his tale ?” I laughed. Jem impersonated the dog as if it was twitching. Oh my gosh… was it a mad dog? I thought Jem was just playing around for a second. “Was he runnin’?” I asked “No, he’s moseyin’ along, so slow you can’t hardly tell it. He's comin’ this way.” He told me. I rinsed my hands and I followed him out into the yard. “I don’t see any dog.” I said. They were walking towards the Radley Place and I was just following. Was this some kind of joke? Jem pointed to something that looked a mile away it was inconspicuous. I saw it, the dog was walking really weird and lopsided and it looked like it was crazy. I just stood there and stared at the dog coming this way I was inaudible. It was a mad dog. I grabbed Jem and Scout and ran home. I locked the door behind us and I was breathing heavily. I ran to the telephone and dialed a number “ Gimmie Mr. Finch’s office!” I waited until they put me on the line. “Hello” I heard Atticus say “Mr. Finch! This is Cal. I swear to god there’s a mad dog the street a piece- he's comin’ this way” “Are you guys locked inside?” he asked “Yes sir… yessir…yes.” He cut me off and told me that he’s on his way. I hung up the phone. Scout was looking at me with concern but I had nothing to say. I dialed another number I was talking to Miss Eula May and told her not to connect me to Mr. Finch anymore and to call anyone on the street that has a phone and tell them that a mad dog is coming and that they were in peril. She was contradicting me because it was February. But I know a mad dog when I see one. The Radleys didn’t have a phone so I ran out side to the Radley’s house and knocked on their door and told them that a mad dog was coming they’re way. I saw a black ford pull into the driveway. Mr. Finch and Mr. Tate got out of the car.
Atticus told us to stay inside so I grabbed Scout and Jem and went inside and latched the door behind us. I was holding onto the hook incase if Mr. Finch or Mr. Tate wanted to come inside. I was scared that one of us was going to get hurt and my heart felt like it was going to explode. I kept Jem and Scout away and they were trying to look out the window. I saw Mr. Finch and Mr. Tate arguing outside and then Mr. Finch grabbed the shotgun and walked closer to Tim Johnson. He bent down, aimed and fired. Tim Robinson was dead. Mr. Finch sure looked like he had experience with a gun before. I found out that they used to call him “One Shot Finch.” Now, Scout knows something about her daddy.