--Journal Entry--
Chapters 13-15
Dill Harris
The cold floor was making my back ache along the ground. My spine felt like it was going to have a permanent curve from this awkward position. By now I had acquired a sharp pain in my legs from lack of movement. I desperately wanted to kick and shake out the pins and needles from it falling asleep but I couldn't risk making any noise. I tried to keep my breathing even and relax but it was hard to breathe the musty air and dust on the underside of Scout's bed. I ran my hands along the wood planks covering the bottom of her bed. I heard the tinkling and clattering of plates and voices in the dining room as I assumed the Finch's were eating supper. I felt my stomach growl and shake. How long had it been since I had eaten? One... maybe two days? I couldn't remember but it felt like forever. It was hard enough to think about something besides food without all the clattering of forks and knives.
Slowly, the day to came to an end. After a fuss in the living room that involved Atticus and Scout and Jem’s Aunt Alexandra that I could barely hear, a fight broke out between Scout and Jem. He seemed so much older now, I was surprised that she had the guts to antagonize him. Of course, I could only see their feet but I could hear the shrieks and screams, Jem was so much bigger but Scout was putting up a good fight. I almost thought to jump out and help her, teaming up I think we could take him down but Atticus came in. I felt like I was watching a movie, lying under a bed watching the events unfold. It was interesting, when I was not dying of hunger or bored out of my mind, all alone in her messy room. I would have had a better perspective on all of this of course, with some food in my stomach. Scout crawled into bed then so I had to be quiet. I was careful not to breathe too loudly, but she bumped into me. I squirmed away in terror. I knew I was going to have to come out eventually but what were they going to think? It was too late, I saw Scout’s feet scrape the ground as she got out of bed and called for Jem. Now I knew I was in for it. Jem is smart, like Scout-plus-me-times-twenty smart. He would be able to find me. I tried to hold my breath and stayed as still as possible. A broom swooped under the bed a couple inches from my knee. I grunted without catching myself as I scrambled away in fear. “Do snakes grunt?” Scout asked, curious. That’s when Jem figured it out. I wasn’t a snake, I was a person. The next broom swipe missed my head by centimeters as I slowly emerged from under the bed. I had so carefully planned out my escape to make it infallible, but what now? What was I supposed to say? I stood there sheepish as I slowly looked at their gaping stares.
I started off with another made up story about my parents hiding me in a cellar and barely being able to escape. I could tell they didn’t buy all my lies but they were too shocked to say anything about it. I mean, how was I suposed to say I ran away from a family that loved me? I got everything I want. They would think I was spoiled and send me back. And maybe I was, but my family didn't want me. Like I told Scout a little later, they didn't want to spend time with me. They would buy me toys and then make me go play by myself. It's not that they didn't love me, they told me they did everyday, it was simply that they didn't want to be around me. I was a nuisence. I could feel it, they wanted piece and quiet, and they gave me stern looks whenever I walked in. So I gathered my things together and took the train to Maycomb. Atticus, Jem, and Scout are more of like family, I knew that I was not wanted with my mother and step father. Now, my plan to get to Maycomb and to the Finch's place was clever. In fact, I spent all my time figuring that out that I didn't consider what might happen when they found me. So then, I found myself sitting in front of Atticus begging him not to make me go back. He was actually very pensive and calm, which I don't think a lot of grown-ups would have been if they found a boy hiding under the bed that shouldn't even be in town. He let me spend the night, and as I got ready for bed I already felt like I was back home.
Slowly, the day to came to an end. After a fuss in the living room that involved Atticus and Scout and Jem’s Aunt Alexandra that I could barely hear, a fight broke out between Scout and Jem. He seemed so much older now, I was surprised that she had the guts to antagonize him. Of course, I could only see their feet but I could hear the shrieks and screams, Jem was so much bigger but Scout was putting up a good fight. I almost thought to jump out and help her, teaming up I think we could take him down but Atticus came in. I felt like I was watching a movie, lying under a bed watching the events unfold. It was interesting, when I was not dying of hunger or bored out of my mind, all alone in her messy room. I would have had a better perspective on all of this of course, with some food in my stomach. Scout crawled into bed then so I had to be quiet. I was careful not to breathe too loudly, but she bumped into me. I squirmed away in terror. I knew I was going to have to come out eventually but what were they going to think? It was too late, I saw Scout’s feet scrape the ground as she got out of bed and called for Jem. Now I knew I was in for it. Jem is smart, like Scout-plus-me-times-twenty smart. He would be able to find me. I tried to hold my breath and stayed as still as possible. A broom swooped under the bed a couple inches from my knee. I grunted without catching myself as I scrambled away in fear. “Do snakes grunt?” Scout asked, curious. That’s when Jem figured it out. I wasn’t a snake, I was a person. The next broom swipe missed my head by centimeters as I slowly emerged from under the bed. I had so carefully planned out my escape to make it infallible, but what now? What was I supposed to say? I stood there sheepish as I slowly looked at their gaping stares.
I started off with another made up story about my parents hiding me in a cellar and barely being able to escape. I could tell they didn’t buy all my lies but they were too shocked to say anything about it. I mean, how was I suposed to say I ran away from a family that loved me? I got everything I want. They would think I was spoiled and send me back. And maybe I was, but my family didn't want me. Like I told Scout a little later, they didn't want to spend time with me. They would buy me toys and then make me go play by myself. It's not that they didn't love me, they told me they did everyday, it was simply that they didn't want to be around me. I was a nuisence. I could feel it, they wanted piece and quiet, and they gave me stern looks whenever I walked in. So I gathered my things together and took the train to Maycomb. Atticus, Jem, and Scout are more of like family, I knew that I was not wanted with my mother and step father. Now, my plan to get to Maycomb and to the Finch's place was clever. In fact, I spent all my time figuring that out that I didn't consider what might happen when they found me. So then, I found myself sitting in front of Atticus begging him not to make me go back. He was actually very pensive and calm, which I don't think a lot of grown-ups would have been if they found a boy hiding under the bed that shouldn't even be in town. He let me spend the night, and as I got ready for bed I already felt like I was back home.
After reading what you wrote, I feel that you did very good on the writing that person's perspective. I don't really think you need to change anything but maybe adding more emotion into the character your talking about, such as saying how they felt when a person said this or when the person was doing something.
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