I started school again: the 2nd grade. It was just as bad as the first grade. I was still not allowed to read, but one good thing was that I stayed as late as Jem and we walked home together. On our way home one afternoon, Jem told me what happened that night.
“When I went back for my breeches – they were all in a tangle when I was getting’ out of ‘em, I couldn’t get them loose. When I went back-“ Jem took a deep breath. “When I went back, they were folded across the fence… like they were expectin’ me.”
“And something else – “Jem’s voice was flat. “Show you when we get home. They’d been sewed up. Not like a lady sewed ‘em, like somethin’ I’d try to do. All crooked. It’s almost like –“
“—somebody knew you were comin’ back for ‘em.”
Jem shuddered . “Like somebody was readin’ my mind… like somebody could tell what I was gonna do. Can’t anybody tell what I’m gonna do lest they live in the house with you, and even I can’t tell sometimes.”
