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It was only Tuesday afternoon when we came home that day, Me and Jem. School had just ended and the summer air was still in the air. I was outside playing with the tire swing. On days like these, sometimes there really isn’t much to do besides stay outside. But soon I started to get bored…
“Hey Jem… I’m bored.” Jem looks down from the treehouse he had been hanging in. His face seems to give off this impression that he’s annoyed at my statement.
“Well, then what do you want to do?
“Let’s play a game then? How about hide and seek?” I said in an inquisitive manner. Jem questions the game but ultimately decides that it’s fine.
We played at least 5 games before the last. I was the one hiding this time. I hid behind a few bushes on the right side of the house. I was pretty small so my ability to hide behind bushes was a skillful one. I thought I found a pretty good place compared to my last ones as Jem always found me within 1-2 minutes. But this time 10 minutes passed and he didn’t find me yet. Then 20 minutes, and finally when 30 minutes had disappeared. I leaped out of my hiding place and yelled proudly
“Haha! Half an hour went by and you still couldn’t find me- Jem?” He wasn’t here. Did he hide, thinking he was the hider? I looked all around the outside of the house, wondering where he went. He was nowhere to be found. Just then I realized there is still one place I have never looked: The garage.
I strolled cautiously into the garage where I could see him, Jem. He was staring off into nothing, almost in deep thought. He put out an aura of sadness as I watched him just sigh. I knew what was going on. I knew what Jem was going through. I knew better than to try to interrupt his train of thoughts during this time. So I left, going inside the house where I found Atticus, in the living room reading a book. He must have noticed that I entered and so asked me where Jem was.
“Jem’s in the garage, doing his thing..” I answered in a more depressed tone. Atticus glanced away from his book before looking at me. He signed to me to come closer. In turn, I climbed into his lap.
“What’s wrong, Scout? Did something happen to Jem?” Atticus inquired.
“No.. Jem is fine, it’s just… Atticus, what was my mother like?” I asked inquisitively.
“Hmm… why would you want to know about her? You have never asked about her before?”
“It’s just that whenever Jem and I play a game, he always thinks about Mom and then he goes to the garage to sit in silence. He remembers so much about her and yet I have no memories of her. Jem would sometimes tell me details about her but I hardly know anything-”
“Alright.”
“So, I thought that maybe you could tell me about her? After all, Mom was married to you, right?”
Atticus looked at me with somber eyes. He sighed softly before staying quiet for a minute or two. He takes a deep breath before finally speaking.
“You see, Scout. Your mother was a lovely woman who was a true lady. She was kind and intelligent. But most of all she had this wondrous spark in her that would light up anything no matter what or who they were. Her curiosity had no limits and her passion was as strong as a fire. But no matter what she did, her caringness and honesty never wavered. She’s the loveliest lady you would ever meet, Scout.” Atticus confessed in a soft voice. Atticus tried to continue but he just couldn’t. I didn’t say much, I didn’t know what to say. So I just said what was on my mind.
“Well, was she pretty?” I muttered with some uncertainty. Atticus noticed my nervousness and smiled a bright smile
“The prettiest, inside and out.” Atticus expressed with endearment before he started to utter something serious at least, his tone was. “Look, Scout. Your mother is wonderful and I hope that someday you could inspire to be like her, to be kind but courageous. I understand that you have a strong distaste towards being ladylike but just know that you can still be a lady but enjoy the things you like. Now is there anything else you would like to know?”
I thought about that question for a second. What else could I possibly ask about Mom? Maybe I could ask what she enjoys doing or why she had to die when I was young. But then I thought of the perfect question and so I seeked to get the answer.
“Do you think she’s watching over me? With God, I mean.” Atticus smiled one of those beaming smiles before responding with a “Yes Scout, she is watching over all of us.”
I never got to ask anything else. Calpurnia called us, exclaiming that supper was ready. I was ordered by Atticus to get Jem as I was the only one who knew where he was. I leaped out of the front door and went to the garage where I called out for Jem saying that it was time for supper. He quickly got out of his state and went with me towards supper.
~~~~~
Years have passed since I was only 7 years old but I still remember that day like it was yesterday. Although nowadays I can recall all the signs that my younger self missed. From Atticus’s deep love for my mother to Jem’s state of depression, all of them, I can remember well. Yet even after Atticus’s confession, my mother remains much like an enigma to me. Someone who I can’t recall except for the slightest details given. But I do know one thing about my mother. She would always be watching over me. No matter where I go, she would always be in the heavens, praying for long lives ahead of us.