Tom: Finch, I was goin' home as usual that evening when I passed the Ewell place Mayella were on the porch, like she say she were. It seemed real quiet and I didn't quite know why. I was studying why, just passin' by when she says for me to come here and help her a minute. Well, I went inside the fence an' looked around for some kindlin' to work on, but I didn't see none and she says, "Naw I got something for you to do in the house. The door is off the hinges and fall's comin' on pretty fast". I said you got a screwdriver, Miss Mayella? She said she sho' had. Well, I went up the steps an' she motioned me to come inside, and I went in the front room an' looked at the door. I said Miss Mayella, this door look alright. I pulled it back'n forth and those hinges was alright. Then she shet the door in my face. Mr. Finch, I was wonderin' why it was so quiet like, an' it come to me that there weren't a chile on the place, not a one of e'm , and I said Miss Mayella, "Where are the chilun?" She told me they got ice cream. She says," took me a slap year to seb'm nickles but I done it.
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