A journal response to Harper Lee's To Kill a Mocking Bird told from Jem's perspective


Dear Journal:

Time goes so fast and it's almost time for school to start again. The summer vocation has been great. It was so fun to had Dill to hang out, and he was a really cool friend. He made the summer much more fun than before in this old boring town. Both me and Scout appreciated for that. We did a lot of things together this summer. We built the tree house and told each other stories in there. The most exciting thing was we actually got into the Radley Place. I touched the house and ran away as soon as possible, left Dill and Scout behind me.  I was so scared at that time, and I tried not to show that in front of Dill and Scout, but I think they knew it. It was a great adventure even though we were scared. It was so miserable when Dill left us to return to Meridian a few days ago.

Scout is going to have her first day of school tomorrow. I know she is not going to like it. I already told her to keep distance from me and hang out with the first grades. I really do not want her to bother me at school, because it is going to be embarrassing in front of my friends. I am going to take her to school tomorrow, because Atticus does not have time for that. It is a good thing, because I get paid by doing that for him.

Maple Trees near the Old Barn

TO MISS HANCOCK

  (a poetic response to"The Metaphor" by Budge Wilson)

In my life

I have never thought 

to travel back in time

because 

I always believe 

tomorrow will be better

However

now

 the first time of my life

I am not sure

I am not sure if tomorrow will be better

I am not sure if I will meet a teacher 

as great as you

Ms. Hancock

I wish

I was always there for you

but I was not

I wish

I could go back to grade 7

the happiest year of my life

but I could not

I wish

you did not slip under the school bus

but you did

I wish...

I miss you

Miss. Hancock

I am really really 

sorry

To My Friend Bill

( a poetic response to "Sound of Hollyhocks" by Hugh Garner )

I wake up in the morning 
see the sunshine coming through the curtain
the color of the sky is just like the day I first met you
I know that when I turn my head I will see you lying on your bed
and you will say "Good morning!" to me just as usual
but when I turn my head I can only see the white wall 
where did you go?

 I walk on the streets 
see the rain washing the ground
the color of the sky is just like the day you left
I know that I will see you in the next corner
and you will say "Hello!" to me just as usual
but when I get there I can only see the hollyhocks
where did you go?

Dear friend
you went to such a far place 
that I have to use the rest of my life to get there
but I'm not afraid 
because you are there waiting for me