When Walter caught up with us, Jem made pleasant conversation with him. A haint lives there, he said cordially, pointing to the Radley house. Ever hear about him, Walter?

Reckon I have, said Walter. Almost died first year I come to school and et them pecansfolks say he pizened em and put em over on the school side of the fence.

Jem seemed to have little fear of Boo Radley now that Walter and I walked beside him. Indeed, Jem grew boastful: I went all the way up to the house once, he said to Walter.

Anybody who went up to the house once oughta not to still run every time he passes it, I said to the clouds above.

And whos runnin, Miss Priss?

You are, when aint anybody with you.

By the time we reached our front steps Walter had forgotten he was a Cunningham. Jem ran to the kitchen and asked Calpurnia to set an extra plate, we had company. Atticus greeted Walter and began a discussion about crops neither Jem nor I could follow.

Reason I cant pass the first grade, Mr. Finch, is Ive had to stay out ever spring an help Papa with the choppin, but theres anothern at the house now thats field size.

Did you pay a bushel of potatoes for him? I asked, but Atticus shook his head at me.

While Walter piled food on his plate, he and Atticus talked together like two men, to the wonderment of Jem and me. Atticus was expounding upon farm problems when Walter interrupted to ask if there was any molasses in the house. Atticus summoned Calpurnia, who returned bearing the syrup pitcher. She stood waiting for Walter to help himself. Walter poured syrup on his vegetables and meat with a generous hand. He would probably have poured it into his milk glass had I not asked what the sam hill he was doing.

The silver saucer clattered when he replaced the pitcher, and he quickly put his hands in his lap. Then he ducked his head.

Atticus shook his head at me again. But hes gone and drowned his dinner in syrup, I protested. Hes poured it all over

It was then that Calpurnia requested my presence in the kitchen.

She was furious, and when she was furious Calpurnias grammar became erratic. When in tranquility, her grammar was as good as anybodys in Maycomb. Atticus said Calpurnia had more education than most colored folks.

When she squinted down at me the tiny lines around her eyes deepened. Theres some folks who dont eat like us, she whispered fiercely, but you aint called on to contradict em at the table when they dont. That boys yo compny and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, you hear?

He aint company, Cal, hes just a Cunningham

Hush your mouth! Dont matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this houses yo compny, and dont you let me catch you remarkin on their ways like you was so high and mighty! Yo folks might be bettern the Cunninghams but it dont count for nothin the way youre disgracin emif you cant act fit to eat at the table you can just set here and eat in the kitchen!

Calpurnia sent me through the swinging door to the diningroom with a stinging smack. I retrieved my plate and finished dinner in the kitchen, thankful, though, that I was spared the humiliation of facing them again. I told Calpurnia to just wait, Id fix her: one of these days when she wasnt looking Id go off and drown myself in Barkers Eddy and then shed be sorry. Besides, I added, shed already gotten me in trouble once today: she had taught me to write and it was all her fault. Hush you fussin, she said.

Jem and Walter returned to school ahead of me: staying behind to advise Atticus of Calpurnias iniquities was worth a solitary sprint past the Radley Place. She likes Jem bettern she likes me, anyway, I concluded, and suggested that Atticus lose no time in packing her off.

Have you ever considered that Jem doesnt worry her half as much? Atticuss voice was flinty. Ive no intention of getting rid of her, now or ever. We couldnt operate a single day without Cal, have you ever thought of that? You think about how much Cal does for you, and you mind her, you hear?

I returned to school and hated Calpurnia steadily until a sudden shriek shattered my resentments. I looked up to see Miss Caroline standing in the middle of the room, sheer horror flooding her face. Apparently she had revived enough to persevere in her profession.