Reverend Sykes hesitated. To tell you the truth, Miss Jean Louise, Helens finding it hard to get work these days . . . when its picking time, I think Mr. Link Deasll take her.

Why not, Reverend?

Before he could answer, I felt Calpurnias hand on my shoulder. At its pressure I said, We thank you for lettin us come. Jem echoed me, and we made our way homeward.

Cal, I know Tom Robinsons in jail an hes done somethin awful, but why wont folks hire Helen? I asked.

Calpurnia, in her navy voile dress and tub of a hat, walked between Jem and me. Its because of what folks say Toms done, she said. Folks arent anxious toto have anything to do with any of his family.

Just what did he do, Cal?

Calpurnia sighed. Old Mr. Bob Ewell accused him of rapin his girl an had him arrested an put in jail

Mr. Ewell? My memory stirred. Does he have anything to do with those Ewells that come every first day of school an then go home? Why, Atticus said they were absolute trashI never heard Atticus talk about folks the way he talked about the Ewells. He said

Yeah, those are the ones.

Well, if everybody in Maycomb knows what kind of folks the Ewells are theyd be glad to hire Helen . . . whats rape, Cal?

Its somethin youll have to ask Mr. Finch about, she said. He can explain it better than I can. You all hungry? The Reverend took a long time unwindin this morning, hes not usually so tedious.

Hes just like our preacher, said Jem, but why do you all sing hymns that way?

Linin? she asked.

Is that what it is?

Yeah, its called linin. Theyve done it that way as long as I can remember.

Jem said it looked like they could save the collection money for a year and get some hymn-books.

Calpurnia laughed. Wouldnt do any good, she said. They cant read.

Cant read? I asked. All those folks?

Thats right, Calpurnia nodded. Cant but about four folks in First Purchase read . . . Im one of em.

Whered you go to school, Cal? asked Jem.

Nowhere. Lets see now, who taught me my letters? It was Miss Maudie Atkinsons aunt, old Miss Buford

Are you that old?

Im older than Mr. Finch, even. Calpurnia grinned. Not sure how much, though. We started rememberin one time, trying to figure out how old I wasI can remember back just a few years moren he can, so Im not much older, when you take off the fact that men cant remember as well as women.

Whats your birthday, Cal?

I just have it on Christmas, its easier to remember that wayI dont have a real birthday.

But Cal, Jem protested, you dont look even near as old as Atticus.

Colored folks dont show their ages so fast, she said.

Maybe because they cant read. Cal, did you teach Zeebo?

Yeah, Mister Jem. There wasnt a school even when he was a boy. I made him learn, though.

Zeebo was Calpurnias eldest son. If I had ever thought about it, I would have known that Calpurnia was of mature yearsZeebo had half-grown childrenbut then I had never thought about it.

Did you teach him out of a primer, like us? I asked.

No, I made him get a page of the Bible every day, and there was a book Miss Buford taught me out ofbet you dont know where I got it, she said.

We didnt know.

Calpurnia said, Your Grandaddy Finch gave it to me.

Were you from the Landing? Jem asked. You never told us that.

I certainly am, Mister Jem. Grew up down there between the Buford Place and the Landin. Ive spent all my days workin for the Finches or the Bufords, an I moved to Maycomb when your daddy and your mamma married.

What was the book, Cal? I asked.

Blackstones Commentaries.

Jem was thunderstruck. You mean you taught Zeebo outa that?

Why yes sir, Mister Jem. Calpurnia timidly put her fingers to her mouth. They were the only books I had. Your grandaddy said Mr. Blackstone wrote fine English