Boo’s hand hovered over
Jem’s
head.
“Go on, sir, he’s asleep.”
His hand came down lightly on Jem’s hair.
I was beginning to learn his body English. His hand tightened on mine and he
indicated that he wanted to leave.
I led him to the front porch, where his uneasy steps halted. He was still holding
my hand and he gave no sign of letting me
go.
“Will you take me
home?”
He almost whispered it, in the voice of a child afraid of the dark.
I put my foot on the top step and stopped. I would lead him through our house,
but I would never lead him
home.
“Mr. Arthur, bend your arm down here, like that. That’s right, sir.”
I slipped my hand into the crook of his arm.
He had to stoop a little to accommodate me, but if Miss
Stephanie Crawford was
watching from her upstairs window, she would see Arthur Radley escorting me
down the sidewalk, as any
gentleman would do.
We came to the street light on the
corner, and I wondered how many times Dill
had stood there hugging the fat pole, watching, waiting, hoping. I wondered how
many times Jem and I had made this journey, but I entered the Radley front gate
for the second time in my life. Boo and I walked up the steps to the porch. His
fingers found the front
doorknob. He gently released my hand, opened the door,
went inside, and shut the door behind him. I never saw him again.