26 Chapter 26 (2/2)

”Over here we don't believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from peoplewho are prejudiced. Prejudice,” she enunciated carefully. ”There are no better people inthe world than the Jews, and why Hitler doesn't think so is a mystery to me.”

An inquiring soul in the middle of the room said, ”Why don't they like the Jews, youreckon, Miss Gates?”

”I don't know, Henry. They contribute to every society they live in, and most of all, theyare a deeply religious people. Hitler's trying to do away with religion, so maybe hedoesn't like them for that reason.”

Cecil spoke up. ”Well I don't know for certain,” he said, ”they're supposed to changemoney or somethin', but that ain't no cause to persecute 'em. They're white, ain't they?”

Miss Gates said, ”When you get to high school, Cecil, you'll learn that the Jews havebeen persecuted since the beginning of history, even driven out of their own country. It'sone of the most terrible stories in history. Time for arithmetic, children.”

As I had never liked arithmetic, I spent the period looking out the window. The onlytime I ever saw Atticus scowl was when Elmer Davis would give us the latest on Hitler.

Atticus would snap off the radio and say, ”Hmp!” I asked him once why he was impatientwith Hitler and Atticus said, ”Because he's a maniac.”

This would not do, I mused, as the class proceeded with its sums. One maniac andmillions of German folks. Looked to me like they'd shut Hitler in a pen instead of lettinghim shut them up. There was something else wrong—I would ask my father about it.

I did, and he said he could not possibly answer my question because he didn't knowthe answer.

”But it's okay to hate Hitler?”

”It is not,” he said. ”It's not okay to hate anybody.”

”Atticus,” I said, ”there's somethin' I don't understand. Miss Gates said it was awful,Hitler doin' like he does, she got real red in the face about it—”

”I should think she would.”

”But—”

”Yes?”

”Nothing, sir.” I went away, not sure that I could explain to Atticus what was on mymind, not sure that I could clarify what was only a feeling. Perhaps Jem could providethe answer. Jem understood school things better than Atticus.

Jem was worn out from a day's water-carrying. There were at least twelve bananapeels on the floor by his bed, surrounding an empty milk bottle. ”Whatcha stuffin' for?” Iasked.

”Coach says if I can gain twenty-five pounds by year after next I can play,” he said.

”This is the quickest way.”

”If you don't throw it all up. Jem,” I said, ”I wanta ask you somethin'.”

”Shoot.” He put down his book and stretched his legs.

”Miss Gates is a nice lady, ain't she?”

”Why sure,” said Jem. ”I liked her when I was in her room.”

”She hates Hitler a lot…”

”What's wrong with that?”

”Well, she went on today about how bad it was him treatin' the Jews like that. Jem, it'snot right to persecute anybody, is it? I mean have mean thoughts about anybody, even,is it?”

”Gracious no, Scout. What's eatin' you?”

”Well, coming out of the courthouse that night Miss Gates was—she was goin' downthe steps in front of us, you musta not seen her—she was talking with Miss StephanieCrawford. I heard her say it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' wayabove themselves, an' the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how canyou hate Hitler so bad an' then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home—”

Jem was suddenly furious. He leaped off the bed, grabbed me by the collar and shookme. ”I never wanta hear about that courthouse again, ever, ever, you hear me? Youhear me? Don't you ever say one word to me about it again, you hear? Now go on!”

I was too surprised to cry. I crept from Jem's room and shut the door softly, lest unduenoise set him off again. Suddenly tired, I wanted Atticus. He was in the livingroom, and Iwent to him and tried to get in his lap.

Atticus smiled. ”You're getting so big now, I'll just have to hold a part of you.” He heldme close. ”Scout,” he said softly, ”don't let Jem get you down. He's having a rough timethese days. I heard you back there.”

Atticus said that Jem was trying hard to forget something, but what he was reallydoing was storing it away for a while, until enough time passed. Then he would be ableto think about it and sort things out. When he was able to think about it, Jem would behimself again.