Word of the trial travels fast, especially when one is living with the town gossip: Stephanie Crawford. Atticus lost the trial. No one was all that shocked about the verdict. Mayella shares the same interest as me; I had seen her beautiful flowers, but we are nothing alike. Not even close. I could not begin to compare us; we have such different lives. I pity the girl, though, for what her father did; beating his own daughter and blaming it on an innocent man. She was probably frightened to death. I cannot fathom how much he hits her. Poor, poor child. Back to the case... Tom Robinson was proven guilty in court, even though he was evidently innocent. It is quiet depressing, and the town's disease disgusts me. Just because he is a black man does not mean he is inferior to a white man. Maycomb has a few lessons of its own to be learned. At least the few of us, who are not prejudice, have Atticus to stand up for us. He is a very courageous person. He took the case, even though he had distinguished the fact that he would lose. That is true courage, trying something when you know you cannot win. Atticus is a very good man, and he teaches those children of his well. Judge Taylor made no error when he appointed Atticus. That reminds me; I had to explain this all to Jem, Dill, and Scout. They did not know that Atticus was specifically chosen for this case because he was the most auspicious of any of the lawyers. I, of course, told them that it was no mistake that Atticus was picked. I believe that they are all starting to understand how the real world is. Do we not all wish we could go back to being children, living as if nothing bad happens in the world? That is what you lose when you grow up. I made the children cakes today to lift their spirits. Jem got a piece from the normal cake; he is maturing, so he deserves to be treated like an adult. He is going to be a fine young man, I can tell. Atticus knows what he is doing. I hope I got my point across to the kids, they didn't quite understand how the world works. People, like Tom Robinson are judged by the color of their skin; it is appalling, but they have to realize that. Tom Robinson has a family, a wife and three kids, I believe, and Robert Ewell could care less about the whole thing. If doesn't affect him, he does not care. It is people like him that disgust me deeply. I would like to give that man a piece of my mind. I will not, though; it would not change the unfaltering verdict. Enough about the case. I do not see the point in writing about such a disheartening topic. That atrocious snow ultimately melted. I could start a garden. It is a shame that my house is not built yet; I cannot garden until the whole building is constructing. Stephanie's yard could use a alteration. Hmm... I don't think she would mind if I gardened her yard until I can return to my home. I won't make her garden look as beautiful as mine did, of course. But, it will pass some time. I hate being stuck indoors when the outdoors are waiting for me. Did I mention that? I think so. Stephanie Crawford will hardly notice that her yard is diverse, a beauty; she is too engrossed in the county's gossip to detect much of anything.

Maudie Atkinson