Chapter Text
The rain aggressively pattered against the roof of the train, almost like it had a personal vendetta against steel. Inside the car sat Jean Louise Finch. Daughter of the famed attorney Atticus Finch. While she rode along in the booth, she was jotting things down on a napkin, her tongue slightly out. She was deep in concentration, thinking of what to write in her next publishing. Many ideas floated around in her head until it finally settled on something. Oh, it settled alright, but not for good reason. See, she was going back to Maycomb, for good reason. She wasn't going for a good time, no no. She was there for the obligatory all-family Christmas at Finch's Landing. That's right. A time where everyone gets in stuffy clothes and it's more like a high-end gala than a family dinner, at least for the last few. When other families high on Maycomb's social ladder came over and matches were made. She sighed, because Aunt Alexandra was very elated about this particular year. Oh, VERY elated. Because she dug and dug some more like a mole in the dirt to make a hill. And she found another socialite family with a son 4 years Scout's senior. She was happy to finally play matchmaker and get Scout married. But Scout dreaded that. Because her love, her heart, her time, belonged to one person. She leaned back, thinking of him. His stupid face. Her eyes began to close, she began looking back annnnnnd…..
cliché flashback sequence wooooooo~ imma ghost
MAYCOMB, 1946: 3 YEARS AGO
"Sweetheart. Baby. Are you sure? You're only 21 and-"
"Don't. I need independence, Atticus. Besides, I'm an adult." Scout replied, checking her suitcase for her things. But she saw a picture of her as a little girl in her father's lap. She smiled at it, and it seemed that little her was smiling back at her too as if wishing bigger her safe travels. Deciding she needed the memory with her, she stuffed it into the suitcase. Now look at her. Leaving the nest. But most importantly, to get away from Aunt Alexandra. Those calls were so damn frequent, she couldn't even count them all.
As if summoned by the mere thought of her presence, the insufferable witch came through the line, and Atticus called her over.
"Scout! Your aunt would like to speak with you." Oh man. he did NOT grasp just how ANNOYING she was. But then again, considering her being in their home and acting like a bitch until she was 15, maybe he did. Reluctantly, she placed the phone between her ear and her shoulder, making dull conversation until the dreaded question came from her mouth.
"Are you coming to Christmas, Jean Louise?? There's a very handsome young fellow I found for you. His family runs a cotton business. Very wealthy people. He'll take care of you I just know he will-"
"Yes, auntie. I'm going to be there for Christmas, just like any other year." She replied, her voice a bit rough. She tried to take a deep breath. People say that works. But then—
"I was thinking for a moment you'd stop, since you're moving to that fancy-schmancy city up north. You'd think of yourself as one of those uppity Yankees!" Alexandra yet again butt in while Scout was steadying herself.
See, Scout was trying to change. Turn over a new leaf of sorts. Because she was getting older. She was a young woman now. And to be respectable, to others at least, she'd have to develop the habit of putting out whatever fire was raging inside her. Like an aggressive dog that needed a special kind of leash. reign it in.
Both women said their goodbyes and hung up. She then turned the other direction to go into her childhood bedroom, right next to where Jem's was. It was empty now, with only sheets on the and the teddy bear she had as a baby. It was sun bleached and had a loose button eye, but it was hers. That's how she got her nickname. When they bought it for her, it had an embroidered tag on it's back. It said, "To Scout, - Your Uncle John Hale "Jack" Finch". That used to be a nickname only he used. But eventually, it fell into practice. Now everyone who knew her personally called her "Scout". Her eyes lingered for a few more seconds, knowing she will no longer be living here anymore.
She began to reminisce again. Running in the yard, playing with Jem and Dill. The first day of the first grade. Looking through the Radleys's window. Boo leaving them gifts in the tree. Reading to Mrs. Dubose. Tom Robinson. The trial. That one Halloween night when Boo saved them. And every memory beyond that in this home. It was a heavy feeling, having to let it all go. But she quickly fixed her face. This was a new chapter. A new page to be written in the big, beautiful book of her life. But it was all interrupted by a loud honking noise outside their front door. It was Jem, here to drive her to the airport.
"Come on, Scout! Your train leaves at, what, 5:00? Get to steppin'! Both'f you!" Jem yelped, punctuating almost every word with another BEEEEP! from the horn.
She sighed and turned to leave. She gave Atticus another hug. Not their last before she left, but it was close to it. She made her way outside. Man, was she going to miss this.