Journal #2 Chapters 4-7 from the perspective of Miss Maudie

Well I must say this summer's been downright cumbersome. I'm sure the vote would be unanimous were the quiet folks in these here parts to think about it. It all started off with little Jean. Just about everybody calls her Scout, and I fancy both names, so I teeter between the two. Anyways, her and her two friends, Jem and Dill, got out of school. These kids love to explore, and I decided to make a deal with 'em. S'long as they don't go trampling my azaleas, I give them free reign over my yard. They're all great kids, but I reckon I'm closest to Scout. Boy, was she scared when she learned how much I hate nut grass. I'll tell ya, it's not even funny. God knows there ain't a single creature or thing to the Lord's name I have somethin' against, but once a single piece of nut grass comes up: it's tormenting time! I told little Scout too, "Why, one sprig of nut grass can ruin a whole yard."And then I showed those kids my cake skills. You can trust I keep quiet about it. My cakes are more well hidden than a gaggle of chameleons. And for good reason too. Dear lord that Jack wouldn't take "no" for answer the next time he asked for my hand in marriage if he knew how well I could whip up a cake. He'd barge right in and take me down to his home. Be baking cakes for the rest of my life. Well here I am getting off track. Anyways, once I gave these kids a taste, all it takes is one call of their names and they spring right up for a slice! Sometimes little Scout comes alone though. When she walks right on down like that, it sure is nice. Maycomb's a tightly-knit place, we all know each-other. Still, being a widow can get lonely. When Scout comes, half the time, there ain't no talking, no quibbling just a silence as we sit on the porch and watch the sunset. Those were the most peaceful days I've had in years, rest assured. They unfortunately didn't last long however. After a couple of weeks she starts talking to me about ol' Arthur Radley. Poor man, those kids just get so curious. And her brother Jem don't help neither! He keeps fillin' her head with lies about Arthur. Why, he told her that Arther died and they stuffed 'im up the chimney. I can't believe it. That Jem is going to end up like Jack Finch, just you wait and see. As if that wasn't bad enough, Jem's balderdash is only half of the pile! Turn's out that old gossip Crawford is giving her the "low down" on poor Arthur too. At least Jem isn't an adult! That old Crawford just spits out the most malignant things. She starts spreading it around that Arthur was lookin' at her in the night right outside her window. Then I tell her, "What did you do, Stephanie, move over in bed and make room for him?". Really, what does she gain from spreading that kind of stuff around? Goodness. And then things got worse. The night before that boy Dill left, the kids were hanging around his Aunt's house.