Heck Tate in 20 Years

The 1950's is here, and I'm glad it is. The cars are much better, and life just seems easier. What I like most about the 50's here is all the World Wars are over, and I have my sons back. I was extremely nervous when they were drafted and went to Europe to take on the Nazi occupation, but I knew it was for the better of the country, and that they would make it home alive. I am just so happy that I taught them how to shoot, and shoot well at it, when they were younger.

As I gain older every day, I look back upon my past to reflect on myself over the years. What I mostly remember is a case of rape, back when I was a sheriff for Maycomb. Tom Robinson his name was, and he was a black man accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. At the time, I was hoping he got the fullest punishment, whether he did it or not, for rapping a white woman. 20 years later, I know realize what was so wrong with me, and almost all of Maycomb back then. Our bigotry blinded us from justice, and it took lives of many that did not need to have lives taken from. When we kill innocents, we may never know the capability of that person. Tom could have invented a new car for all I know, and we never gave him a chance. As there is still a lot of this bigotry going on down here, I for one now understand the error of these ways. It may be 20 years later, but at least I understand.

Heck

Heck's Response

I am so happy at the verdict returned of the jury in Tom Robinson's case. That n____ oughta be hung from a tree right out front Mr. Ewell's front lawn for the whole town to see. I was a little never when Atticus gave his closing speech. I thought it might make the jury find Tom innocent, especially when they took hours to come back. Atticus is a good lawyer, and he has the potential to change the minds of so many others, whether or not the defendent commited the crime. All I can say about this is another rapist out of the way of our white women. Making their lives much safer, and making us waste less times in courtrooms.

Heck

Mr. Heck Tate

Today, I was in court for the trial of Mr. Tom Robinson. He is charged with rapping Mayella Ewell. Mr. Atticus Finch is putting up a good fight in defense for his client Tom, but I think the jury won't buy his statements.
When I arrived on the scene, I was told Mr. Bob Ewell's daughter, Mayella, was rapped by a black man, Tom. Although Tom denies this, I do not believe him. I think he rapped Mayella Ewell and is now trying to get away free; but that won't happen. He'll be hung.

As this case continues on, the jury will be convinced that Tom is guilty. It will tell his kind to not go near the white women ever again; unless they want to be hung too.

Boo's Journal (Creative)

Dear Journal,

Last night, I had a crazy dream. I have many dreams, but I don't feel them as much as I did to the one last night. It's weird, too, because I actually thought it was real. But I'm glad it wasn't...

This was the first time I ever had a dream like this. It was me, and the three children, Scout, Dill, and Jem. We were all playing games, and having a great time. Then, one night Scout, Jem, and I were walking home. I went ahead of them because I wanted to hide something from them. Nothing bad, it was just a little surprise. Then, I hear screaming. As I sprint back to the children, I see someone trying to rob them. I do not know who he is, but Jem is keeping him back pretty good. When I fully arive at the scene, I tackle the man that was trying to kill the children. As Jem and I pound on him, he realizes who it is; Cecil Jacob's father. He was trying to harm the children because their father was defending a black man. When he was knocked unconscious, we took him down to the police station and let them handle it.

When I woke up this morning, I screamed, and ran downstairs asking Arthur if Scout and Jem were Okay. When I told him that, he looked at me for a minute, and said "Who are they?" This dream... did not feel like one.

Boo's Journal (Chapters 5-9)

Dear Journal,

I found out that it was the children who my father scared away when I saw Jem's pants stuck in my fence. What I decided to do was sew them up and put them back so he knows I know it was him. A few days later, I started putting things in the tree in my yard. I had soap figurines of the children, gum, a ball of string, and many others. This was a way that me and the children could sort of communicate. Then, my father put cement in the tree so that we could no longer communicate with each other.
Today, however is a sad day for me as I watched the children go to their Uncle Finch's for Christmas. I will no longer be able to see them as I once did. Believe it or not, I enjoyed these children. They were the only bright spot in my day. And now, they're gone for about a week. I'll miss `em.

Boo's Journal (Chapters 1-5)

December 9, 2008

Dear Journal,

The last week of my life has been weird. About a week ago, I put a fresh piece of gum into the Oak tree by my house. When I checked there a few days ago, the gum was missing. When I found that the gum was missing, I decided to put two Indian Head pennies into the tree and watch it. When I saw a girl and a boy come and take it, I knew who had taken the gum the day before. Then, just recently, that same girl who had taken the gum and pennies out of my tree, rolled into my lawn stuck in a tire. I thought it was pretty funny. As I continued to watch them from my house, they started acting. They did weird things, such as sweep porches, and stab each other with sissors. I sat in amusement as they played their new game. A couple of days later, my father said he heard a Negro sneaking around our house. He said he was trying to get into our house through a window. But I didn’t think it was a Negro. I think it was those kids trying to play a game by my house. I don’t know what type of game they’re playing, but if my father hears anything outside, he’ll shoot his shoutgun whether it be child, Negro, or dog. I hope that that is the last time those kids do that because they will surly be shot if my father catches them again sneaking around our house.