Through Glass (The Glass Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

He smiles.
    “I know. You wouldn’t let me read any of it.”
    “That wasn’t poetry. I’ll let you read my poetry.”
    “What was it then?”
    He ignores my question.
    “I’m going to write a book someday where a guy tells a story, then bumps his head, and tells the same story over again, and again and again. I’m literally just going to copy and paste. It’s brilliant. Would you like some more wine?” he asks, noticing my glass is empty.
    He’s changing the subject. Now I’m really curious about what was in that notebook. Maybe it’s a journal, documenting his life. Or maybe it’s a book of girls’ phone numbers. Maybe he writes about all the different girls he takes on dates. Maybe—
    “Would you like to read something I’ve written?” he asks, interrupting my thoughts.
    I nod.
    He pulls a piece of paper out from the pocket of his jacket, and asks “Have you read To Kill a Mockingbird ?”
    I nod again, wondering if anyone has actually not read To Kill a Mockingbird .
    He unfolds the piece of paper, and slides it over towards me. The title at the top reads Stay Inside in bold letters.
     
    Here we are, sitting with our friend Dill, trying to figure out if Boo Radley is ill.
    We’re wondering why he won’t come out. Does he not want to know what the whole world’s about?
    We think up a plan and they send me out yonder. Into Boo’s yard, I now have to wander.
    But is it as brave of me as the others say? What is there to be so scared of anyway?
    Maybe Boo is afraid of what he doesn’t know or of what they’d think if he let it all show.
    So he stays inside, not wanting to see just how mean and how cruel this whole world can be.
    Here I am, sitting with Jem. He’s bawling his eyes out; something’s happened to him.
    I ask what is wrong, and he looks away. He starts crying again, then begins to say:
    ‘The trial wasn’t fair, the verdict unjust. In Atticus Finch, Tom put his trust.
    Still, he is to die; it just isn’t right. There is no way anything happened that night.
    But they looked at his skin and thought he must have done wrong. They looked past the evidence; now all hope is gone.’
    It makes me think of Boo and how he doesn’t want to see just how mean and how cruel this world can be.
    Perhaps Tom would be safe had he stayed inside, and maybe, just maybe, he would not have died.
    Here he is, sitting with me. He talks with wisdom, trying to get me to see.
    Atticus Finch says: ‘Jean Louise, Miss Dubose isn’t mean, please know, Scout, she has the most courage I’ve seen.
    You may not see it and you think she’s insane, but she puts up with some of the worst kind of pain.
    I know that she’s rude and says things that are wrong but you have to understand: this woman is strong’.
    Then Atticus left, and I thought of what was said. Maybe Miss Dubose should stay in her house, instead.
    That way she wouldn’t be so mean to everyone. She’d just sit quiet in the dark, and never see the sun.
    Here I am, now all alone. I look around at the place I call home.
    Aunt Alexandra isn’t nice, and Dill’s not there anymore. I’ve gotten into trouble again, ‘cause Walter is poor.
    Now I wonder what this life would be like if I stayed inside all day and all night,
    If I didn’t go out or see any of my friends; If I just stayed in until the world ends.
    Maybe things would be easier, not a worry or care. Maybe I’ll try it, I won’t go out there.
    Miss Dubose wouldn’t be mean, and Tom wouldn’t have died. Boo Radley’s got it right; I’ll just stay inside.
    –Jean-Louise Finch
     
    “It’s absolutely brilliant,” I gasp. “Mockingbird is one of my favorite books, and I cannot believe this—it’s so beautifully written. I’m really impressed, Oliver.”
    “Thanks, Lauren. I’m going to go for a smoke,” he says.
    “I didn’t know you smoked.”
    “I didn’t know you had a cat.” He smiles.
    “Do you do anything else?” I ask.
    “What do you mean? I drink, every so often.