Atticus played a little game with his children (and Dill)
himself when he caught them playing the parts of the Radleys outside one day. They were
busy playing "Chapter XXV, Book II of One Man's Family" when they spotted the previously
unseen Atticus behind them, "slapping a rolled magazine against his knee." When he asked
them what game they were playing, Jem lied. "Nothing," he told his father. When Atticus
asked what the scissors were for, Jem again replied, "Nothing." When Atticus asked if
the game had anything to do with the Radleys, Jem lied
again.
"I hope
it doesn't," he said shortly, and went inside the
house.
Although Jem wanted to
keep playing, Scout knew that Atticus' firm answer meant that bad things could happen if
they continued. Jem argued that Atticus didn't tell them they couldn't continue
playing, but Scout didn't want to risk the tanning Atticus had threatened. She was also
pretty sure that her father was aware that Jem was lying, but he decided to give them
another chance to mend their ways.
When Atticus did catch
them later trying to send Boo a message on the end of a fishing pole, he warned them in
stronger terms.
"I'm going to tell you something and tell you one
time: stop tormenting that man."
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