It is Dill's arrival in Maycomb and his intense curiosity
about Boo Radley that initiates the children's all-consuming desire "to make him come
out." Dill's dare to Jem is the kids' first step in making contact: Jem wins the bet by
running up and slapping the Radley house "with his palm." It is not until the following
summer when Dill returns that he becomes bored with the play-acting routine consisting
of the Rover Boys characters. But it is Jem, not Dill, who accepts the challenge to come
up with "Something new, something different."
"What?" asked Dill.
"Boo
Radley." (Chapter
4)
Jem's new idea
leads the children to yet another round of fantasies about the family living nearby.
"Jem parceled out our roles"--Mr. Radley, Mrs. Radley, and Boo--and it becomes known as
"The Radley Game."
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