Journal #6 - Chapters 16-19 - Perspective: Tom Robinson

We had my trial today. I think that I will win Mr. Finch is a good man and a good lawyer. They called Mr Ewell up to the witness stand and he was lying his head off. I told them that I was walking by the Ewell house as usual, because it is on the way to my work. When Ms. Mayella called me into her house and said that she had something for me to do. When I got inside she wanted me to get a box down from a dresser. As I was getting it down she grabbed my legs and I jumped down. When I jumped down she jumped on me and kissed me, she told me to kiss her back but I didn't want to get into trouble with Mr. Ewell. That was the truth and nothing but the truth.

Ms. Mayella was trying to make it look like I was the one who came at her and raped her. She knows that it is a lie, but her father probably told her to say it. Mr. Ewell was saying that I was having sex with her when he looked in the window, but it was nothing even close to that. He called me some bad names and I ran for my life. I knew I didn't do anything bad but he didn't know that, I was afraid he would try to shoot me.

Mr. Gilmer was asking me questions and he was acting like I was an animal. He would call me boy after everything he would say, but I was used to it, because that was just how Negroes were treated in Maycomb County. He kept asking me why I did all the favors for Ms. Mayella. I told him that I did it, because she never got helped by the other kids or Mr. Ewell. I think that he thought I was in love with Mayella. He couldn't believe that a black man was just nice to a white women just for good and no other reason. I hope that I don't lose this case, or I would never see my family again.