Mrs. Dubose

Somehow, To Kill a Mockingbird wasn’t in my High School English curriculum, so I’m reading it now.

Jem’s sister tells about a vicious, bitter, flea-bitten old woman named Mrs. Dubose who insults the two children as they pass by at the end of every day to meet their father. The sick lady literally spits out abuse (she drools) between her clacking dentures… Then one day, young Jem has had enough of it. He storms into her garden whacking off the tops of flowers, a whirlwind of destruction.

When Attica (father) comes home that evening, some explaining takes place and poor Jem is ordered to go and read every day for a month, for two long hours, to the hateful women.

Which he does. She continues her insults as Jem reads. A wind-up alarm clock goes off after a short period of time, the signal that Jem and his sister can now leave.

Insults. Reading. Alarm. This continues for a month, the sole variation being that the alarm goes off a bit later each day (until it’s not used again) and Mrs. Dubose seems more “aware” at the end of each session.

Jem nearly dies when Attica tells him he’s got to do an extra week. But he submits. And then he’s free.

A month later, the spiteful woman exits the story. Only then does Jem learn the significance of his reading and of the alarm clock. Only then does Mrs. Dubose give him his gift.

Jem never grasped what was going on while he obeyed his father. He never knew what role he played in his father’s plan. But because he submitted, even without understanding, he brought freedom into Mrs. Dubose’s life.

The Father asks for your love and trust. He desires your obedience, even if you don’t understand why. This is the way he has chosen to work out his plan in your life and to bless those around you.

Thanks for stopping by.