To Kill A Mockingbird Chapter 12 Summary

Summer's sizzling, school's out, and guess what? Dill is MIA! Yep, our favorite summertime buddy ditched Scout and Jem for a new stepdad. Can you imagine summer without your best pal?

And to top it off, Atticus is gone too! He's off to the state legislature for two whole weeks. Poor Scout and Jem are left in the care of Calpurnia. Talk about a major bummer for the Finch kids.

A Whole New World with Calpurnia

Feeling lonely and bored, Scout starts getting on Calpurnia's nerves, like only a kid with too much time can. Calpurnia, bless her heart, decides enough is enough. She invites Scout and Jem to her church, First Purchase African M.E. Church.

This is where things get interesting! It’s a whole new world for the Finch kids. Suddenly, Scout and Jem are getting a peek into a different side of Maycomb.

Singing Without Books?

The church service is, well, different! No hymn books? What?! Instead, a man named Zeebo "lines" the hymns. He reads a line, and the congregation sings it back. It’s like a giant, soulful echo.

Imagine attending church and finding out that your favorite hymns are sung by someone reading each line first! It’s a practical solution for a community where many can’t read, and it’s surprisingly beautiful.

Aunt Alexandra…and Controversy

Of course, nothing's ever simple. Scout notices that the collection plate is for Tom Robinson's wife, Helen. It's to help her and her children while Tom's in jail. Talk about a community pulling together!

Then, a lady named Lula confronts Calpurnia for bringing white children to their church. "You ain't got no business bringin' white chillun here," she says. It’s an awkward, uncomfortable moment highlighting the racial tensions of the time.

It's a stark reminder that even within a supportive community, prejudice can rear its ugly head. You can see the strength and loyalty of the congregation by how they swiftly shut down the situation.

Back Home with a Secret

After church, Scout asks Calpurnia a million questions about her life, about the other people at church, everything!. She’s trying to understand this new world she's glimpsed.

Calpurnia explains that she speaks differently depending on who she's with. With her own community, she speaks in a way they understand. It’s a survival tactic, a way to navigate a world where she’s judged based on her race and education.

“It’s not necessary to tell all you know. It’s not ladylike—in the second place, folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do. It aggravates ’em.”

This shocks Scout. She thought she knew Calpurnia, but now realizes there are hidden depths. It’s a grown-up lesson about code-switching and the complexities of identity.

Surprise!

Just when Scout and Jem think things can't get any weirder, Atticus arrives home…with Aunt Alexandra! Oh boy! Aunt Alexandra has come to stay with them "for a while."

The chapter ends with the looming presence of Aunt Alexandra. Suddenly, summer isn’t just about missing Dill and going to a different church. It’s about to become a crash course in proper Southern lady-dom, whether Scout likes it or not!