Each year, the Finch siblings (, Alexandra,
and Jack) gather at Finch's Landing, which includes the ancestral home and property which have
been in their family for generations. Aunt Alexandra still lives there with her
husband.
loves picking her Uncle Jack up from the train station and being
able to spend some time with him. She does not love spending it with Aunt Alexandra or
Alexandra's grandson Francis. Scout begs to break with tradition but notes that "no amount
of sighing could induce Atticus to let us spend Christmas day at home. We went to Finch's
Landing every Christmas in my memory."
Trying to socialize with Francis
bores Scout endlessly. Aunt Alexandra criticizes Scout's attire and forces her to sit at the
"little table" whileand Francis are allowed to eat with the adults. Uncle Jack
chastises her for swearing.
When Francis calls Atticus a "nigger
lover," Scout has finally reached her breaking point. She slugs Francis, splitting her
knuckle on his teeth.
Uncle Jack appears in time to see the assault and
decides to teach Scout a lesson for using inappropriate language and whips her, leaving seven or
eight red marks. Atticus decides it is time for his family to exit Finch Landing and takes the
kids home.
Later Uncle Jack comes to Scout's room; Scout informs him that he
really doesn't know much about children and tells him why she'd hit
Francis. Uncle Jack is fairly dumbfounded and swears to never marry for fear that he one day
might have children.
In all, Christmas Day at Finch Landing isn't the warm
and festive day that fond memories are built upon.
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