To Kill A Mocking Bird Chapter 7 - 9

Perhaps I missed something, or this is what they just did in the south, but why would Jem and Scout just "declare" that hiding hole their's if they thought it belonged to someone else. And for that matter, I also do not see any point in the watch either. Why is someone just leaving stuff for Jem and Scout, why are they making such a big deal about a broken watch, how does this advance the plot in any way. And for that matter Eating some random gum that you found isn't really he best this to do now is it. Perhaps they just wanted to enjoy something that tastes good for a change, doesn't seem like they had any money to buy some anyway. I also find the Boo Radley Blanket event somewhat irritating. They spend a good majority of the book so far wondering and trying to see what Boo looks like, and then he was RIGHT behind Scout while she was staring at the fire. Feels like the author is just teasing us, in my opinion.