When I was almost six and Jem was nearly ten, our summertime boundaries (within calling distance of Calpurnia) were Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose's house two doors to the north of us, and the Radley Place three doors to the south. We were never tempted to break them. The Radley Place was inhabited by an unknown entity the mere description of whom was enough to make us behave for days on end; Mrs. Dubose was plain hell.
     That was the summer Dill came to us.
     Early one morning as we were beginning our day's play in the back yard, Jem and I heard something next door in Miss Rachel Haverford's collard patch. We went to the wire fence to see if there was a puppy--Miss Rachel's rat terrier was expecting--instead we found someone sitting looking at us. Sitting down, he wasn't much higher than the collards. We stared at him until he spoke:

    "Hey."
    "Hey yourself," said Jem pleasantly.
     "I'm Charles Baker Harris," he said. "I can read."
    "So what?" I said.
     "I just thought you'd like to know I can read. You got anything needs readin' I can do it. . . ."
     "How old are you," asked Jem, "four-and-a-half?"
     "Goin' on seven."
     "Shoot no wonder, then," said Jem, jerking his thumb at me. "Scout yonder's been readin' ever since she was born, and she ain't even started to school yet. You look right puny for goin' on seven."
     "I'm little but I'm old," he said.

Jem brushed his hair back to get a better look.

     "Why don't you come over, Charles Baker Harris?" he said. "Lord, what a name."
     "'s not any funnier'n yours. Aunt Rachel says your name's Jeremy Atticus Finch."
Jem scowled.

     "I'm big enough to fit mine," he said. "Your name's longer'n you are. Bet it's a foot longer."
     "Folks call me Dill," said Dill, struggling under the fence.

Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbird. Copyright © by Harper Lee.