The Courage of a Mockingbird
By: Natjelli VillegasI can relate to Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird, because I also have courage. He defended Tom Robinson, because he knew it was right. Atticus showed real courage by defending Tom regardless o f his race. Atticus also taught his kinds how to be courageous and to not be racist toward others.
I remember a time when I had to be courageous. I was in 7th grade and my cousin, Carla, and I were attending the same school. She was a great person when we were young, but when we got to middle school, she became a stranger. Carla joined a gang and would steal and beat up people to prove she was a real "Surena." She was no longer a good person to be around, but she was my cousin.
Carla called one night and asked if I could come to school early the next day. I told her I would. The next day Carla was waiting for me. She knew the security guard never checked my bag because he was my mom's friend and he knew and trusted me. She asked me if I would put some of her books in my bag. I let her, not knowing she was putting a pocket knife in my bag. I didn't notice anything. Later when we went to the bathroom, she confessed she put a knife in my bag to sneak it into school.
I couldn't believe it. She wanted the knife so she could use it to fight a girl. She intended to stab the girl! I couldn't let that happen, so at lunch I ran to the principal and told him what my cousin was planning to do. It hurt me a lot because Carla was like my sister. But, I knew it was the right thing to do.
That's why I relate to Atticus, because he had courage to do the right thing. Even though Carla was my cousin, I still knew that I had to do the right thing, as well. I felt badly afterwards watching the cops takes her away. She smiled at me believing I didn't tell on her. She still doesn't know I did. She went to juvenile for 5 months. It was hard to do. I really didn't even know the girl she was going to fight, but I wasn't going to her another person get hurt or killed over a gang.
