From the perspective of Aunt Alexandra:
My life in Maycomb was basically the same as it ever was...except for the case that is. I had always been treated wonderfully in that little town that I called home. I never really had a permanent home when I was little. We moved around a lot, so Maycomb was a nice little haven that I secretly adored and wanted to live in.
Ever since my grown little brother wanted me to come, and after I ever so happily agreed, I was never treated the same as I used to be. I was treated kindly, of course, as most everyone was in that welcoming little town. However despite the kindness, I felt a difference in how people looked at me. If I didn't know any better I would think they didn't like my intruding on their tightly knit lives. But I did know better. I knew that Maycomb folks always had reasons for emotions, whether it was their family's name, their race, their being a pauper or being rich, it was always something.
Since I knew better, and since I knew Maycomb people were good, I knew it was my name. Since Atticus had taken on this case—which I didn't know what to think of—I was associated with him. Even though the case was almost completely irrelevant to how I was treated, people related my name as a “nigger lovers”. I didn't know what to think of the case because I loved my brother dearly and wanted him to win, however I never agreed with the concept of blacks being equal to whites. I hoped for Atticus to win, but I secretly wished he wouldn't for the sake of Tom Robinson losing. It was a very complicated predicament for me.
Even though I knew it was highly improbable that he would win, I still wanted to please him somehow. So, I decided to do whatever he told me to and whatever my responsibilities were to his family. I took taking care of the children seriously, not for them but for Atticus.
Subsequently, the one thing I had to do was take care of them well. It was also the one thing I didn't do. I lost the kids. It was a horrible feeling letting him down, but all I could do was send Calpurnia looking for them. I anxiously waited on her, and possibly the verdict of the case. I had no idea what was going on. She returned with them safe, but when she told me that Atticus allowed them to go back, I almost fainted. I didn't want them going back; it was no place for white children to be, but Atticus was who he was.
