To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 21 Summary

Calpurnia waits for the judge to see her and then asks permission to give Atticus a note.
The judge says it’s okay; Atticus reads the note tells the judge that it’s from his sister and says that his children are missing.
Mr. Underwood speaks up and tells Atticus they’re in the balcony and have been there all afternoon.
Atticus tells the kids to come down from there, and they do.
Atticus sends the kids home with Calpurnia and at first tells them to stay there, but after some strategic whining he agrees that they can come back once they’ve had their dinner.
All they way home Cal chews Jem out for bringing his sister into the trial, and Scout is pleased that Jem’s been knocked off the pedestal she thinks he’s always occupied in Cal’s eyes.
Jem, still riding the euphoria of thinking they’re going to win the case, doesn’t care.
Aunt Alexandra is ready to faint from horror when she hears where they’ve been.
After dinner the kids make it back to the courthouse to find the loyal Reverend Sykes has still saved their seats for them.
Scout and Jem are surprised that hardly anyone has left – usually everyone heads out once the jury leaves to deliberate.
They talk to Reverend Sykes about the formalities that happened while they were gone.
Jem says that they’ve won the case, but the Reverend says that he’s never seen a jury support an African-American man over a white one.
The court audience waits patiently for the jury to come to a verdict – like they were in church, Scout thinks.
After three hours of this, Scout drowses off for a bit, and wakes up thinking about the morning when Atticus shot the mad dog.
Mr. Tate calls the court to order and brings Tom Robinson back into the room.
The jury comes in, and announces their unanimous verdict: guilty.
Atticus whispers something to Tom Robinson, packs up his papers, and leaves.
As he walks down the aisle alone, the African-Americans in the balcony silently stand up to honor him.

Chapter 22

Chapter 20