in Chapter 12 of tequila Mockingbird summer is back and Jem is about to turn 12 it's apparent that gems adolescent angst is starting to show he's continually telling Scout to stop bothering him worst of all he tells her to start acting more like a lady after years of telling her to stop acting like a girl any hope for a fun summer feels lost when dill writes to say he can't come he reports having a new stepfather and says they're going to build a fishing boat together he then a sure Scout of his love and promises to come get her when he saves enough money on top of that Atticus is called to an emergency session of the state legislature in Atticus's absence Calpurnia takes the finch children to her african-american church a woman named Lula confronts Calpurnia and asks her why she's bringing white people to their church they got their church we got ours she says Calpurnia tells her to mind her own business Reverend Sykes greets them warmly and finds them essenes while the congregation meets them with kindness the congregation takes up a collection for Tom Robinson's wife to help while her husband is on trial scout and Jim learn about the struggles in the black community after the service gem scout and Calpurnia have a wild discussion about language education and life experience all revolving around the differences between blacks and whites when Scout and Jem returned home they're surprised to find aunt Alexandra lady because the story takes place over three years the author is able to illustrate the children's physical and mental changes as the novel progresses the children and reader are reminded that despite their father's efforts to defend Tom Robinson the Finch children know little about the lives of local African Americans including Calpurnia and her family Scouts comments about gems upcoming birthday remind the reader of gems new adolescence his moodiness provides insight into the siblings personality differences even though they can get on each other's nerves the underlying bond is always apparent the conversation between Calpurnia Jem and scout as they walk home from church is pivotal though the children have known Calpurnia for a long time they come to realize how very different their life experiences on the chapter also shows the ways Calpurnia must navigate the differences between the african-american and white worlds in Maycomb this is a difference to Finch children are only beginning to glimpse [Music] you