<P> Jeremy Atticus "Jem" Finch is Atticus' son and Scout's older brother by four years . Jem matures greatly throughout the course of the novel, much more affected by events than Scout seems to be . Being four years Scout's senior, Jem is seen to have a greater understanding of - and therefore greater difficulty in navigating - the obstacles thrown their way . Jem is seen explaining many things to Scout throughout the novel . Bob Ewell breaks Jem's arm during his assault on the Finch children, subsequently resulting in it being shorter than it had been, in an attempt to protect his sister . He is portrayed by Phillip Alford in the film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird . </P> <P> Charles Baker "Dill" Harris is a short, smart boy who visits Maycomb every summer from Meridian, Mississippi, and stays with his Aunt Rachel (Aunt Stephanie in the film). Dill is the best friend of both Jem and Scout, and his goal throughout the novel is to get Boo Radley to come out of his house . The children concoct many plans to lure Boo Radley out of his house for a few summers until Atticus tells them to stop . In chapter 5 of the novel, Dill promises to marry Scout and they become "engaged". One night Dill runs away from his home in Meridian, arriving in Maycomb County where he hides under Scout's bed . When she finds Dill, he tells both Scout and Atticus that he was chained to a wall in his father's basement; later, he confesses he actually ran away because he felt he was being replaced by his stepfather . Before Dill returned to Meridian after the summer, he went swimming with Jem at the Barker's Eddy creek . Scout, unfortunately, was unable to participate, because both boys were swimming naked . </P> <P> Unlike Scout and Jem, Dill lacks the security of family support . He is unwanted and unloved by his mother and stepfather: "They do get on a lot better without me, I cannot help them any ." As Francis (a cousin of Jem and Scout) says, "He hasn't got a home, he just gets passed around from relative to relative ." Dill maintains he has no father; he doesn't know where his father might live, or if he will ever come back . He is played by John Megna in the film adaption of To Kill a Mockingbird . </P> <P> This character is believed to be based on author Truman Capote, a childhood friend of Harper Lee . </P>

When is boo radley first mentioned in to kill a mockingbird