Read Online Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill - Free Book Online Page B

cousin—” I say.
    â€œDefy me never,” Mother says.
    And I decide
    â€™tis time Mother
    learns to speak kinder
    to Mercy and me.

OUR LITTLE BARGAIN
    Ann Putnam Jr., 12
    â€œMother, I believe I saw John Willard—
    the one who tended you unkindly
    when you were a child.
    The specters of John Willard
    and Rebecca Nurse
    told me they murdered
    baby Sarah last summer.”
    Mother looks down at her stomach,
    now round with a new child.
    Mother’s eyes fuel.
    â€œMy dearest Ann,
    â€™tis true.” She attempts
    to clasp my hand.
    I withdraw my palm
    from hers like we play hot coals.
    â€œOr perhaps, I did not.”
    Mother looks perplexed.
    I stroke her arm and smile.
    â€œMy sight can sometimes become
    hazy and sometimes be made clear.
    Same with the other girls.
    I see more clearly when you are kind
    to Mercy and me.”
    Mother exhales out her nose
    and says with direct eyes,
    â€œThen I shall be kinder to you both.”

MINE FOR THE TAKING
    Mercy Lewis, 17
    The cave of Ingersoll’s shrouds me.
    I pat Wilson’s head
    and close my eyes.
    Ann says, “Margaret,
    I care not who Mother told ye
    she knew to be a witch.
    â€™Tis who we say.
    This week we see old man Giles Corey,
    whose wife be already in prison.”
    Stead of gnashing her gums,
    Margaret nods at Ann.
    â€œFor all his tongue-lashing against us,
    Goodman Corey ought have it nipped.”
    â€œWe also see Mercy’s prior master,
    Reverend George Burroughs.
    Remember to call him the Grand Conjurer,
    the leader of the witches.
    Father sent a party up to Maine
    already to arrest him.”
    Margaret shakes her horse head:
    â€œMercy lies. Reverends are not wizards.”
    Abigail whispers hesitantly,
    â€œI seen ’em both.
    Uncle says Reverend Burroughs
    stole from Salem Village
    when he was pastor here.
    He must work for the Devil.”
    Ann be not impressed with Abigail.
    â€œDo you think I know this not?”
    Ann squints one eye at the rest of us
    as though her words be luminary.
    â€œBoth men have been known
    to murder wives and servants.”
    Elizabeth peeps open her mouth,
    â€œI seen none ye named.
    I cannot testify.”
    â€œIf ye testify not and see not,
    then out with you.”
    Ann’s words fierce as frostbite,
    she motions toward the door.
    â€œGo on serving always Doctor Griggs.”
    Margaret adds,
    â€œDefy your calling, Elizabeth,
    and the Lord will punish you.”
    Elizabeth shivers.
    She rubs her shoulder.
    â€œI follow the Lord.
    Pray do not send me home.”
    Isaac Farrar enters the ordinary
    as a gust of wind.
    Margaret loses breath.
    But Isaac looks not on her;
    he beckons me with his eyes.
    Margaret be turned over.
    I could melt her to nothing.
    She be that much a gob
    of butter. All I need do
    is sashay over to Isaac
    and bat my lids
    and call him outside.
    I stand,
    but Wilson bites my sleeve
    and pulls me down to seating.

NEW GIRL
    Ann Putnam Jr., 12
    â€œSusannah,” I say, and a girl
    twice the size round and half
    the size tall she ought to be
    waves at me from the corner.
    I sink. My idea to replace Abigail
    with this new, older girl
    seems now nothing but folly.
    â€œAnn Putnam,” she says
    in a voice overfull of cheer.
    â€œâ€™Tis your father who issues
    complaints against the witches
    who torture me—what a man he must be.”
    â€œYes,” I say. Susannah Sheldon’s
    yellowed dress rags at the edges
    and has been let out more than once.
    â€œYou are as all do say.”
    Susannah puts her stubby hand on mine.
    â€œA perfect lady.”
    â€œWant some?” I offer her
    a piece of my bread.
    No doubt she’ll take it.
    Susannah shakes her head.
    â€œCannot. Martha Corey chokes me
    each time I try to take a bite.”
    She brings the bread to her lips
    but as soon as she tries to bite,
    her face blues and her throat tightens.
    All the folk in Ingersoll’s
    stop their dining and look on