Wicked Girls Read Online Free Page A

my face.
    â€œMargaret,” I call her name,
    but she pretends not to hear.
    Margaret thumps over to that new girl,
    Elizabeth. And without Betty or Abigail,
    the eyes of the town stare on me alone,
    the new afflicted girl. I shudder, a single
    leaf dangling a barren branch.
    â€œAnn.” Mercy’s hand rests upon my shoulder.
    â€œHow fare ye? Feelest thou any pricks or pinches?”
    I shake my head.
    Mercy nods and says, “Still, I shall sit
    aside you, lest you need aid.”
    This will be the finest Thursday lecture
    I ever did attend.

SECRETS
    Margaret Walcott, 17
    Elizabeth hesitates.
    She fixes on her boots,
    battered and mud-splashed.
    â€œWell, take them off and come in,” I say.
    Her fingers twitch
    like the pulse of a bird’s neck
    as she corks off her shoes.
    Her eyes avoid me.
    She wears no stockings
    and her legs be spotted purple and blue.
    â€œWhat happened?” I ask.
    â€œI have no stockings and ’tis cold,”
    she says quickly, hiding away her feet.
    â€œKeep these couple then. They be old,
    but will give thee some warmth.”
    â€œThank ye.” Elizabeth smiles.
    Sunlight forms a patch ’pon my quilt.
    â€œâ€™Twas my mama’s. We sewed it together
    from the dress Mama wore on the boat
    crossing to here.”
    â€œâ€™Tis pretty.” Elizabeth begins. “My mother—”
    â€œLizzie, can you keep a secret?”
    I close my bedroom door.
    â€œFor I must tell someone, but only one I can trust.”
    â€œNone shall know what you say to me,”
    Elizabeth says, and falls hush.
    I let go my breath. “Isaac Farrar,
    he says he will marry me,
    and I do love him.
    But I spied him handling wood for Mercy,
    the Putnams’ servant girl,
    them alone in the forest together,
    Isaac smiling at her like he covet her,
    and I know not what to do.”
    Lizzie follows each of my words.
    â€œThe Lord will guide you, Margaret.
    We must pray for Isaac.”
    She bows her head.
    Two minutes pass
    and I can bear no more silence,
    no more praying on this.
    I pull Lizzie off her knees.
    â€œWhat hear ye ’bout the third witch accused?”
    â€œUncle Griggs says Sarah Osborne
    be old, mad and bedridden,” she says.
    â€œBut didst thou know Goody Osborne
    lived in sin before marrying her own servant?”
    Elizabeth gasps and shakes her head.
    â€œYea,” I say. “And Goody Osborne
    tried to cheat Ann’s father and his brothers
    out of her late husband’s trust.”
    â€œThat be a sin,” Lizzie says.
    I nod and say,
    â€œAnd Goody Osborne be a witch.”

PRECIOUS
    Mercy Lewis, 17
    â€œAnn, dear, pray come out
    from behind the drapery,”
    Missus Putnam says,
    her voice honey spun and soft.
    Missus motions for me
    to pick up Ann,
    no longer a baby.
    I cannot breathe
    until I set Ann on the divan.
    Ann grabs my hand.
    Her tremors grow so powerful
    that they tumble into me,
    and I too jitter and twitch.
    Missus says, “Ann, dear,
    you will be better.
    Father and Uncle Edward
    and Mister Hutchinson and Mister Preston
    are off to the magistrates.
    The Constable will arrest those witches.
    Before ’morrow Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne
    will be with Tituba in shackles. And, my dear child,
    I pray you will terror no longer.”
    She strokes Ann’s hair
    as she screeches for me to
    â€œFetch the child some tea!”
    â€œYes, ma’am,” I say, and turn
    toward the kitchen.
    The Missus cradles
    little Ann in her arms.
    And for the first time I can recall
    Missus looks at Ann
    as though she is something
    precious,
    dear as her necklace
    of gems.

INGERSOLL’S ORDINARY
    March 1692
    Cider flows inside the tavern,
    for Ingersoll’s serves
    a hearty stew
    of witch fever.
    All who enter and imbibe
    do lick their lips for more.
    Sure as meat makes a pie,
    the villagers be certain
    that Satan is among them.
    The brisk spoons of girls
    ladle fear
    into everyone’s