Chapter 3: New Boy

The power came back on and we all jumped. Aunt Karen looked at her watch in surprise. “Oh goodness, it’s after twelve. If you girls want to take some river runs before we go tomorrow you’d better get in bed.” She stood to go.
“Mom! You can’t leave us hanging in the middle of the story!” cried Emmie. “What happens to Elizabeth and her family?”
“Does she marry the jerk?” asked Amy.
“What was in the chest?” put in Cassie.
Aunt Karen smiled. “You’ll just have to wait for another time.” She went to the door of the bedroom. “Don’t stay up much longer,” she warned before disappearing inside.
“Man, that was a good story,” Becky sighed as we climbed into our sleeping bags. “I want to hear the rest of it.”
“Maybe we should get together the night before Homecoming and have her finish telling us then.” I suggested.
“Maybe,” Emmie yawned. “Speaking of Homecoming, who are you going to ask? I’m going to ask Michael.” The next half hour we sleepily talked of the up coming dance. But I couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened to Elizabeth Colfer.
* * * *
School started the next week and Emmie and I couldn’t have been happier. This was our territory and nobody could take that away.
We walked into the commons area at lunch, surrounded by our friends Becky, Amy, Cassie, and Andrea. People ran up to get the attention of the most popular girls in school: us. Kids who we had hardly spoken to the previous year gathered around to take part of, if only a little fame.
“Did you guys hear about the new boy?” asked Megan Stanley as we sat at our favorite table. “He’s from Boston and has been all around the world with his parents. He’s really cute too.”
“I heard that he was a model for a men’s clothing magazine,” put in Carissa Matthews. “He’s in my English lit class, 2nd period.”
“Well then you can ask him to homecoming.” Cassie examined her nails. “We already have our boys picked out.”
“I thought it was a boy’s choice. Aren’t they supposed to ask us?”
“Yes, Anna, but that’s the fun of it,” explained Andrea. “You have to get them to want to ask you. Other wise you might as well not be asked. I mean, you could get asked by a complete geek.” The other girls laughed at Anna’s red face, and then the topic turned to the classes we had received so far.
As the bell rang to start the last period, I noticed someone watching me. He was tall and graceful. His blue eyes sparkled in contrast to his dark hair. This must be the new kid, I thought. Megan is right, he is cute. He looked away as the Ms. Ward walked in to begin the class. Through out the class though, he watched me. I’m sure he did! But whenever I turned to look, he was looking at the teacher or at his desk. Cassie looked at me funny after the fifth time of turning around. “What’s with you?” she whispered.
“The new boy keeps looking at me, I swear. It’s starting to bug me.”
“You look like someone who sat on a pinecone or something. Forget about it or you’ll get in trouble.”
I tried not to look the rest of class, but it was hard. As the bell to end school rang I looked once more to see him staring as he picked up his things. He smiled slightly and did a small wave before he rushed out of the room.
“Huh, it looks like you have another admirer,” grumbled Cassie as Becky came up to us. “I think you have about enough though.”
“Who? The new guy? Was that why she kept twitching?” asked Becky.
“I was not twitching!” I objected.
They ignored me.
“What are you talking about?” I grumbled. “Emmie’s the one with all the admirers.”
“Marie, you are so clueless sometimes it hurts to think about.” Becky led the way out into the hall. “I just have to feel sorry for all the boys that don’t catch your notice.” She waved her hand to take in the full hallway.
“But I don’t see any…” I began, but stopped as Josh Crowley walked by. I remembered last year when he had tried to ask me to the Halloween Dance. Then I thought of other boys I had turned down because I was clueless. What kind of she-monster am I? They probably all think I’m being shallow or something. Sure, I like boys. I just never thought that any would notice me, even if I am one of the most popular girls in school. I am such a spaz!
“Oh,” I mumbled softly. I could feel a blush redden my cheeks and I walked faster to the exit. I could hear Cassie’s giggle and Becky hush her as they followed.
* * * *
“Want to go to the mall?” Emmie asked as she drove me home.
“No thanks.”
“Why not?”
“I’m just not in the mood. Maybe this weekend.” She frowned.
“Homecoming’s in two weeks. Have you decided who you’re going with?”
“No.”
“C’mon, Marie. You’re always the last with a date.”
“I’ll get one. Don’t worry about it.”
“And if you don’t?”
“I’ll go stag. That should make some of the boys happy.”
Emmie looked at me as she turned the corner to our street. “You okay?” she asked. “You’re acting a little weird.”
I sighed. “It’s been a weird day. I’ll tell you about it latter. Right now I just want to go home and think.”
I waved as she pulled away and went inside. Yelling to whoever was home, I ran up the stairs and dumped my backpack on the floor of my room. There wasn’t much in it but it still took me a moment till I found what I was looking for: the student directory. In it were pictures of all the students and their personal information, like name, phone number, and address.
The new boy’s name was Ethan Williams. Under interesting details it said that he had moved from Boston and American History was his favorite subject. Must be a nerd, I thought. Who likes history?
The black and white picture was a poor copy of the original, but the light eyes still seemed to be staring at me and I felt a shiver go up my spine. I don’t like him, I realized. But why? Was I just being paranoid about what Cassie said? I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of boys looking at me like that, like they were… leering. I think that’s the word I want. Uhg! I shivered. Maybe I was just looking too much into it.
A knock made me jump. “Didn’t you hear mom calling you?” asked Joe as he poked his head in.
I quickly closed the directory and got off my bed. “No, I had something on my mind.” I looked at him fighting with myself. “Joe?”
“Yeah?”
I chickened out. “Never mind.” There was no way I was asking my brother about boys. I’d just have to ask Mom. Or maybe I’d just let things be and see where they went. He’s new, I reminded myself. Maybe he’s just trying to fit in and find some friends. I ducked past Joe to see what Mom wanted.
* * * *
The next morning, I awoke early and left the house before Dad got out of the shower. I had an hour and a half before I had to be at school and I needed time to think.
What was I really scared of? That was the big question, and what was worse was I didn’t have an answer. I just felt this unusual fear that the new boy was someone I shouldn’t be around. I had had this kind of fear before when for some reason I had wanted a lock on my bedroom door. I didn’t know why, I just knew that I didn’t feel safe without it. After I got the lock the fear disappeared.
But what could I do about the new boy. He hadn’t done anything wrong. I hadn’t even spoken to him. What was it that had me terrified?
I walked up the street heading north towards school. The cemetery loomed up before me and I walked into it. This place never scared me. All those people sleeping beneath me made it feel peaceful. I sometimes felt if you listened hard enough you could hear the voices of those who had passed on. Granny May, my mother’s mother, used to say that you had to listen to your ancestors for wisdom from the past. My family thought that meant with journals but I thought it was something more. You just had to know how to listen.
Before I knew where I was going, I stopped at Granny May’s marker and sat down. “Hey, Gran,” I whispered. I sat there and thought about my problem knowing Gran could hear me. “What am I to do, Gran?” I finally asked.
I waited, but no peace of mind or answer came. After about ten minutes I got up to go. “Thanks for listening, Gran,” I sighed. “Maybe I need to do this on my own.” I could sense her apologetic smile and shrugged. “I’ll see if I can bring some flowers next time.”
I turned to leave and stopped. Up the hill from me, in the oldest part of the cemetery I saw a tall figure. I couldn’t see his face, but the dark hair . . . No, I told myself. Maybe it’s one of the caretakers. It can’t be Ethan. The dark figure walked away from me to the other side of the hill and vanished from sight.
I waited for a moment then followed. I must be crazy, I thought. Why am I doing this? But still I went up the hill. At the top, I found the dark retreating shape in the distance. He was headed towards school. At the edge of the cemetery the figure turned and looked up at me. It was Ethan. He smiled and waved before turning back towards school.
What is going on?! I collapsed next to a headstone. This is just too weird. I looked at the headstone that I was next to and gasped. It read: Elizabeth Marie Colfer Miller, 1677-1740.

Chapter 2: Family History

Elizabeth Marie Colfer stepped off the wagon and looked around. Her two younger brothers and her sister stood beside her nervously. There was a series of thuds as their luggage was unloaded. “Are you sure this is the right place?”
“That it is missy. The parsonage should be a little further up the road. Now if you pardon me I have to get on to the next town before night fall.” The wagon driver clucked to his mules and soon was out of sight.
“Where is she?” asked Edward. He bent down and picked up little Sarah. She leaned her head on his shoulder with her thumb in her mouth.
“Did she forget about us?” whined Benjamin. “Are we lost, Lizzie?”
Smiling comfortingly, Elizabeth shook her head. “We’ve just arrived in Salem; we know exactly where we are. We’re not lost.” She looked around again. “Maybe god-mother has forgotten that we were arriving today.” She doubted this because the voyage here wasn’t scheduled, but she must keep up the hopes of her siblings. “We’ll just have to ask someone where to find her.”
She took Sarah from Edward and put her down, keeping hold of one tiny hand. “Ed, you stay here with the things. We’ll go find someone to help us.”
They didn’t have far to walk before they met someone walking up the road. “Excuse me, good sir,” Elizabeth began.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t stop now.” He continued without a second glance.
Another man came up the road. “Excuse me, Sir, but my . . .”
“Not now.”
Elizabeth watched him go in hurt confusion. What on earth is going on? She thought. They watched two other men go by in the same manner, each refusing to stop and listening to their pleas for assistances.
“Why are people here so mean?”
“I’m sure that there is a proper explanation for this, Ben.” She sighed and picked up Sarah. “Let’s go find out what it is.”

* * * *
“She afflicts me!”
“She comes to me at night and torments me!”
“She’s a Witch!” The shouts, accompanied by wails and screams, could be heard outside the church. Elizabeth stopped at the door and looked over the shoulder of the man in front of her.
“What’s goin’ on, Lizzie?” Benjamin asked while tugging on her skirts. She just shook her head. What was said next was lost among the noise coming from the girls in the front of the room, but Elizabeth could see clearly. There was a woman on a platform with her hands tied in front. Men sat on benches looking severe and grave. Girls were in front of the men on the floor screaming and pointing at the woman.
“Excuse me,” she timidly tapped the shoulder in front of her to get the man’s attention. “What’s happening?”
“It’s a witch trial, missy.”
“Witch?”
“Aye, where have you been?” He turned to look at her and stopped as another women came into view. “Elizabeth. You shouldn’t be here.”
“I had to see, John,” the woman said. “What happened to Goodie Cory?”
“More of the same. Where are the children?”
“Home. Supper should be ready by the time we get back.”
“Excuse me?” They both turned to look at the children before them. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” put in Elizabeth. “But my siblings and I are in need of help. Do you know the way to Edith Howard’s place?”
“Widow Howard lives at the edge of town,” replied John. “Not far from the woods to the north. Who might you be?”
“Her godchildren,” put in Benjamin with a shy smile.
“Ben, hush.” scolded Elizabeth, and then added to the adults, “We just arrived in Salem today, and my other brother is waiting for us to bring a wagon so we can get our things. Our names are; Elizabeth, Edward, Benjamin, and Sarah Colfer.”
John looked at his wife with a slight smile. “I don’t suppose we have enough food to go around?”
“John Procter, I’m surprised at you! Of course we have enough to go around.” She smiled at the children. “My husband will go get your brother, if Ben wants to show him the way back. We’re just a quarter mile up the road here, about half way to your god-mother’s.”
“Thank you, but we really must let her know we’re here.”
“Nonsense. She would have to set up places for you and make everything ready. It will be dark in few hours.”
Sarah started to whimper and Benjamin’s stomach growled loudly. Both the Procter’s tried to hide smiles. Elizabeth was at a loss to think of a polite way to refuse. “Thank you, kindly. We are in your dept.”
They followed the Procter’s home where they were given warm stew and fresh made bread. Edward came as night fell and they all lay down on the floor to sleep with the Proctor children. Elizabeth sat up thinking. What will life be like here? Will these people accept us? She couldn’t help but think of what had been going on at the church. Witch trials? Is every strange and new thing going to be considered evil? She wished her parents were there to comfort her. Being the head of her small family felt too great a burden for her fifteen-year-old shoulders. I may be old enough to marry soon, but I didn’t expect to be raising my siblings.
“Are you alright?” Goodie Procter leaned close to the fire to light a stick for a candle. “You’re warm enough aren’t you?”
“Yes, thank you. I was just thinking,” wiping her eyes, Elizabeth found that she had been crying. “I just miss our parents very much right now.”
“I understand. You’re a far way from home and in a new place. It would be frightening for anyone.”
“I’m not afraid --- just worried.”
Goodie Procter nodded. “If you need help for anything, be sure to ask. Mr. Procter and I will be always willing to help.”
“Thank you.”
“Now get some sleep. You must be exhausted.”
Elizabeth nodded and lay down next to Sarah. She was asleep by the time Mr. Procter had returned from telling Goodie Howard where her godchildren were staying.
* * * *
News soon traveled about the village that there were four children staying with Goodie Howard. “Who are they?”
“Where are they from?”
“Her god-children from England I hear.”
“Well I shall love to see them at church this week.”
“Do you think they go to church?”
“Of course, don’t be silly!”
“There’s one of them now!”
“Where?”
“The young girl across the street. Well she is certainly a young thing.”
“She a bit tall for fifteen though. Are you sure that’s what age she is?”
“Of course I’m sure. I got it from Goodie Procter. They stayed there first you know.”
These whispers followed Elizabeth up the street as she made her way into town. She had no way to know someone else was talking about her. Two men stood next to the church, watching her. “She’s quite pretty actually. I don’t suppose you’ll just leave her alone. You’ve had all the pretty ones around and leave none for the rest of the boys.”
“She is pretty, yes, but it is personality as well that is required to suit me. If she has to put up with that old woman all the time, the personality can’t be much.”
“You are unkind, Thomas. I’m sure she is a good, strong-minded girl.”
“That, my friend, is exactly the problem. Good, strong-minded girls are too independent. But like a strong-minded horse, she may just need to be broken.”
“Don’t speak too loudly; your father may hear you!”
“Jacob, you worry too much. Who would ever think badly of the son of the minister? To them I am a saint.”
“Yes and whoever saw you with a wagon driver like me would probably think you were calling me to repentance.”
“Go in peace, my brother, and don’t forget to be there to meet me in Boston.” Jacob left before Thomas’s father came out.
* * * *
Elizabeth knelt to take the thyme she had found beneath the late snow and inhaled its scent. The smell comforted her, as she knew it would. Lavender would’ve been better but this was . . . had been her mother’s favorite herb.
She sighed and placed the sprig in her apron. Godmother had just had another coughing fit this morning; her health was not improving. She had told the children that she had had a bad cough all winter and that it just wasn’t going away. Elizabeth hoped to make a tea to stop the cough. Her siblings were too young, she thought, to face another death.
They had landed in Boston at the end of the previous summer only to bury their parents and winter with some friends from the ship. They even went through the expected amount of time for mourning. The friends had been kind but the plan to continue north to Salem had firmly stayed in Elizabeth’s mind. So after the first sign of thaw they had said good-bye to Boston and traveled on. Now with godmother ill it looked as if they might have to move again. Elizabeth hoped not. She would use the skills that her mother and father had taught her since her cradle. Being the daughter of a doctor and a… well, she knew the ways of herbs and other medicinal plants.
She finished picking what she would need for a tea and stood up to go, but stopped with a gasp.
“I’m sorry if I startled you,” said the young man. He was leaning against a nearby tree. He was a tall broad shouldered man, fair skinned, and wore clothes with gray brown colors. There was an aura about him that demanded respect and something else. Elizabeth shivered. “I didn’t want to disturb you. You looked as if you were concentrating.” His dark eyes traveled over the hand on her apron and her other hand holding the last of the herb she had just picked.
“No, I was thinking,” bowed Elizabeth. “Remembering, really. We used to live near woods like these back in England. I’m sorry, but I really must get back to my godmother, mister…”
“Thomas. Thomas Parris. My father is the Minister here. I had seen you in town and meant to introduce myself. I’m hoping to get to know all the new people in town. I hadn’t seen you in church.” He took a step closer but she stepped back.
“I’m Elizabeth Colfer. I’m sorry, but I must get back.” She kept her eyes down and stepped around him. He touched her hand as if to stop her and she pulled away. “Sir, this is not the time or the place for such conversations. I beg your pardon, but I must go.” She ran into the woods again before he could say another word.
Thomas stood there for a while longer then he too left with a smile.
* * * *
The next time Elizabeth saw Thomas was in town more then a week latter. She had little Sarah with her. Her brothers were out with Mr. Procter to help with the planting. Goodie Procter had offered to take Sarah while Elizabeth was in town, but Elizabeth felt the need to keep her close.
Today the shy two-year-old clung to her sister’s skirts like a lifeline as they went from one place to another. They had just come from a shop into the chill afternoon when Elizabeth heard her name being called.
“Elizabeth Colfer, I’d like you to meet my sister Elizabeth Parris.” Thomas said as he and two girls walked up. “And this is her friend, Abigail Williams.” Both the girls curtsied.
“Pleased to meet you,” Elizabeth curtsied as well. “This is my younger sister, Sarah.”
“We wanted to meet you to hear the news from England.” one of the girls said. “We don’t get much in the way of news.”
“I’m afraid what news I would have would be over a year old. My family stayed in Boston last winter before coming here.”
“Oh that’s even better!” the other girl nodded in agreement with her friend. “Boston is the very center of news.”
“Don’t be silly, Betty,” put in Thomas. “I’m down to Boston every few months and you never care for the news I bring home.”
“That is because you don’t pay attention to the kind of news young girls would want to know.” This must be Abigail. Thomas rolled his eyes and looked back at his sister.
“I’m really sorry but I have no news…” Elizabeth was cut short as two other girls came running up to them.
“They’re taking her to the church,” said one girl.
“Deputy Brabrook has just arrested her,” said the other.
Elizabeth looked on in surprise. “Who?” The newcomers seemed to just then realize that they had a stranger among them.”
“I’m sorry,” Abigail started. “Elizabeth Colfer, these are our friends Ann Putnam and Mary Warren. Elizabeth was just about to tell us some news from England and Boston.”
“No, really,” Elizabeth protested. “What news I have is not of much interest. It’s old news. We really didn’t get that kind of news.”
“That’s too bad,” crooned Ann, although her attitude said she didn’t care at all. “Anyway, Abby, you have to come and see. The others are all at the church.”
“But she’s only four!” exclaimed Mary. “How could she be accused?”
“You can never be too sure what these people are like.” Betty explained. She then turned back to Elizabeth. “It was nice to meet you. Maybe you can come by and visit sometime.”
“Thank you but that depends on how well godmother is feeling. She has been ill lately.”
“Please send our regards,” added Thomas with a look of disappointment. “We pray she will feel better soon.” With that he bowed and the girls gave quick curtsies before they turned toward the church.
“Now that was strange,” Elizabeth murmured before turning towards home with a very tired Sarah in tow.
* * * *
She was with Goodie Proctor when they came. They all were. It was just after the noon meal. John and her brothers had just come in from the fields. Elizabeth was there to see if Goodie Proctor would take her sister while Elizabeth tended to her godmother. Three men came in to the house and John stood quickly. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Goodie Elizabeth Proctor,” proclaimed one of the men. “You are charged with Witchcraft and ordered to accompany us back to the meeting house to await your trail and examination. If you refuse, we will use force.”
“I don’t believe this!” John was beside himself with furry. Elizabeth and the children watched as one of the men stepped forward to take Goodie Procter. Sarah and the Proctor’s youngest began to cry as John stood between the man and his wife.
“John, don’t.” pleaded the man. “Don’t make this any harder for me then it already is. If, God willing, your wife is not a witch then she will go free.”
“What proof do you have? Where is the warrant? My wife goes nowhere until I see these things!”
One of the other men held out a paper and John snatched it away. As he read it, he seemed to deflate with disbelief and defeat. Goodie Proctor put a hand on his shoulder and nodded quietly. “John, I will go if I must. Do not worry. We and God know that I am innocent.”
As the men led Goodie Proctor away, Elizabeth and her siblings headed home. “What are we going to do, Lizzie?” whispered Ben. “I thought that we could be-“
“Ben! Hold your tongue! This is not the time to speak of this. We’ll speak with godmother.” Elizabeth took his hand. “We’ll not be afraid of these events.”
They reached the house with a surprise waiting for them. Goodie Edith Howard was standing in the doorway waiting for them. Her stooped figure watched them approach. Her blue eyes searched Elizabeth’s face. “Another one?” Elizabeth nodded. “Then we had best prepare, just in case.”
* * * *
That night, Elizabeth followed her godmother into the woods at the back of the house. The sun was just setting, casting an orange glow into the sky. Most of the trees had yet to sprout their leaves and made skeletal silhouettes. “Are you sure we can’t do this at any other time?” Elizabeth was nervous. “What if someone sees us?”
“Normally I wouldn’t do anything like this, but when circumstances require it, we had best do it. Do you still have that trowel? Good. Now remember where we go.” Goodie Howard led the way with quiet steps. “The road is just to the right there; if trouble breaks loose you head south to Virginia. Now this seems to be the place, that tall birch over there. Bury the chest between those big roots and mark it so you’ll find it again. Then come help me with these herbs. It’s a wonder that I didn’t run out sooner. Thank the Father that spring is here again.”
Elizabeth finished digging the hole and placed the small chest inside. It was covered with canvas and rope. She hoped to see it again soon. “What herbs are we getting?” she asked as she covered the chest and stood up again.
“There’s some thyme by that bush; come summer there should be some good berries on it. The bush I mean. But you shouldn’t be out and about in the woods till this has blown over.” Goodie Howard had a good amount of herbs in her apron by then and turned to go. “Now let’s get back to the little’uns.”
Edward waited for them at the door. “I couldn’t stop him,” he whispered to Elizabeth as she came up to him. “He said he had to see you and would wait.”
“Who?” she began, but saw Thomas waiting inside at their small table. She glanced back at her godmother.
Goodie Howard merely nodded and started bossing her forward. “Get inside girl. First you don’t get the right herbs for the stew but now you block the doorway into my home!” Seeming not to notice Thomas at that moment she continued to berate the children. “Now Edward, is that wood chopped? Well, get it done then! If you had gotten it done when I asked I wouldn’t have to tell you twice. Now why is everyone standing about? Lizzie, get that water boiling for my tea.”
“Godmother,” whispered Ben from the floor where he was tending Sarah. “There’s a man here-“
“What? What’s that? Speak up boy! Oh, why didn’t anyone say we had a guest?” Thomas had just stood up and bowed to the old woman. “Lizzie, where’s that tea? I’m sorry for the slight confusion.” She added to Thomas. “I’m afraid this girl didn’t get the right herb for the stew, or the tea for that matter. Now what can I do for you kind sir. I’m sure it’s rather late for social calls.”
Sarah decided at that moment to start crying and Elizabeth rushed forward to quiet her. As she passed him, she noticed Thomas looked uncomfortable. “I had thought to speak with Elizabeth, but if it is a bad time I shall return later.” He took his hat from where it rested on the table and bowed to go.
“Oh, nonsense,” assured Goodie Howard. “Why don’t you both step out for a bit, but not too long, mind you. I need her to get the children ready for bed.”
“I can do it by myself!” protested Ben.
“Prove it then,” suggested Elizabeth. “If you’re ready for bed by the time I come back, maybe you can stay up a little longer.” They all smiled as he ran to the back of the house where there was a curtain hanging to change behind. After handing Sarah to Edward, Elizabeth led the way outside with Thomas behind her.
“I haven’t seen you at church.” was his first comment. She hid a scowl in the growing darkness.
“Godmother has not been feeling well. It was a surprise when she told me she needed to go get herbs tonight.” Elizabeth looked behind her to make sure the door to the house was open. She didn’t want it said she would go without an escort. She relaxed as she could make out Edward’s outline near the door.
“I see.” Thomas wasn’t looking at her but out into the night as if to find an answer to something. “I would have liked to see you. My sister would have as well. We know you must be lonely with so few acquaintances here in Salem. I’ve been worried about you and your family.”
Elizabeth looked up in surprise. This was not what she was expecting at all. But Thomas went on. “I know you’re new to the village and you don’t know anyone yet, especially me. But I thought we might try. You’re lovely and smart, and I would get to know you better if…if… if you would marry me.”
Elizabeth stood there in shock. She hardly knew this man and he wanted her to marry him? Edward was listening, she could tell. She felt his shock as well as her own. She struggled to get her mind in order. She hated to think she was breaking any hearts but she knew that he wasn’t the man for her.
“Mr. Parris…”
“Please, call me Thom.”
She closed her eyes and took a calming breath. “Mr. Parris, I’m sorry but I can not accept your offer. I am flattered by your high praise and compliments, but it would be impossible for me to say yes.” She looked at her shoes. She could not see them in the dark but it was the only place to look. She didn’t want to look in the doorway where Edward was, she could feel him beaconing her godmother to him. She had to get rid of Thomas fast.
“Are you saying you won’t have me?” Thomas said quietly. He had a different tone of voice now, one of disbelief. As if he had not expected to be refused.
“Yes,” she whispered. “We barely know each other. Even if we were given time, however, I’d still be unable to accept.” She didn’t like the feelings she was reading off of him. This could be dangerous. “I’m sorry, Mr. Parris. I have to go in now.” She turned to go, but as she did, he grabbed her arm.
“No one refuses me!” His voice was a hiss through his teeth. It frightened her.
“Mr. Parris, you’re hurting my arm.” She fought to keep her voice calm as she sent thoughts toward Edward. Tell Godmother that there is trouble.
Thomas released her arm but stepped in front of her to prevent her entering the house. “Tell me why,” he whispered. “Why refuse me?”
“Because her father had already made a marriage agreement.” Goodie Howard stood in the door way with a candle lit. “Her parents may be dead, God rest their souls, but it is her duty as the eldest to fulfill that agreement. Now I’m sorry, dear boy, but you’ll have to leave. Ben is ready for bed as he promised and wants his sister to tell him a story.” Thomas looked from one woman to the other his face smooth. Nodding, he placed his hat on his head and left without another word.
* * * *
Thomas paced back and forth across the small room, the three girls watching him. “She refused me and the old hag gave her excuse for her,” he muttered. “Her family is dead. What contract can hold her? None; she has just spurned me out of spite.”
“Cousin, calm yourself.” Abigail sat beside her friend Mary on the couch with some stitching in hand. “From what I have seen, she is a shy and frightened girl with no wit about her.” She seemed to focus on the bird pattern in her hand as she held the needle ready.
“That’s right. Now, Abby on the other hand is quite witty and bright.” Betty looked up from the dress she was working on. “Why can’t you go after one of my friends, brother? They’d all be very willing.” Mary ducked her head to hide her blush as Abby gave a protest.
“I’d not have him! Even if you are my cousins, you’re too much like siblings for me to marry him. Besides, I will have John one way or the other.”
“Thanks ever so, Abby.” Thomas scowled at the girls. “But the girl who marries me will be the one I chose and none other.”

Chapter 1: Birthdays

Tap-tap, tap-tap, tap-tap. The Rain on my window kept beat with my depressed thoughts. Fired, fired, fired. I have just been fired. True, it hadn’t been a job I liked, but it was still depressing. This job had been my way to save for college. I pressed my small nose against the window and breathed a sigh, watching as it fogged up the window. As the window cleared, I could make out a faint reflection of my pale face. My blue eyes were depressed and my black hair hung down around my face with my bangs making a straight line above my eyebrows.

At least I don’t have to clean anymore toilets, I thought, trying to cheer myself up, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. That had to be the worst part of janitorial work; cleaning up after others. No more ‘stinky’ remarks from Joe! I realized with a smile. My brother was forever teasing me about my job. Well, now I’ll be able to get a job he can’t tease me about. I could get a job at Dad’s clinic or at the library with Mom.

A noise downstairs caught my attention. It sounded like someone was in the kitchen. It must be Mom, I thought with a sigh. I got up to talk to her stepping into the hall and looking over the railing into the entry way. “Mom?” I called down. “Mom, is that you?” The noise stopped suddenly, and then I heard a crash as what sounded like a glass fell to the floor. “Mom?” I called again. Nobody answered.

Tibbs, I thought. Dumb cat is on the counters again. I went down to clean up and hoped Mom wouldn’t be too upset about losing another of her good glasses to my tabby cat. But as I passed the front door I could see Tibbs, my big orange-yellow tabby, through the screen outside asleep on the front porch rug. I even remembered shutting and locking the inside door when I got home. Someone was in the house with me.

Fear shot up my spine and I ran to the closet under the stairs to get the broom. If a burglar is in this house he is about to meet with pain! I told Mom we needed a security system!

I checked the kitchen and the garage first. No cars but mine were home. I then left the mess of broken glass on the floor to search the rest of the down stairs. I realized how silly I was being when I looked in the washer and dryer and decided to stop. I headed to the closet again to grab the dust pan and clean up the glass when I heard the sound of the patio door closing.

I rushed to the kitchen again, but no one was there; I could hear someone in the garage and jiggling the door knob. I pressed myself against the wall by the door and waited, holding my breath. The door opened slowly and when a head came into view, down came the broom.

“Ow!” cried my brother; dropping the grocery bag he had been carrying. “Marie! What was that for?” He towered over me rubbing his head.

“Joe?” I gasped in relief. I pushed past him to look in the garage. I could see Joe’s blue Jeep behind my red Ford. “I- I thought you were someone else.” I dropped the broom to help gather the groceries on the floor.

Joe’s gray eyes glared at me; he was still rubbing his head. His spiky brown hair was pushed flat where I had hit him “Who’d you think I was?” he asked. “The Boogie Man?”

I chuckled nervously and stood up with the grocery bag. “I guess so. I just thought I heard someone in the house earlier.”

He took the bag and put it on the counter. “It was probably Tibbs,” he told me. “Either that or . . . a rat.” He gave me an evil grin as I swatted at him with the broom I’d just picked up, feeling a little better. He was most likely right, but I couldn’t help remembering the open front door.

“What happened in here?” he asked. He had found the broken glass on the other side of the counter. “I was just about to take my shoes off.”

“Let me take care of it.” I told him. “I don’t know what happened. I was in my room when I heard it. But Tibbs was outside when I came down, so it probably was a rat.” I shuddered. I hate rats!

Ember Reed, my best friend and cousin, came to the patio door and knocked. Isn’t that door locked? I thought as I waved her in, but she had no problem opening it. “Don’t come over here where we are.” I warned her. “We’ve broken a glass. Joe, can you get me the dust pan please?”

“Sure,” he shrugged. But as he turned away I caught him looking at Emmie and blushing.

“How was work?” asked Emmie, sitting on a stool. She leaned forward and rested her elbows on the counter, her blond hair falling over her shoulders. “Were you able to get our birthdays off?”

“I didn’t have to.” I grumbled. “Randy said that he was letting me go ‘to enjoy the rest of the summer.’ He also said that they wouldn’t need me during the school year.”

“What?” Emmie’s golden-hazel eyes widened. “Why? I thought they were going to offer you a part time, afternoon job.”

“Not really. They said if they liked how I worked, they would give me the job. I guess they didn’t like how I worked.”

“Well, that stinks!” she grumbled.

“At least you don’t have to work on your birthday,” Joe pointed out, coming back with the dust pan. “So, what are you Birthday Girls planning to do anyway?” That’s the funny thing about Emmie and me. Our birthdays are right next to each other. (I’m older by only one day.)

“Aunt Karen is going to take us and a bunch of our friends up to their lodge.” I told him. Emmie’s family had an old lodge up in the canyon that had been there since the colonial days. They had remodeled it to modern standards before her dad had died in a car accident.

“Have you talked to mom about it?” asked Joe. He was looking skeptical about it. “I’m sure she didn’t tell Dad.”

“She did,” I assured him. “In fact, Aunt Karen talked to both of them herself.” I threw away the glass I had just swept up and threw him a glare. Brothers, why do they have to be such a pain sometimes?

“Whatever.” He opened the fridge to put the groceries away.

“Don’t mind him,” whispered Emmie, as she took me by the elbow and steered me from the kitchen. “Let’s go up to your room and plan for this weekend. It should be a lot of fun even if we can’t have any boys up there with us.”

I smiled as we went up the stairs. Emmie was always talking about boys these days. Not that I blamed her. I noticed a lot of boys at school too. But I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. I was sure that Emmie would spend all her time with boys and none with me. They were taking my best friend away. I then remembered the blush that my brother gave when Emmie came. I wonder if he likes her. Except for the fact that they’re cousins, that wouldn’t be so bad. My smile turned into a grin.

“What’re you smirking about?” Emmie stepped in front of me before I could enter my room.

“Nothing,” I lied.

Emmie frowned up at me. “It can’t be ‘nothing,’” she told me. “You have that ‘I know something you don’t’ look in your eyes. C’mon, spill it!” I just grinned wider and side stepped into my room.

“If you don’t know, I’m not going to tell you.” I replied in a singsong voice. Emmie hates it when I do that. I bounced onto my bed with a sigh. “Now, who’s coming to this thing anyway?”

Emmie dropped down next to me in exasperation. She knew that she couldn’t get a secret out of me very easily. “Mom’s only letting us invite two girls each, so we might as well make it just the girls in our group.” Emmie looked disgusted. She loved parties, big ones too. Her philosophy was, “If you can’t have a big party it might as well be a funeral.” Of course I was the exact opposite. I liked small groups, the smaller the better.

“That makes sense.” I said. “We’re going to be up in the mountains anyway, right? I’m sure a lot of people wouldn’t have been able to come if it were any bigger. I think our group of girls will be fine.”

“Yeah, but what are we going to do up there?” she whined. “It’s only an over nighter and there isn’t much to do.” I smiled and shook my head.

“Don’t you have that TV and Play Station 2 up there? I can bring the dance pads and DDR Max and we’ll have a dance competition. C’mon Emmie. You act like if there weren’t some guys, it wouldn’t be a party. We can have a party without guys you know? We’ve done it before.”

“Oh all right!” she growled. “But I don’t have to like it.”

I laughed. “You’re always like this. And then when the party comes, you have too much fun to remember that there weren’t any boys there.” Emmie just stuck her tongue out. I leaned over my bed and grabbed the cordless phone off my nightstand. “Here,” I tossed it to her. “Why don’t you call Amy first and ask if she can come? I’m sure she’ll have some ideas.” We then spent the rest of the afternoon calling the girls and deciding what we were going to do.

Mom and Dad came home and took us all out to dinner. We went to my favorite Chinese restaurant. We talked about the classes we were going to take when school started the next week and the upcoming party. At the end of the meal I grabbed a fortune cookie and tore it open. The fortune read: “You will pass a difficult test that will make you stronger.” I read it aloud and we laughed over it, trying to predict what it might mean. Joe stated the most obvious saying it was tests in school. Emmie and I looked at each other and groaned.

By the time we got home, after taking Emmie home, I had totally forgotten about the noise I had heard earlier in the house. I just curled up in my bed with Tibbs at my feet. The last thing I thought of as I fell asleep was that I still hadn’t told my parents about losing my job.

* * * *

The next four days went by quickly and the day of the party arrived. I was now officially seventeen. I woke that morning with Tibbs lying on my chest. No wonder it was hard to breath! I nudged him off sleepily and sat up. I had had a weird dream; I was running in the dark with someone following me. I shook my head to clear it as someone knocked on my door. Without waiting for an answer, Mom came in carrying a breakfast tray.

“Morning Birthday Girl!” she sang cheerfully. She quickly put the tray on my dresser. Her dark hair was falling out of her bun and she stopped to look in my mirror to replace it. I look a lot like my mom except her eyes. Her eyes are gray-blue. Joe got the gray, I got the blue. “You'd better get a move on and get up. Emmie'll be here soon to pick you up.” She told me as she walked back out my door. I groaned and lay back down. I didn’t want to get up yet.

I soon found a pillow thrown into my face and someone tickling me. I screamed, rolling away from my attacker and rolled off the bed. I could hear Joe laughing above me as I lay with my back on the floor.

“When did he come in?” I grumbled to myself as I stood up.

“Why is it,” I asked him grumpily, “that you are so awake this morning?”

He looked me over with a grin plastered on his face. “Because you look funny.” he said impishly.

I glared at him. “Out!” I demanded. “I refuse to be pestered this early in the morning on my birthday!” He threw one of my stuffed animals at me before ducking to avoid my pillow.

“It’s not morning,” He added before running out of the room, slamming the door.

“Don’t slam the doors!” I heard Dad yell.

I slowly made my bed and got dressed. Why am I so slow? I thought glumly. Then the doorbell rang. I looked at the clock; it was just after noon.

“Marie? You ready to go?” Mom called. “Emmie’s here to get you.”

“Coming!” I called back. I quickly grabbed a piece of toast from the tray on my desk and stuffed it in my mouth. I put an orange in my pocket, grabbed my bags by my door, and rushed down the stairs.

“Marie, your hair’s a mess,” Mom said as I went past.

“I’ll fix it in the car!” I called, dragging Emmie with me. “I’ll see ya sometime tomorrow!” I opened the door to the Reed’s SUV and stuffed my things in. I then climbed in after them, slamming the door shut.

“What happened to you this morning?” asked Emmie as she got in. She was looking at me with a funny look.

“What?” I asked. “What’s wrong?”

Aunt Karen looked in the rear view mirror as she backed out of my driveway and smiled. “Interesting hair style, Marie.”

Confused, I got into one of my bags and searched for my compact. When I had it, I opened it and saw what they meant. On my forehead, written in ink was “Happy B-day Sis!!!” My dark hair was in shiny, sticky dread locks.

“JOE!!!” I yelled as Emmie burst out laughing.

“Why didn’t you wake up when he did it?” she asked when the giggles had died down a bit.

“How should I know?” I shot back as I dug around in my other bag. Joe is going to pay for this tomorrow, I thought as I pulled out my baseball cap. “Aunt Karen? Can we stop at your place so I can wash my hair? It should only take me about ten minutes.”

She gave me a sympathetic look. “Sure thing.” She said as she pulled out her cell phone. “Emmie, you call the girls and say we’ll be a little late.”

“It’s a good thing its only mousse,” said Emmie. “Or your hair would stay that way.”

“Just call ‘em already.”

* * * *

I had to wash my hair three times to get all the gunk out of it. The writing hadn’t come completely off in the shower. It was past one in the afternoon when we were on our way again. Emmie drove so her mom could put my hair in braids in the back seat. Our three friends (Andrea couldn’t make it) had to hide smiles when they saw my forehead, so once Aunt Karen was done with the braids, I put on my cap to cover the writing.

It was a two-hour drive to the cabin and most of us slept on the way up. Rain clouds started to gather as we unloaded the car. “Aw,” moaned Cassie. “It wasn’t supposed to rain!” I felt a few drops on my head and arms.

“Strange, the weatherman said it wasn’t going to rain.” Aunt Karen replied. We hurried inside as the clouds let the rain go. Fifteen minutes latter it was a down pour.

“Well, so much for the river today,” said Amy, as she watched the rain through the window. Her long brown hair was in a braid down her back. She held her swim suit in the hopes that the rain would stop.

We were all gathered in the main room of the cabin. The power was out because of the storm so Becky, Cassie, Emmie, and I were all playing card games. Aunt Karen was in the kitchen trying to get the oven to light. We had been planning to go down the river that runs by the cabin on some tubes, but the rain now made that impossible. We could hear a slight roll of thunder in the distance.

“Well, now what?” sighed Emmie as she threw down her cards. She had just lost the third game in a row. “The TV doesn’t work so we can’t play DDR and it’s raining so we can’t go tubing or hiking!”

“We could talk about boys and the homecoming dance,” suggested Becky. She gathered all the cards and started to shuffle them. “Its two weeks after school starts.”

“Please, not around my mom!”

“But your mom’s in the other room, she wouldn’t be able to hear us.”

“Hear what?” Aunt Karen walked in carrying a tray of mugs full of steaming hot cocoa. She set it down next to us on the floor. “Talking about boys? Or the school dance?” I grinned. Aunt Karen doesn’t miss much.

“Neither,” Emmie moaned. “We’re just bored.”

“Then lets start the fire early instead,” Aunt Karen then went to the door to grab a jacket. “Emmie, you and Marie clean out the fire place. Becky and Cassie, go get the blankets from the other room. Amy, grab another coat and help me with the fire wood.”

Everyone got to work and we soon had the fire going merrily. Aunt Karen dug some hotdogs and chocolate out of the freezer and some marshmallows from a cupboard. We were talking and having so much fun that we didn’t notice it get dark outside until we were all so full we didn’t want to move.

“How about a ghost story?” asked Cassie. She reached for a flashlight by her blanket and, switching it on, pointed at her face. “On a dark stormy night…” she began in what she thought was a scary voice, before Becky took it away.

“Not from you, thanks. No offence, Cass, but your ghost stories are always so corny.”

“Aw, but I have a really good one about zombies.”

“Heard it!” We all chorused.

“Fine!” she said in a mock hurt voice. “I’ll just have to bore you all with my sisters dating stories.”

“That would be scary,” muttered Becky, playing along.

“Please no!” cried Amy, while the rest of us laughed.

“Well I have one,” Aunt Karen put in. “It’s about witches.” She said the last part in a whispered tone. I couldn’t help but feel a chill go up my back.

“This is a story that has been in our family for generations.” She began. “In fact, your mother, Marie, knows this story very well.

“It all started when my great-great-great grandmother came to America. Her and her brothers and sister were going to live with their godmother because their parents had died on the ship. On an early March afternoon in the year 1692 the children arrived in Salem, Massachusetts; place of the most famous witch hunt of all time.”

Cotton Mather (Part 2)

Here it is! The biography on Cotton Mather! (I don't think I did all that great, but what the hey!)

Cotton Mather was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author, and pamphleteer. He was often remembered for his connection to the Salem Witch trials.

Cotton Mather was born February 12th, 1663 in Boston, Massachusetts, to Increase and Maria Mather. He was named after both grandfathers; Richard Mather and John Cotton. After gaining an education under Ezekiel Cheever (1641-1708), Cotton went to Harvard and graduated at the age of 15. He taught for a time as he studied theology and medicine, then he was elected assistant pastor in his father's church, the North Church of Boston. Later he was left in charge of the largest congregation in New England at the age of twenty-five and ministered to it for the rest of his life.

Mather, a true believer in witchcraft, soon became one of the most influential men in the colonies. He had in 1688 investigated the strange behavior of four children of Boston mason named John Goodwin. After observing the children he concluded that witchcraft was responsible and accused Mary Glover of being a witch. He presented his findings in one of his 450 works, "Memorable Providences Relating to Witchcraft and Possessions." In 1692, when the magistrates appealed to the Boston clergy for advice in regard to the Salem trails, he drafted their reply. He believed that the New World had been the undisturbed realm of the Devil before the settlements were made in Massachusetts. Any visions he saw of himself being promised the Lord's help in the Lord's work was feared to be of diabolic origin and he fasted and prayed to deliver himself from evil enchantment.

Most believe he was a bad influence in the trails. He urged the judges, 3 out of 5 were his friends, to consider spectral evidence, giving it such weight as "it will bear," and to consider the confessions of witches the best evidence of all. More people confessed to being witches as the trials progressed and Mather became convinced that "an Army of Devils is horribly broke in upon the place which is our center." He later gave a sermon waring that the Last Judgment was near, portraying himself and others as leaders in the final charge against the Devil's legions. He witnessed the execution of ex-minister George Burroughs of witchcraft. When Burroughs recited the Lord's Prayer perfectly (which witches weren't supposed to be able to do) and the crowd called for the execution to halt, Mather reminded them that Burroughs had been convicted by a jury. He then wrote "Wonders of the Invisible World," telling of the trails.

After the trails, many people admitted that the trials were wrong and that they, the judges, were in the wrong. Mather and others refused to admit their guilt and were unrepentant. Mather even continued to try to cure people of witchcraft.

In May of 1721, a smallpox epidemic struck and continued through the year. Inoculation was a practice that had been used for sometime in Africa and a slave explained it to Mather. Mather was fascinated by the idea and encouraged physicians to try it without success. Then Mather urged the doctor Zabdiel Boylston to use the procedure on his only son and two slaves. All recovered in about a week.

Controversy arose and the New England Courant Published writers who opposed inoculation. The reason was stated that the Boston population feared that the procedure would spread the disease instead of preventing it. There was such hostility that the select men of the city forbade Mather and Boylston to repeat the experiment.

Cotton Mather lived to be sixty-five years old and died on Febrary 13th, 1728. Of Mather's three wives and fifteen children, only his last wife and two children survived him. Mather was buried on Copp's Hill near Old North Church.

Cotton Mather (Part 1)

I have been assigned in my American History Class to do a presentation on Cotton Mather, who had a very big impact on the Salem Witch Trials where parts of my story take place. With the presentation, I have to do a two-page biography. When I finish I hope to post it here.

writer's block as the artist catches up.

That's right, I have writer's block. But that should be ok for now because Janny needs to draw out the first chapter. I just hope I snap out of this before she gets to chapter four where I'm stuck. :D

The artist is coming!

I may have found an artist for the comic. My great friend, Janny Wright.