The First Witch of Boston

by Andrea Catalano

A man should never get too greedy.

When a woman caused too much trouble or spoke too plainly, it seemed, there were those who would take umbrage and use piety as excuse and reason to take her in hand.

They would’ve accused me of being a witch, for sure

But when people cannot understand something, when they can’t make sense of a thing, they always become fearful. People fear what they do not understand, you see?”

Never underestimate 195how deeply power can corrupt even the most godly.

Think of Adam and Eve. Oh aye, the Devil tempted Eve with knowledge, and she thought to better herself. And so she took the bait, and then Adam grew curious and envious and wanted a piece of it all. Just like a selfish child. But go ahead and tell me again how man is governed by his mind and woman by her heart. They have lied to us from the beginning.

But I knew something to be very true of men. If a man took delight in the suffering of another man, or woman, or child, he was a man capable of much malice.

Lord help you, all of you, this day. For you are about to execute an innocent woman. You are about to execute an innocent woman for the crime of being a woman, a woman who lived fully, spoke plainly, listened intently, observed acutely, intuited wisely, loved passionately. I am too much for this world of yours, this Jerusalem upon a hill.” I spat upon the ground. “I am a force that makes you quake!”