The First Witch of Boston

by Andrea Catalano

She was always ready when he was ready. She had said it was because they had been made for each other, intended from the time they ceased to be stars and took their first breaths in the world of the living.

Some men would choose to lie to their wives when faced with such a question, perhaps make light of another woman’s beauty and grace. But Thomas was truthful to a fault, just like his wife.

I tell her I am a healer and midwife and have no knowledge of magic and dark arts.

“Oh, Maggie, power resides in gold, and gold resides in power. It matters not who sits on the throne or who controls Parliament. This is the way it always has been and the way it always will be.”

The men in power could not abide by a woman speaking her mind and gaining the admiration of others. And so she had been charged with blasphemy and banished to the wilds.

I thought to myself, ‘Upon my word, she’s a beauty but she’s got the Devil’s tongue in her.’”

They know naught, most of them. And the louder they are, the less they know. The more they boast, the less they have.

They called her a “healer,” though Sam told Thomas that he overheard some in the public house call her a “cunning woman.” This unsettled Thomas, because “cunning woman” was one step shy of “witch,” and “witch” was most certainly a name to fear.

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?”

I grow weary of everything being so pious, everything reverting back to God. I am as God-fearing as most men, but when I take a piss I don’t thank God for it. Enough is enough, do you not agree?”