The First Witch of Boston

by Andrea Catalano

“Try not to drink so much on a Saturday evening. As sure as the sun rises, Saturday will turn into Sunday, you know.”

The men in power could not abide by a woman speaking her mind and gaining the admiration of others.

You see, I had only known men who threw their weight and voices round as though they were kings, as though it were their divine right. Most think they know everything and speak like they do, when it is nothing but empty words. They know naught, most of them. And the louder they are, the less they know. The more they boast, the less they have. The more show they put on in front of lasses, the less show they’ve got for you under the bed linens.”

“I wanted a man who had enough faith in his own worth, his strength, and his mind that he had no need to put on some absurd stage drama. I wanted a man who was confident enough in himself to handle the likes of me.”

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?”

“Even Christmas. They’ve outlawed Christmas!”

But he was too hardened to be broken. No one’s god could destroy him.

I’m sure she could feel the heat of my stare, wretched slut!

“Above all else, the man desires power and clout.

Men are governed by their whims and passions far more than us women, yet they ascribe such traits to us. It is the purest form of hypocrisy there is. It has existed since the dawn of our time. 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.

He remembered who exactly I was and what I had been accused of. He thought better of laughing at my expense.

“War is terrible.” I shivered, feeling foolish for saying something so obvious in the face of his tragedy. He laughed a little. “Men know of no other way. ’Tis their very nature.” “Alas, you speak the truth.” There was a moment of silence.

Lady Wembly was a lunatic who favored potions and posits. It seems to be a familial trait.”

The rope was strung over a solid branch, the noose tied expertly, dangling above my head. I gazed upon it. Ah, so that’s how it was done. No wonder I had failed at fifteen years old. But here I was now, come full circle.

God damn this war, all wars. In the end, it were always the powerless and the innocent who suffered most.