Mad Honey

by Jodi Picoult

“In 1780, outside of Philly, there was a Quaker girl—Charity Crabtree—who was taking care of bees when she came across a wounded soldier. He asked her to ride

his horse to General Washington, to let him know that the British were about to attack. She did, but she could hear the army behind her, so she threw down the hive she was carrying and the bees swarmed the enemy soldiers. Washington supposedly said that it was bees that saved America.”

Jordan approaches the witness stand. “Dr. Powers, did you know Lily Campanello?” “Yes,” she says. “I performed her gender affirmation surgery.” “As her doctor, were you aware of the process she undertook to transition from male to female?” “Yes. Lily followed a fairly typical course of transition. Around age thirteen, a trans female would start taking estrogen and spironolactone, which serve as puberty blockers. Since we typically start puberty at that age, this ensures that a transgender girl won’t develop facial hair, voice change, or the growth of an Adam’s apple—anything you’d associate with secondary sex characteristics. Following that, some individuals—like Lily—choose to have gender affirmation surgery.” “What is that?” Jordan asks. “Lily had what is commonly referred to as bottom surgery. In scientific terms, it’s a vaginoplasty, in which the testicles are removed, and the skin of the foreskin and the penis is inverted—preserving blood and nerves—to form a fully functional and sensitive vagina. The glans of the penis forms the clitoris, with all its nerve endings. There is no cervix, and no uterus, and no ovaries. Trans women do not menstruate or get pregnant.” I think about how, when Braden and I went for our ultrasound of Asher, the technician asked if we wanted to know the sex. She had pointed to the tiny thorn of a penis on the grainy screen. Had Ava Campanello had a similar experience? If so, how

Gender affirmatiokn surgery

Mad honey comes from bees that forage on rhododendrons and mountain laurel, and it’s full of poisonous grayanotoxins. It causes dizziness, nausea and vomiting, convulsions, cardiac disorders, and more. Symptoms last for twenty-four hours, and although rarely, if left untreated, can be fatal. It has been used in biological warfare as far back as 399 B.C., to make Xenophon and the Greek army retreat from Persia. During the Third Mithridatic War in 65 B.C., citizens of Pontus placed mad honey on the route taken by Pompey’s soldiers, and when the enemy helped themselves to the treat, they were easily conquered.

Mad honey

In the middle of the orchestra is the brass section—tubas, trombones, trumpets, French horn, every last one of them played by boys. It’s not all that different in the woodwinds—where the boys play bassoons and clarinets, but all the flutes are played by girls. The strings are even more ridiculous—the deeper the instrument, the more likely it is to be played by a boy. So all the basses? Boys. Most of the cellos? Boys. The violas split half and half. All but one of the violins? Girls. Then there’s the harp, which I guess federal law requires be played by a girl. And the percussion and kettle drums, which are usually played by boys.

Orchestra Not true

SALAD WITH HONEY LEMON VINAIGRETTE 1 bunch kale ½ lemon, reserving other half for vinaigrette Pinch of sea salt Wash and dry kale, tear into small pieces. In a large bowl, squeeze lemon over kale, sprinkle the sea salt over kale, and

Kale

gently massage the lemon and salt into the kale. This will slightly soften the kale. VINAIGRETTE 1 tablespoon honey Juice of ½ lemon Pinch of ground pepper ¼ cup olive oil In a small bowl combine honey, juice from remaining lemon, ground pepper, and oil. Whisk gently and pour over kale. Suggested Toppings Sliced almonds and sliced pears Crushed walnuts and sliced apples Goat cheese and pine nuts (honey pine nuts recipe below can be used)

kale