Salem Witch Trials ~by Taylor S.

I glanced at Annie. Her long blond hair was going to be cut in a few days. It had no resemblance to my short red hair! Annie and I are orphans! My parents died in a fire, and her mother was murdered when she was very young! Her father left Annie and her mother before she was even born!

We lived in Salem Village, Massachusets. It was January 10, 1692, and my birthday was in two days and Annie's was in six days. We were practically like twins. We would both be turning 12 years old. Even though we felt grown up, Eliza, our guardian, would still not let us play down by the river. With the strong rapids, she thought we would be killed by the large boulders underneath the water. She called us her little dare devils because everything we ever wanted to do was dangerous. We never worried because we trusted each other. We both said that if something happened, "I can trust you and you can trust me!"


IN MR. COPSEN'S OFFICE AT SCHOOL.

"Hester!" Annie whispered. She ducked her head under Mr. Copsen's old, wooden desk. I lept over it and hid on the other side of it.
"I have the papers right here!" I heard Mr. Copsen's low voice say right outside the door. I peaked over at Annie. She stared at me like she just watched a murder committed. My legs shivered. I tried my hardest to keep myself hidden. I closed my eyes, but my ears were still wide open.
Crrrrrrreak! The door opened. "I really think she is!" Mr. Copsen said. "The other girls in her class all blame her for it! What if they're right and we're not doing anything about it? No one will ever trust us with their children again! Girls have fallen down crying and choking while blaming her! And they say they see dark figures in the classroom talking to her!" I didn't hear anything else but the door slam. "Wait, Eliza!" Mr. Copsen yells.
Who? Annie and I both look at each other quizzically! What was Eliza doing at the elementary school? The door slammed again. Realizing he had run after Eliza, Annie stood up from her hiding place. "What were they talking about? Who were they talking about? What was she doing here? Hester, what is going on?"
I tip-toed outside the door to see if anyone was coming. I rolled my eyes. Who can I trust anymore? Were they talking about me or Annie? These questions raced through my mind, a little voice shouting them out. One more thought arrived to the big party, Are we in trouble?



Annie was looking around on the desk. "What are you doing?" I asked.
"He said he has papers! Maybe we can find them!" she said, scared.
Through the corner of my eye, I saw a paper on his desk. In big red letters it read, "Annie Files." I rushed over to them and picked them up. I began to read. My eyes grew wide and my mouth dropped open. I couldn't believe my eyes. "Annie! They're accusing you of being a witch!" I yelled in terror.


Annie smirked. In fact, she began to grin. She slowly licks her lips. Then she starts laughing.

"Why are you laughing?"

She looked at me like I was crazy. "Witches aren't real, Hester! How can they trust some stupid girls who think I am a witch? Wait...why are you looking at me like that? Do you trust a stupid piece of paper?"

"I don't!" I said, my head hanging. I couldn't believe a piece of paper had rattled me. Annie is not a witch! I thought to myself. But then a more troubling thought came to me. But am I? I talk to spirits. Does that make me a witch? That's what they're saying about Annie... And a thought that made me even sadder was, Why don't I trust Annie with these questions?


MY MAMMA:

My mamma used to know someone who said she talked to the spiritual world just like me. Then, that woman was murdered because someone thought she was a witch. The weird thing is that I talk to my mom...even after the fire that took her life. Call me coocoo, but I do.
My mamma told me why she was caught in that horrific fire. She trusted someone, then he took advantage of her. It was my father who killed her. He had never really spent time with us, or loved us. My mother was about to run away with me, when my dad swiped a match and threw it onto my mother's bedside table. However, his rage killed him, too, as he could not escape the building fast enough. Neither could mamma.
I never see her when I am awake, but she comes to me in my dreams. It used to be comforting, but now it makes me wonder. Does it mean... I'm a witch? Does it mean that I can contact the spiritual world? Is my best friend is getting blamed for something that I'm doing? Am I causing people to choke? Am I bringing the dead to haunt Salem Village?

THE NOOSE:

I knew that if I didn't tell Annie soon, she would never trust me again. I also knew that if I didn't tell her, she might die trusting me. I had to keep both from happening! I couldn't let Annie be accused...or hung...for something that was caused by me. My mamma warned me that problems were developing in Salem, and all of a sudden, I understood. Mamma had also mentioned Martha. What would Martha Witler have to do with these troubles?
Then I understood. Martha Witler might've been the one who told Mr. Copsen. As that thought entered my mind, my stomach tightened! How could she do that? She is one of my friends. And Annie's. Was I next?

Hours later, after dinner, and bath time, Annie and I were sneaking around in the woods by the courthouse, like every Friday night! "Annie! Wait!" I screamed as she ran into the other bush. "I need to tell you something important!"
She turned to me. Her eyes squinted. "We spend every second together, Hester! What do you know that I don't?" She sat down trying to be as quiet as possible.

"You know that my mother is also dead, right?" I whispered, knowing that she'd get frustrated with me when I told her the truth.

"AHHHH!!!" Suddenly there was an awful scream coming from the other side of the big, green hedge. Scared, I jumped back and almost slipped into the river and into the roaring and strong rapids under the cliff.

"Wait! Hester, this is what we come out here to find. This might be something interesting!! We'll be so happy because we won't have to pay to see a play in the theater! I want to see what is going on!!!" She tiptoed over behind the tree.
I follow her, making sure she wasn't seen.
She poked her head out on the right side of the old oak tree.
I slowly, full of caution, poked my eyes up too so I didn't miss out on a great show. Then, right before my very own eyes, I saw a women hanging from a noose in a tree. The women's neck dripped with blood. Her eyes were turned backwards as the noose swung and twirled. Then twisted around and she faced Annie and me. The noose was swinging as if she was a little kid on a tire swing. When I saw her face, I felt cold in my heart. My stomach ached as though there was a tapeworm eating it away.
I quickly ducked my head. I closed my eyes and tears raced out of my eyelids. I stopped and listened...
"This is what happens to those involved with witchcraft!" I heard a man say in a low scratchy voice that would've scared me even if he said something like "I love you" or anything else as sweet.
At that moment Annie sat down. She was hugging her knees and started crying with me. She flipped her hair out of her eyes and looked at me through her tears. "Are they serious? Hester, are they going to kill me?" she said this like she thought I knew the answer to that horrifying question. She put her head down again, barely lifted above her knees.
"I hope not, Annie!" I pause to think of a quick, sly plan. "We cannot trust anyone! I've got a plan!" Let's go somewhere we can talk.
We checked to see if the coast was clear. I looked up into the Oak tree right next to the one that Annie was hiding behind, the women was left there alone, still swinging from the noose. She was wearing a gown. It had a beautiful blue embroirdery job at the bottom. Why? I asked myself. Who did she trust? Who accused her? I had to get the heck out of there! But I knew that trust was not to be given away freely.

Annie and I tiptoed to the dirt road with pebbles that were blue! I stared at them, thinking of the women. Her face and her gown, were both very beautiful. I never wanted to look at those stones again. What if they do kill Annie? I ask myself. I would never want to look at anything ever again. It would just remind me of my true, best friend who I trusted with all my heart. I knew that my plan had to work because I could not lose Annie.


Annie and I arrived home after a thirty minute, nerve racking, silent walk home. The back door to the porch was open and I saw a lit candle. It was already 11:30 at night. No one was ever awake at this late, dark time. Rebecca, another orphan who shared a room with Annie and I, was always scared of the dark. Eliza was always too tired to stay up that late. Milton and Madison were twins, and they are both very shy and never left their room after 8 o'clock! Madison never really got along with Annie, but she looked to me as a role model. Mary would just never go downstairs at night alone! Who could it be, I wondered. Annie and I looked curiously at each other.
The light seemed like it is coming from the kitchen. Annie looks at me with her eyebrows crunched. I wondered who was in the kitchen. Did someone break in to the house while we were gone? Did something tragic happen while we were strolling? I don't know what to think anymore, after what we had just seen, I wasn't sure what to expect.

We walk towards the door that led to the kitchen. "Who's in there? No one ever stays up this late!" Annie whispered. Her head turned. She poked her head through the screen door. "It's Eliza!" she said.

My stomach no longer feels like it was going to burst. My mamma was always so nervous about everything as well. That's probably where I get it from. Annie lightly pushed her hands against the door.

"Oh my gosh! girls you scared me!" Eliza said as she quickly turned her head to look at who was coming through the door.

"We're always out this late," Annie said surprised that Eliza didn't seem to remember. I was confused. Was she scared that we got lost, or was she scared that we just burst through the door?

"No! You just scared me because I didn't hear you guys outside." she said calmly. "Would you like some hot chocolate and a candy cane?"

"I would adore you for some!" I said, smiling from ear to ear. Annie and I love Eliza's hot cocoa. But she's never let us have it this late or even right before bed. Eliza was acting a little strange. Why? What was making her act so weird? I thought to myself while Eliza was getting our mugs and making the hot chocolate. Annie was chatting with her like always. She used to talk with her mother every night before she tucked her into bed. I guess she talked to Eliza like that to bring some comfort.

I suddenly was aware of what Annie was telling Eliza. "...Yeah! And we peaked our heads up above this bush and saw a wo..." she said obviously excited to be telling someone.

"No!" I interrupted. I didn't want Eliza to know that we knew anything about the witch hunts. I didn't want her to think we might know about the accusations against Annie. But then I asked, "What were you doing at our school today, Liza?" I tried to act nonchalant, but my heart was beating. Annie stared at me in shock.
"Ummm..." she started."I can't lie to you! I was there because Mr. Copsen called me there to have a meeting!" She paused, starting to cry, "Annie is being accused for witchcraft!" Her voice turned very scratchy. Tears poured out of her eyes.
Annie glanced at me and quietly said, "We know." She hung her head with sorrow.
Eliza swiftly jerked her head up to look at us. She began to open her mouth as I put my hand on her skinny, weak shoulder. Then I interrupt her...
"We were in Mr. Copsen's office when you were speaking with him. We were scared that we were in trouble, so we looked around for clues." I said, then I held up the folder that said "Annie Files" on it. From crawling around in the woods, it had a little mud stain on it.

"Girls! Why didn't you tell me earlier that you knew?" Eliza spoke out in fury.
I didn't know what to say. I was searching through my mind to find the solution as Annie shouted...
"Well, I didn't think it was possible for people to believe in witches. Then when we were walking in the trees, we hear a bloody Mary scream.
"Are you sure you want to tell her, Annie? I think you should go wash your skirt, get the dirt out," I said worried. I hoped she wouldn't get mad at me because I was speaking for her. She hates that.
"No! Hester, I can speak for myself and it's me we're all worried about!" Annie cried. "I need to start taking care of myself for once! You won't always be there to catch me when I fall."
I went outside as Annie continued.
"I interrupted Hester's story and looked to see what was going on." Annie started. I didn't want to hear the rest, but I knew she was going to continue.
My eyes became watery, and my lips started shivering. I couldn't keep it in any longer and Eliza needed to know what I felt! I open my mouth and just before I was going to scream, the oven bell rang.
Annie continued. "There, right in front of my very own eyes, a women was hanging from a rope. She was dangling from a tree branch!" Eliza looked at her with confused but sad and worried face. "Then a man yelled, 'This is what happens to those with witchcraft!'" As soon as the story was out, she started to bawl. She slammed her head against the couch and started screaming. Eliza joined her trying to hand her hot chocolate.
I didn't want to hear anymore.

As the night wore on, I finally fell asleep. I saw Annie as soon as my eyes were closed. She had taken the woman's place in the noose. She was dangling from the tree. Another flash, and I was sitting by her gravestone. I forced opened me eyes. "It was only a dream," I wispered. I could hear the birds chirping, and I could see the sun pushing its rays through the curtains. It was as bright as a yellow rose. Surely on such a beautiful day, nothing like witch craft could be true.

AN EARLY MORNING VISITOR:

Annie was asleep on the couch. I look around and realized that Eliza must've gone upstairs. I noticed that the piece of paper with the disgusting words on it wasn't on the coffee table where I had put it last night. I wonder where it had gone. Did Eliza snatch it and hide it upstairs?

The smell of hot chocolate distracted me as it slithered through the living room and across my nose. The back door was cracked open like usual and the chilly breeze attacked me, so I curled up in my wool blanket. All of a sudden I heard a knock on the front door. Then a greeting from the voice of the man from last night in the woods.

I have to hide Annie! I thought to myself. I rushed over, placed my hands on Annie's shoulder and waist. I roughly shook her and whispered, "Annie! Annie! Annie! Wake up! You've got to hide!"

Annie slowly opened her eyes and looked at me like I was crazy.

"You've got to hide Annie! Come on!"

She quickly swung her feet onto the cold, hard floor. She grabbed my hand as we heard the voice again. I couldn't quite understand what he was saying, but he didn't sound very happy.

Annie jerked her head and ran quietly up the stairs. She had to have heard him as well.

"Go, Annie! Go hide somewhere really good! In the closet in the attic upstairs!" I whispered loud enough for her to hear. Then I walked slowly toward the door. I opened the door. "Hello?" I say, very tiredly so he would have no idea I had been up rushing around the house. I crunched my hair and waited. The man was very ugly. He had a big wart on his nose and his hair was styled like it was the 1400s. He tried to peak around me and asked, "Is Annie here? I need to speak with her immediatly."

My eyes widen as I think of a plan. "Who's Annie?" I asked innocently. "We don't have an Annie here."

He looked confused and then angry.

"Oh! I know who you're talking about! Annie! Oh, she moved to Connecticut last week with her cousin, Albert." I said, relieved that I could make up things on the spot.

"But this Annie is an orphan?" he said as his one eyebrow lifted. "She wouldn't have any cousins. Or any family at all." He seemed to be confused. Then he seemed suspicious. His eyes narrowed, and I think he was catching on to my act.

Eliza rushed down the stairs in her pajama pants and hair curlers. "She's not here!" she yelled a little too loudly. Then she pushed him out the door, and locked it.

Annie tiptoed down the hall so quietly I didn't hear her until she was right behind me. I quickly turned around as she wrapped her arms around me so tightly I thought I would lose circulation throughout my body.

"He's not coming back is he?" Annie asked Eliza like she would really know the answer to that.

Eliza didn't answer and walked off toward the kitchen. But we all knew it was just a matter of time.

THE PLAN:

"Okay, so Hester said that I moved to Connecticut. We should tell everyone that! I can use a wig and pretend to be someone else until the girls confess that they were making everything up," Annie said as she leaned back with a sly grin on her face.

"But what if they never confess?" I asked skeptically.
Annie shrugged and said, "They will." I suddenly realized that Annie's plans always seemed to work. "Just trust me, Hester!" She yelled. "It's our only option. You are the one that started it!" She instantly shook her head as she wanted to take back what words that just spilled from her mouth. "I know you want me to live! I know you are trying to help. I am very sorry!" She said.
"It's okay!" I said with a smile. I was glad that she knew how much I loved her and how much I would never want to let her go.


For the next month and a half, Annie was no longer Annie. She went by the name Elizabether and wore a wig so no one would recognize her. Her costume was perfect and no one seemed to suspect anything. She no longer trusted by anyone who didn't really know her, anyone but the ones closest to her! She never spoke to the girls who were accusing her, but she listened to their conversations. She learned that there was one more person behind the accusation. She didn't know who it was, but she couldn't trust anyone.


Our plan seemed to be working until one day in February. It was a rainy afternoon and Annie and I were out in the woods on a Friday afternoon. "Hester, I have to take this wig off. My head is itching like crazy! I want a moment with my hair back!" We looked around to be sure no one else was in the woods. Then, Annie pulled the wig off and then started flipping her hair and acting all dramatic. She smiled and laughed. "Haha! Heehee" she yelled with joy in her voice. "I feel free!" We laughed together and for a moment felt like we were living back in time, before witch craft came to Salem.
Then we heard something. We both paused.
I turned toward the noise and say Madison standing like a statue, eyes wide, a scream forming on her lips. But instead of screaming, a strange look covered her face. She smiled a deadly smile, a smile with evil written all over it. She said, "I knew you hadn't gone too far away, Annie." She turned and left us trembling in the woods.


ESCAPE:


Days went past before the man returned for Annie. One night I dreamed that he grabbed Annie and pulled her by her little, scrawny arms. He swung her into his wagon, tied her down. He pushed my shoulder, knocking me to the ground when I tried to pull her back. I was yelling and screaming! I felt terrified. I felt Helpless. I felt like I was never going to see Annie again. When I woke, I knew my dream was coming true.

I woke Annie just before dawn. "We have to get out of here," I said in the softest whisper. I grabbed her hand and out of the door we ran. After a short jog through the forest, I saw the old river. The rapids moved swiftly; I nodded to Annie and we smiled as we jumped. We knew we would never see our home or our friends again. But now, I know I had never trusted her more than I did at that very moment!

If you live in Salem, Massachusets, you might be able to hear our voices. We are free now to jump and play in the lively waters of the river. While they never found our bodies, Eliza always knew that it would take our lives. But thankfully, not even a roaring river can take our trusting spirits.

~by Taylor S.