We made it into the church on time with a lot of the other residents of Salem. Mother and I took our places next to our family in the pews on the left side of the church, and Father took his place next to his family in the pews on the right side. All the men sat on the right side of the church and the women sat on the left, with small children and the few servants standing in the back. Only the important people had servants, like the Pastor and Governor Sir William Phips and their close families. Once everyone had taken their seats, the Pastor started his sermon, a long one today, about faith and trust in God. At the end of the eight hour sermon, he said something that made my blood freeze in my veins.
"I have some terrible news that all of you must heed fairly. Two girls in our holy Salem have come under the spell of a witch." This was followed by gasps all around. A wicked witch in our Salem? "I know, it is frightening. But we must find out who this witch is. It could be a close friend, it could even be family. The unholy person might even be sitting next to you right now. The governor, the doctor and I are holding an investigation. If you know of anyone that might be this wicked witch, please, give us any information, and God help their wretched soul." The people in the pews, including our family, started looking at each other, neighbors looking at neighbors, family scrutinizing family. I could feel the paranoia in the room, and someone whispered the beggar lady's name.