The Salem Witch – part 1

Brigitte first heard the whispers as she perused the town stalls for a bit of cloth which she was going to turn into a dress or a bonnet or some other piece of woman’s finery. What she was lacking in coin, she made up for in sewing talent and could usually find a member of society who was willing to take her in for a season so that she could try her hand at turning out a new wardrobe for them. She was fast becoming “the must have” designer is Salem, Massachusetts. The year was 1892.

Brigitte stood a total of 63 inches high. She weighed only a hundred and fifteen pounds and the good Lord had seen fit to grace her with that extra fifteen in her chest. Needless to say she had a very shapely figure. Her voluminous red hair was often caught in a bun at the nape of her neck, but occasionally when she was feeling especially wicked, she would leave it hang down about her shoulders and down her back in long curls. Her eyes were a snapping green and if you thought the rumor about redheads and the Irish temper was just that, a rumor, you would have soon found out that you were sadly mistaken for her temper was as biting as any and her wit as quick.

She came to America with her parents nay ten years before, but unfortunately, they did not make it for the times on the boat were harsh and uncleanly. It was hard to bury your parents at eight and harder still to find a place to stay when you were that young. Brigitte did manage to find a seamstress who had known her mother back in the old country and the seamstress took Brigitte in and gave her a good home. She taught her everything she knew, and it was soon obvious to all that Brigitte’s talents far surpassed those of Peg’s. It wasn’t until Brigitte turned seventeen that her body started to blossom and when it did, Peg promptly turned her out for Peg’s husband had a wanderin eye and by heavens she would not give shelter to the next jezebel he decided needed his rogue attention.

Brigitte had few coins in her purse but enough to get her to another town to start over. She chose Salem as her home for she knew it was rich in history and currently rich in society. As soon as word was out about her skill, the women in the town were clamoring to have her work for them for a season or a turn; much to the dismay of the other local girls. Brigitte may have been accepted by the women in top society and have been snubbed by them in town as well, but she was not taken in at all by the girls of the common class. They hated her wizardry with a needle and thread, and they despised her for her beauty.

So, it was on the fateful day that she was in town perusing the bins of the local haberdashery stores that the stories started. Brigitte had learned long ago that she should not pay any attention to the thoughtless whispers of the local girls. She turned away down another street, but today being like no other, they followed her. One brazen girl who was basically the town prostitute, Yvette, walked up to her and grabbed her arm. Brigitte steeled herself for battle and turned to face the hussy.