Meadow Magee:
Screaming Baby
There is brisk wind hitting my face as I walk on the cobbled street. My small heels click as I walk. My shop is set up in the middle of the town close to the church. The sun is still rising and it warms my face. My small bonnet shields me from the cold. I walk past the bakery and smell the fresh warm bread. The smell lingers for a bit as I slow down my walk. But I can’t stop in because I have to get to the apothecary so that Charlie doesn’t yell at me again. Although he is my cousin and the same age as me, I feel as though he is older. I Inherited the business from my father, so I own the shop. Charlie is my close cousin and he wanted to join the business. We had a shop back in England, but after my father died I decided to expand our company. The best way to do that was to move to the New World. I told my younger sister, Sara, and she was skeptical at first but then she agreed to come with. I told my cousin and then he told his younger brother. Soon we were on a boat to Williamsburg. The journey took 46 days. We arrived in 1778 with a new ambitions. It was warmer than I thought it would be. There were natives with us and we were quite isolated. Even so, I was delighted to be off that wretched ship.
As I open the door, the handle bites my finger tips. The wood creaks as I step through the doorway. I quickly shut the door behind me to keep the warm air in. The smell of my herbs wrap me up. I can pick out all the different types of mint. Mmmmmm, Lemon balm, my favorite. Charlie has the fire going and I see the yellow/reddish tint to the wooden door. I tiptoe behind the counter. I try to sneak in without letting Charlie know, but he catches me.
“Hello Elizabeth, didn’t know if you were going to show up.” he says.
“Hello Charles.” I say ignoring his rude comment.
I set up the counter with the new herbs from the garden. Their relaxing scent enlightens me. I polish the jars with a cloth. I am ready to greet my customers with a loving smile, but I can tell that today is going to be a long day.
It was hard when my family and I first arrived. We left my mother back in England in our crowded brick house. We left her with tears in our eyes. I wish that she could have come with us, but it just wouldn’t have worked. Who you take care of the company back in England? Who would look after the young ones? When Sara and I left, we left our other cousins and relatives. It was difficult at first, but I wanted a new life. Not like my old one was bad or anything, but that I wanted to explore new places and new things and England wouldn’t let me do that.
My first customer walks in. She has nice clothing on and looks like she might be Gentry. I straighten up my back.
“How can I help you today?”
“I am looking for something to stop my baby from screaming. She just won’t stop.”
“Oh, well we have this herb called valerian root. It makes you go sleepy which can hopefully knock out the child.”
“Thank you so much! How much will that be?”
Wow, I didn’t think Gentry people could ever be nice. “That will be 5 pounds please.”
She hands me the money and it feel some how different in my palm. Heavier maybe. I look at it and see that she has given me double. I could tell her or I could keep it to myself and put it towards the shop. It would be so nice to have new curtains. We have old ones that look dirty and have stains across the middle. Whenever I walk past the millinery and see all the fabric lined up I picture them hanging on the windows and what joy it would bring to the customers.
“Hey, miss, you paid too much!” I say, but when I look up she gone. I take the money in one hand and run out the door. I can’t be a bad person and keep the money. I did not earn it and this woman can put in towards her child. Even though she is probably swimming in money. I see her the bum roll puffing out her behind and her bright blond wig (it looks never heavy.)
“Miss, Lady, you paid too much!” She can’t hear me. My heels almost trip me up on the stone. “Miss, Miss, your money! Take it back!” I am now panting because I am so out of shape. How can a lady with such fine heels walk down this street so fast and with a BABY? “MISS!” I yell. Finally she turns around. “You gave me double.” I say as I straighten up my skirt.
“Oh, it’s ok. You can keep it. But thank you for your kindness and your honest heart.”
I nod and look back down the street. I traveled really far. The money although is light, my hand is weighed down. I slump and waddle back to the shop.
I see so many different faces enter my shop. From farmers to gentry class women. Each one with a different story. I like knowing that I make a difference in people’s lives. I help them in every way I can. No one wants to see their loved one die and I know how it feels. My entire family has dedicated their lives to help others in need. I am so thankful for what god has given us in these hard times. I must cherish everyday I have on this earth, for I do not know what will come next.
Olivia Bagan:
A Day in the Life of Sara Williams
I wake up to the sound of my sister Elizabeth fixing up breakfast. The smell of sweet jams and toast fills my senses. I slowly get out of bed and put on my dress and apron. The color of my apron has changed over the years. The bright, white color of the apron has now faded to a beige with stains from my herbal remedies. By the way, I’m an apothecarist. I work with my sister and my cousin to run the Williams Family Apothecary and Surgery Shop. I am only seventeen years old so I am Elizabeth’s assistant. She is twenty-three. We run the apothecary shop downstairs.
“Sara! It’s time for breakfast!” my sister calls to me.
“I’m coming! I just have to tie my hair back!” I reply.
As I twirl my short, thick hair into a messy bun I make my way into the dining area. I sit down next to Elizabeth and my twenty-three-year-old cousin named Charles who runs the surgery shop adjacent to the apothecary. I take the jar of strawberry jam and spread it onto my bread. The bright, red color of the jam makes everything look a bit more cheerful in our dull kitchen. Once we are all done with our breakfast, we made our way down to work.
Every time I walk down this staircase, I remember my mother. Before we came to Williamsburg in 1778, my mother taught Elizabeth, Charles, Walter and me everything that we needed to know to open up this shop. We had a special bond. Because of her, my sister and I always strive to become successful women in the medical field. Maybe one day I’ll become someone that children will read about in their history books.
“Stop day dreaming Sara! Go check on the garden! I think the lavender grew yesterevening in the rain.” Says Elizabeth as she gets out her bottles of medication.
I go outside and check my garden. The orange color of the calendula plant and the light purple of my lavender bring out the green of the mint and the brown of the soil. I pick a bit of each type of herb and bring them inside. The soft texture of the sage rubs against my palms. It feels like my teddy bear I had as a young child. As the water boils in my cauldron, I sort out my herbs. I save some comfrey to send to Walter for the sprains of the soldiers up in Yorktown. Walter is Charles’s younger brother. He is twenty-one. When we arrived in Williamsburg, not a long time ago may I add, Walter heard about the military. He didn’t want to fight but he wanted to care for the soldiers. (We may be from England but we are Patriots at heart.) I wrap up the comfrey in a thin cloth and send it to the post.
After a long day at work, I retire upstairs. I go through the kitchen and into the wash closet. The cold water feels good on my face. The warm, Virginia heat gave me a slight tan from working in the garden this week. My stomach has been hurting so I make myself some peppermint tea and head to bed. As my eyes get heavier and heavier I sink deeper and deeper into my bed. My eyelids finally meet and I dream of the little children reading about the great Sara Williams in the nursery.