Age of Adeline Chapter Three The Flu Epidemic of 1918

Present Day San Francisco Bank of America Vault

Adeline put the Journal from the Quake back into the box. She sat down and stared at the walls. The thought that it had been 110 years since she gave birth to Theodore was sinking in on her. She thought about her first-born child and how she wished she had saved some of the photos of him. In the early days, she felt that it was not wise or safe to keep anything that would tie her to people that she had to leave behind.

Among the items in the bank vault was a report from a private investigator that she had discreetly hired 30 years ago. The report was about what had happened to Theodore. She had only looked at once. Thinking of Theodore made her want to look at the report, but she decided to do that later and left the report in the box and picked up the diary from 1910-1919.

Journal Entry August 19, 1910, Ballard, Washington

Today was a beautiful day. Harriett married Lars Watson, the superintendent at the lumber mill. Brita and I were both honored to be Harriet's co-Matrons of Honor. It was also funny, as Brita and I are both pregnant. I am due in February and Brita is due in December. We both started teasing Harriett it won't be long before she will be joining us.

Journal Entry September 20, 1910

I am very sad. One of my two closest friends told me today that she will be leaving in a few days with her husband as he returns to Sweden. Lars received notice that his dad had died earlier this month and he was needed to take care of family affairs.

Brita and I hugged Harriet for a long time we didn't want to let her go. We cried and cried. She told us she would be back in a few months. In time for both our babies' births. Something told me that this wasn't going to happen.

We asked Harriet if she planned on having babies anytime soon. She said only if I would tell her my secret. I said "what secret?" She and Brita both laughed. And then Brita said "After each baby, I have gained five pounds that I couldn't get rid of. You haven't gained an ounce from Theodore's birth. Not only have you not gained weight, you haven't aged since we first met you."

I quickly told them that I was just lucky and that one day the weight and age would catch up with me.

Journal Entry Christmas Day 1910 Ballard

Today we celebrated the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. We also celebrated the birth of another baby, Brita gave birth to her second son. This day was also memorable for me as I was there to tend to Brita as her baby was born.

As Brita held her baby I was thinking about the whole process of having babies. Rumors are spreading that the way women have babies will change, women will no longer have babies at home. I have heard that some of the wealthier women in Seattle have started to have babies in hospitals.

Another change that I am hearing about is that midwives are being replaced by doctors who specialize in delivering babies. I imagined all wonderful it would be to be a doctor who brings new lives into the world. Sadly, as a woman, this option is not open to me.

Journal Entry February 13, 1911 Ballard

Aaron Fredrick Larson, Jr arrived today. Aaron weighed 9 pounds. He is a complete replica of his father. I am happy that we had a second son that we could name after Aaron. When Theodore was born we were both still suffering from the grief that we wanted to honor Walter. Aaron is thrilled that we now have two sons. He promised that the next time we will have a girl.

Journal Entry February 13, 2012

Today we had two celebrations. We celebrated AJ's first birthday! This year has flown by so quickly. Brita and her children came to the party. Once again, she wondered how I could weigh the same as I did the day I got married, especially after having two children? I replied to her luck I guess.

In addition to AJ's birthday, we had something else to celebrate. A letter from Harriet arrived today. She told us that she and Lars were headed back home. They would be sailing in April to New York on the White Star ship the Titanic. She expected that they would arrive in Ballard a week after they arrived in New York.

Journal Entry April 18, 1912 Ballard

Brita and I are worried sick and have not stopped praying for our dear friends Harriet and Lars. Two days ago we heard that Titanic has sunk. We are dying for news. Some reports state that everyone survived. Some say that no one survived. Other reports state only the women were rescued. We don't know what to believe.

Journal Entry April 27, 1912

A word from Harriet has arrived. She is alive but in the hospital. A nurse at a hospital in Queens sent a telegram to us telling us that Harriet was admitted because she was in shock and they were afraid of the harm it might do to her baby.

Baby? What baby? Did she have a baby? What about Lars? The nurse said nothing about Lars. We wired the nurse back for more information.

Journal Entry May 15, 1912

We have been anxiously awaiting a telegram from New York. When we heard a knock at the door we assumed it was the Western Union Man, instead it was Harriet all dressed in black.

After we got over the shock of seeing Harriet she told us the story. When Titanic hit the iceberg they evacuated all women first and the plan was for the men to follow. She didn't want to leave Lars behind but both Lars and the ship's crew insisted due to her pregnancy. She had been hoping to surprise us that she was having a baby.

Harriet was saved but Lars went down with the ship. When she heard the news she went into shock and authorities insisted that she go to the hospital, even though she wanted to head to Seattle. She was told that she was in no condition to make important decisions.

The loss of Lars, being separated from friends was too much for her, and she lost the baby. Brita and I both comforted her. Aaron and I invited her to stay with us for as long as she wanted.

2017 Bank Vault San Francisco

Adeline took a break from reading. She thought about those days in Ballard. There were many happy memories of those days, especially in the beginning. As the days went on the happy days became fewer and fewer.

She decided to read some more but skipped ahead

Journal Entry September 13, 1916 Ballard

Why are people turning on me? People are starting to question me. Why? What have I done? Believe it or not, people are saying I am a witch, a sorceress. This is 1916. People still believe this stuff?

The proof that I am a witch? One is that my physical appearance has not changed in 10 years. Not only have I not gained weight, but I still look like I am 23. Aaron, AJ, and Theodore have all aged, but I haven't. I will admit this is strange but I have no answers.

I am being shunned by my friends, even Brita. AJ and Theodore are losing friends. They don't understand, neither do I. At least Aaron is standing by me.

Journal Entry November 6, 1917

Aaron came on today with the most shocking news. The bank has asked him to resign. Customers are starting to withdraw their money from the bank. They have concerns about depositing their money in a bank that is connected to a witch.

The worst part of this is that now Aaron is started questioning me. For years we used to joke about him having such a young wife. Now he is questioning how come I have not aged and why am I hurting his family.

Journal Entry December 1, 1917

Something strange is happening. The Bank board of Directors asked Aaron to come back to the bank. Since November five bank employees, including the new manager have died from the flu. Another five employees are ill.

There is an increase of people who are sick. Doctors, hospitals, are unable to keep up with all the sick people. At least people have stopped talking about me.

Journal Entry New Years Day 1918 Ballard

Today is my 35th birthday. But there is not much to celebrate. I am not having a party. Even if people were speaking to me, they still wouldn't come. The number of sick has grown to epidemic proportions. The epidemic is so bad that schools, church services, and all public events have been canceled.

Journal Entry February 25, 1918 Ballard

Makeshift hospital wards have been set up in many places. I decided to volunteer, hoping it would earn me some good will. I had hoped that this would soften the hostility against me. It was working until tonight.

One lady from the church that I used to attend was in the ward that I was volunteering at. She asked me if I was happy with what I had done. I asked her what did she mean by that? She replied that I had used my powers as revenge for people calling me out for being a witch.

I now know that things will never change. That my husband and children will be scorned. I need to disappear. But it has to be in a way that people will think that I am dead.

Journal Entry March 1, 1918 Ballard

Tonight I executed my plan. There is a young woman who looks very much like me and was close to dying. I switched clothes with her and put my jewelry, and other personal effects on her. I snuck out the back and went to Harriet's House.

I left a message in her mailbox. I told her that I was not feeling well and was going to the ward. And asked her to look after Aaron, AJ, and Theodore if something was to happen me.

Fortunately, I had removed all of my money, gold, and other assets a few days before so I was ready to disappear. And for the second time in my life, I had to flee in the middle of the night.