5. BIRTHDAY

A few more weeks went by and even though the two strangers never left town, they were never found gawking at Abby or the twins again. Rumors spread about them through the town. Mrs. Barnes, the innkeeper's wife, told everyone that their names were Eleazar and Corin. These visitors were the biggest excitement that the town had had in ages.

Abby no longer took lessons from Sarah in the craft. She still believed that her family's death was her fault because she toyed with the devil's magic. As part of her repentance, she began going to the Puritan church every Sunday. It was led by Reverend Samuel Parris. He was a stern man who taught harsh values but Abby felt like it was where she needed to be in order to make things right with God. Reverend Parris had a daughter named Betty that was about Jane's age and went to school with the twins. Abby had offered to take the twins to church with her but Sarah wanted them to have nothing to do with the Puritans.

The twin's thirteenth birthday was fast approaching. Sarah had finished the dress for Jane but now wanted Abby to pick up a puppy for Alec. Jeffrey at the general store had a mutt that had given birth to a large litter and they now offered the puppies for free. So on the day of their birthday while the twins were in school, Abby made her way to the general store.

"Good day, Jeffrey." Abby greeted when she walked in.

"Oh, hi Abby!" He answered excitedly. "How are you today?"

"Great. I'm here to pick out one of the puppies." Abby was feeling good and was excited about a new puppy because she knew how thrilled Alec would be. Jeffrey led her into the back where the puppies were playing near their mother in a box. Even though they were mutts, it was clear that they had some beagle in them. Abby thought that they were all adorable but one in particular caught her eye. He was a combination of black, white, and brown. His tail was black except for the tip that was white and his front paws were white as well. His little tail wagged back and forth while he licked Abby on her face and hands. She knew that this was the one.

"Thank you so much, Jeffrey. Alec is going to love this!" Abby gushed.

"Not a problem. Tell them I said happy birthday." He smiled.

Abby walked out the door still adoring the puppy in her arms and wasn't paying close attention when she bumped into someone.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! I wasn't watching-" She looked up the man's face and realized it was Corin. She didn't finish her sentence and just stood there, staring.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it." He said after the awkward pause. He turned to keep walking but then turned back to her. "You look better. You know… happier."

Abby smiled and finally managed the words. "I am happy. Thank you."

He nodded and then went back to walking in the opposite direction. Abby raced home with a smile on her face. She wasn't sure what it was about Corin but she liked it when he was around. It would soon be time for the twins to come home from school so Abby went to hide the puppy in the bathhouse. Sarah would also be coming home from work early today because Cotton was still being generous towards her and he knew she wanted to celebrate with her children.

Abby picked up Jane and Alec from school and they were so excited because they knew that when they got home they would get presents. Sarah came in just minutes after they did.

"Mommy! I want my present! I want my present!" Jane was jumping up and down with excitement.

Sarah laughed. "Okay sweetie. Have a seat and I'll bring it to you."

Jane and Alec both sat at the table with Abby while Sarah disappeared into the bedroom for a moment. When she reemerged she carried a small bundle wrapped in brown paper and twine. She set the package in front of her daughter and Jane hurriedly ripped at the wrapping until a beautiful new green dress was revealed.

"Oh mommy! I love it!" Jane squealed with delight.

"I'm glad! It was a lot of work!" Sarah hugged little Jane tightly.

"I'm going to go try it on!" Jane hopped out of her chair and ran into the bedroom to change.

Alec folded his arms on the table and set his head on them. He was such a polite and well mannered boy, just waiting for his turn.

"Do you want to see your present now?" Sarah asked him.

His face lit up. "Yes please!"

Abby smiled. "Why don't you go check out the bathhouse?"

Alec's face was thoughtful as he tried to guess what could be waiting for him in there and then got out of his chair and went outside. Sarah and Abby stayed waiting at the table and started laughing when they could hear Alec shouting and cheering.

He came rushing back into the house with the puppy. "I get to have a dog? Really?" He was so excited.

Sarah gave him a hug. "Now a dog is a bit of responsibility. You'll have to feed him and clean up after him and take him for walks. Do you think you can do that?"

"Yes! Thanks so much, mom!" He gave his mom a tight hug around the neck, squeezing the puppy between them.

"Thank Aunt Abby. She's the one who picked him out for you." Sarah said.

"Thanks Abby!" Alec gave her a tight hug too and then started playing with the puppy on the floor.

Just then, Jane came out of the bedroom wearing her beautiful new green dress. Abby recognized the five gold buttons down the front. She looked like a princess.

"Oh Jane," Sarah gasped. "You look beautiful!"

She was beaming and loved the attention. She joined Alec on the floor to play with the new puppy. Alec decided to name the dog Jeremy. It was a strange name for a dog but it was Alec's decision so Sarah was fine with it.

The next day Jane wore her pretty green dress to school. As Abby was walking them to the front steps she reminded Jane of how beautiful she looked.

"Thanks Aunt Abby!" Jane smiled, and then whispered "Do you think the boys will notice me now?"

Abby laughed. "Of course they will! Try not to break too many hearts!" She kissed Jane on the forehead and told them to have a good day.

Abby went about her daily chores. It was routine, mundane, much like any other day. How was she to know that today would be her last normal day?

It was when she went to pick the kids up from school that she had the first inkling that something was very wrong. As she approached the school house a scene came into view.

Jane and Alec stood side by side but the look on Jane's face, there was something wrong about it. She was glaring with the most pure hatred at a group five of girls, her schoolmates. One girl was on the ground shrieking- as if she were being hurt somehow but Abby couldn't see anyone touching her. The others were screaming at Jane to stop.

She ran up to Alec and Jane. "What's happening?" She asked frantically. "Are you two okay?" They didn't respond. Abby looked over her shoulder at the crying girl and then back at Jane. All of Jane's focus was fixed on her. "Jane? What are you doing?" Still no answer. "Jane, I need you to stop." Abby was horrified at the expression of evil that twisted Jane's beautiful face. "Jane…"

Then Alec put his hand on Jane's shoulder and she finally snapped out of it. The girl continued to whimper but the shrieking ceased. Jane looked at Abby with her angry eyes. "I want to go home now."

She started walking down the steps towards the street and Alec followed after her.

"You're going to pay for this Jane!" One of the girls yelled. Abby recognized her as Betty Parish, the reverend's daughter. "I'm going to tell everyone what you did!" She screamed the words through her tear-streaked face.

Abby chased after the twins. "Are you going to tell me what just happened?" Jane still looked very angry and quickened her pace. "Alec, tell me what happened!" Abby demanded.

His face was very sad. "Betty, Danielle, Caroline, Amelia, and Chelsie were all making fun of Jane's new dress. They said that the only reason that she had it was because our mother saved the scraps from making their nice dresses. Then Betty told Jane that she'd never be as good as them."

Angry tears now flowed down Jane's cheeks. Abby looked at her and her heart went out to her. She knew how much Jane wanted to be accepted and how much she wanted her schoolmates to like her. But it was no excuse…

"Then what happened, Alec? Why was that girl in pain?" Abby pushed.

Alec shook his head. "I don't know."

"Alec, tell me the truth." Abby said sternly.

"I said I don't know!" Abby had never seem him lose his temper.

When they got back to the house she told them to stay put and not to go anywhere and not to let anyone inside the house. Then she ran back to Main Street to the factory. She found Sarah and pulled her to the side to talk in private.

"There was an incident at school. Some of the girls were making fun of Jane and she lost her temper. When I got there one of the girls was lying on the ground screaming in pain but no one was touching her." Abby reported.

Sarah's face went pale. "Who was the girl?"

Abby didn't see why this mattered but said the name anyway, "Betty Parris."

Her countenance fell at the sound of the name. "Oh my Jane. Why her?" She whispered more to herself.

"Why does it matter which girl it was?" Abby asked.

"Are you kidding?" Sarah glared at Abby. "Don't you pay attention when you're at church on Sunday? Reverend Parris is the most diabolical puritan there is. He will go to any lengths to destroy anything he deems 'evil'." Sarah shook her head. "We have to go home, now!"

Sarah ran out of the factory with Abby struggling to keep up. They raced home and ran into the house. Jane and Alec were sitting on the floor petting the puppy. Sarah grabbed Jane and Alec and hugged them tightly.

"Don't worry. Everything is going to be okay. I promise. I'm going to keep you safe." She whispered to them and kissed them both. Then Sarah ran into the bedroom and grabbed a few bags and started throwing their belongings into them.

"Sarah, have you gone mad? What are you doing?" Abby asked.

"We have to leave this place. In my heart, I know that something terrible is coming. We have to go. Start packing!" Sarah looked so frantic.

Abby grabbed her few belongings and then set them on the kitchen table. If it hadn't been for the fire that caught her eye she probably wouldn't have noticed at all. An angry mob was walking down the path towards their house carrying torches even though it was still daylight. At the head of the mob, Abby recognized Reverend Samuel Parris with a look of determination on his face.

"What are you doing, Abby? Help me!" Sarah scolded.

Abby shook her head. "It's too late. They're already here."