Crucible Epilogue

Gabrielle DeLoof

Mr. Provenzano

Honors American Lit. 1^st Hour

17 October 2011

Crucible Epilogue

As for Salem, it is now far off from my world.  I am better because of it.  I hated living there during such a critical time of my life.  It was a wretched place that made me feel like an outcast. I had nothing.  I was an orphan.  When I thought I had something or someone who cared for me, I was wrong.  It was all just a bad dream.  However, everyone got their just dues.  The one person in particular was that no good John Proctor who was the devil.  I can’t believe that some feel that he died a hero.  How can someone who commits such a grave sin as adultery ever become a hero?  He hurt me so much that I am happy that he was hung.  It is too bad that I wasn’t the one who got to tighten the noose.  

As that chapter in my life closes, another one opens.  My good friend, Mercy has allowed me to travel with her.  We have come upon an interesting town called Boston.  There are many men here who are different than those in Salem.  I am no longer a slave but can work as I please.  I labor in a place called a saloon for Mr. John Smith.  He is such a gentleman.  The other day I got a taste of something called “gin.”  The fresh, cool, crisp taste of one sip made me feel like I was in the woods amongst many pine trees.  For a second, I saw myself dancing in the woods with the girls again.  Or was I dancing in the saloon amongst the women and men?  I did not feel like myself, but I was happy as my subconscious came before me.  I didn’t think I drank but a sip, but perhaps it was more.  Soon I found myself in another room with unfamiliar surroundings.  Mr. Smith was introducing me to Mr. Jim West.  Next, I was dancing with a blonde hair, blue-eyed man.  Soon he said that he would be paying me very well for my time spent entertaining him.  Why would I be paid to be dancing with a man?  Hard up for money, I was interested in what he meant by his statement.  No sooner than I wished to find out than I soon came to realize what he intended.  Before I knew it, I was unclothed, and in his arms lying next to him in bed.  I kept wondering if this was a dream or reality. 

It is harder to get out of things than you first think.  Mr. Jim West and I started off drinking and then danced.  I soon came to tell Mr. West that I had a great time with him and hoped to see him again sometime soon.  Mr. West asked where I was going and I told him that I was tired and needed to go home with Mercy.

 “Well Abigail, Mercy is having some alone time with Mr. James Dean” said Mr. West.  What was I supposed to do?  I couldn’t go to Mercy because she was having “alone time” with Mr. Dean, so I simply asked Mr. West if he could take me home.

 “I would love to take you home, Abigail, just come with me to the back room to get my jacket.”  As we approached the back room, Mr. West told me I could spend the night here since there was an extra bedroom.  I agreed to do the latter.

Mr. West took me to the bedroom where I would be staying the night and showed me the sheets, blankets, and where the bathroom was. 

“Thank you Mr. West.”

 “You’re welcome,” he replied. As he was about to walk out, Mr. West shut the door and locked it.

 “I am fine Mr. West.  I need to change and get in bed,” cried Abigail.

 “I will be helping you get dressed tonight, Abigail.”  As he said that to me, he tossed me on the bed and started to undress me.  He put himself on top of me and the way he was touching and feeling me felt so nice.  I didn’t want him to stop so I let him stay with me for the night.

I awoke to the rays of light from the sun on my face as it entered through the window in the bedroom.  Just then I heard a pounding of feet on the floor and a husky voice say, “Thanks for the night.”  Then the door shut.  A few minutes later there was a knock on the door and Mr. Smith entered the room.  He told me what a great job I had done and that I was welcome to stay and continue to work at the saloon.   I went to find Mercy in order to discuss Mr. Smith’s proposal.  I found her alone inside the saloon sitting on a bar stool.  We exchanged our stories with what had transpired during the night, and we both somehow felt that this was our new life and beginning.  To finally have someone or people that love you, while at the same time being taken care of and paid lots of money was all that we needed. 

Some people call us devils or prostitutes, but they will never know what it was like in our previous life as orphans.  Finally, we had the ability to dance without being told it was witchcraft, and we had found happiness within this new life.