I began to cry when my mother?s name was called.
?Madame, you have been named as a witch. Guards take her away,? the minister announced.
?I am no witch, this is absurd.? Sara?s mother yelled at the minister, ?You are a man of God, how can you allow the arrest of innocent people with no proof? This is madness, madness I tell you!?
The guards pulled her away into the dark room of the church while the minister read out 47 other names. 70 people have been hung since October, the month in which all this started. I am proud of my mother; she was one of the few people to dare speak out against the madness, now it was my turn.

When the seminar ended, I walked out the church alone, for I was alone. The only person in my life was my mother and now she was gone, taken away from me just like that. I felt empty, sad and confused. I wasn?t sure what to do. I decided to go to the park to clear my mind. When I arrived there it was empty, I had expected this for everyone was afraid of being named. I mean if you were seen just walking around or talking to yourself people would automatically think you to be a witch. I sat on the park bench and thought. I thought about nothing at all really, just about how was I going to survive without my mother. I knew no one would help me because they probably thought I was a witch also since my mother was named. It was getting late so I picked myself up and started my way home. I can remember that day so clearly, as if it was yesterday.

The next day I woke up without the smell of breakfast. I remembered that my mother wasn?t there and a huge sadness came over me. I walked out of bed and went into the kitchen to make myself breakfast. When I finished I changed into my school cloths, brushed my hair and teeth and went out the door to school. I met my friend, Melissa, out side the school?s front door.
?I can?t believe your mother was named! I mean she?s the nicest person in the enter town,? Melissa said.
?Well believe it,? I responded sadly, ?Well, we?d better get to class before the bell.?
We walked into the school, through the halls until we reached my class. I waved to Melissa as she walked away and entered my classroom just when the bell rang.

During lunch Melissa and I always ate together, but I had learned that she had gone home during her science class because she got an allergic reaction to one of the chemicals. So I sat alone. I heard some people whispering and looking at me so I thought there was something in the teeth. Then I heard someone yell out ?Sara?s a witch!? My face burned red as I got up, dumped my tray and walked slowly into the bathroom. I didn?t understand how people could be so cruel. My mother was not a witch and I wasn?t either. Why would people suddenly think these things? During the last period of school I was called to the Principle?s office. The teacher told me to take my things with me, so I gathered my notebooks and walked to the office. When I got there, the principle didn?t have her usual happy face, she looked stern and serious. I had a pretty good idea what she was about to say.
?Sara, have a seat please,? she pointed to the chair in front of her desk. I quickly sat and looked straight at her. ?It has come to my attention that your mother was named a witch. You know we do not tolerate any witchcraft in our school, am I right??
?Yes, maim,? I began, ?but I have not tampered with witchcraft nor has my mother.?
?Yes, yes. I understand that you are on your mother?s side, but I do not think that parents will like the idea of having a child of an accused witch in our school. So I must ask you to not attend school. You may take home with you all your books and supplies to continue your studies at home, but you can not come back to this school. I am very sorry.?
?I understand,? I said in a small voice. I got up and without giving her another look left the school for good.

A couple of days later I received a letter from my mother. She explained what was happening and told me that she loved me very much. She promised that she would be home very soon, but I didn?t believe her. I knew everyone would believe she was a witch. On Sunday I went to church as every good child would, just to make sure no one would think I was a witch also. During the seminar loved ones of those named spoke out against the madness. I just sat there quietly trying to draw as little attention as possible. A woman who looked to be in her twenties was yelling at the minister.
?How can you arrest the parents of young children? How are these children suppose to live on their own??
I knew that what she said was true, for I was one of those children. I suddenly felt the urge to get up and say something. I couldn?t control myself anymore and sprang up to my feet.
?I agree,? I shouted. I didn?t know why I said that. I didn?t know what I was agreeing to.
?What is it that you are agreeing to miss,? the minister asked. I pondered at his question.
?I agree that it is wrong to arrest the parents of young children when there is no proof. My mother was arrested a couple of days ago. It?s amazing that you don?t remember her, sir, since she is one of the few who dared to speak out against you.? I shouted. I was amazed at myself. It felt like some else had taken over me and was talking for me.

After the seminar, Melissa rushed up to me.
?I can?t believe what you did in there,? she said excited.
?What? Oh that?to tell you the truth, I can?t believe it either,? I responded.
?Well, it was very brave of you.?
?Thanks? I said. We then parted and I walked home.
When I arrived, there were officers at my front door.
?Is there something a matter sir,? I asked.
?We have come to search the house of the arrested Ms. Carol Good,? one officer responded seriously.
?I am her daughter sir, wait a moment please and I will let you in.? I quickly unlocked the door and they walked in. They searched everywhere, our library, bedrooms, living room and even the kitchen. They said they were looking for anything suspicious like a spell book. After searching and questioning me for about an hour they left disappointed. I was satisfied though. Maybe now they would let my mother go, but I doubted that thought.

My mother sent me another letter a few days later. It said that she would be on trial on Sunday and that she hoped to see me there while she gave the minister a good what for. The letter made me laugh for the first time in weeks. I was happy that my mother was still in high spirits, so I looked forward for this Sunday.

When Sunday came, I put on my nicest outfit, because I knew my mother would want me to. I took my sunhat and went out the door to the church. When I arrived the church was overflowing with people, but Melissa had saved me a seat right next to her with the perfect view of everything that was going on. My mother was seated on the bench, she potted me and waved. She had on the same cloths that she had worn the day she was arrested; I thought this funny since she hated wearing the same outfit twice in a row when it came to church. The minister was seated and began speaking.
?I call the trial of the people against Ms. Carol Good. How do you plea,? he asked turning to my mother.
?Not guilty,? she said seriously.
?Well there as been no evidence found in your home, but many people have said that they have seen you talking to animals and writing??
My mother interrupted him, ?Sir, as you know I find all this witch nonsense crazy. How is talking to yourself wrong, when you would like to make sure what you are saying makes sense do you not sometimes say it out loud? Also is writing illegal? How is this proof of witchcraft,? she said quite proud of herself.
?A witch you are and will always be,? a woman yelled out from the crowd. I felt so mad at the woman that I got up and yelled.
?My mother is not a witch! This is all madness. You have no proof against my mother! In school we are taught how to write and read and speak, so explain to me how is this all poof of witchary!? I could see that my mother was stunted at my outburst. I was always known to be quiet and just let everything go. The minister stumbled to find something to say.
?Miss?I?I will not have such outbursts in my church. Sit down now,? he yelled.
?No,? I said, ?I will not listen to anymore of this madness. All these people are afraid of speaking out because they live in fear. In fear of being named as witches, but sir I will not sit and listen to anymore of this nonsense! My mother and all those arrested and killed were all innocent people. If this continues then think about what will happen! Soon that whole town will have been named as witches, children too.? Everyone sat in their seats stunned. Even the minister and guards looked shocked. Never had a child dared to speak their mind. They were always told to keep quiet and let adults decide everything. That day the witch madness began to fade away. All those arrested were freed including my mother. The minister was forced to step down and son everything went back to normal. Melissa came rushing to me one day with a newspaper in her hand.
?Sara look, look! Your name is in the paper!? She handed me the newspaper and I flipped to the page she told me to. The title read ?Those who stopped the madness? and my name was the first name there.

-Written by and COPYRIGHT Rebecca (Becca)