Time for another entry in Friday Fictioneers challenge, courtesy of Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. If you want to give it a try, check the info on her blog. 100 words more or less, inspired by a photo, here we go….
Copyright – G.L. MacMillan
Widow Wyncke stood at the door of her little apothecary, watching the slim form of her apprentice Henry Stirrell disappearing down the street.
“Stupid cunt, just because you inherited the business doesn’t make you an apothecary.”
Her cheek recovered rather quickly from his slap, but his words inflicted wounds that seemed impossible to heal.
Retreating to her shop, she started to prepare a powder for Mrs Abbot’s children. All three of her little ones were running a scarlet fever and doctor Cademan almost bled them to death.
Grinding the ingredients in the mortar, she thought to herself: Just breathe.
I went to link and read about those women apothecaries. Fascinating. Your story – she needs to get those meds right despite Stirrell’s attitude. I assume she’ll mix a little ‘something’ for him at some point. Interesting read.
Snow,
Thanks for the history lesson. There was only so much an early pharmacist could do with earth worms and garden herbs and God knows the physicians of the day could do more harm than good.
This really captured me, Loré! With or without the link the story is captivating and compelling. I want to know more about the Widow and her life. Really wonderful!
My Mother used to be a pharmacist and loved a visit to old apothecary shop. As children we were treated with her magic cream – mainly mild antiseptic, but we believed it and it usually worked.
Wonder how many people were killed by blood-letting. Your story certainly packs a punch – great job.
Great history lesson and wonderful story. She’s much better off without that apprentice. Medicine of that time… makes us appreciate modern science a bit more, doesn’t it?
I think that says a lot about the position of the women of that era. Gender of comptenece. Although, sometimes it doesn’t feels like that, we came a long way.
Snow's Fissures and Fractures 
I went to link and read about those women apothecaries. Fascinating. Your story – she needs to get those meds right despite Stirrell’s attitude. I assume she’ll mix a little ‘something’ for him at some point. Interesting read.
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Thank you, glad you liked the story.
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The apprentice is asking for a potion in his coffee. I’m sure, untrained or not, she’s up to dealing with him.
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Widow Wyncke was a determined lady, she landed on her feet.
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I think maybe she needs to find a new apprentice. And he a new path, perhaps one straight to hell.
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Well, in the end they parted ways.
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Wow, this had me hooked. Would love to read more of this.
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That is kind of you, Paul. Tnx.
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Snow,
Thanks for the history lesson. There was only so much an early pharmacist could do with earth worms and garden herbs and God knows the physicians of the day could do more harm than good.
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And if you meddled too much in doctor’s business, there was always a danger of calling you a witch. Thank you. Tracey.
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I’m a physician and I get called a witch all the time! ha ha Not really, I’m mostly nice and mellow.
T
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😀
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Fantastic story! Great imagery and well-realised characters – difficult to do in such a short piece, and shows the skill of the writer 🙂
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Oh, you are too kind. Thank you.
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Well crafted characters and story. The link to history was excellent.
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Glad you liked it, thank you so much.
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Dear Loré.
I think his apprenticeship is over. Nicely done and thank you for the link.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You are welcome. Thank you.
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I think it’s time she mixed up a little something “special” for nasty Henry’s tea…
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Oh my, Friday Fictoneers are really bloodthirsty! 😛 Thank you.
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Interesting and informative.
Good piece.
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Thank you.
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Ah, the tools don’t make the talent… so well told!
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Thank you, glad you liked it.
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Men and their dismissive ways. We’ve shown them, and continue too – and yet they are still blind!
Well told!
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It doesn’t matter, we need to keep doing what we do, for us. Thank you.
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I love how you told this story of the Widow Wyncke and her wretched apprentice.
Thanks for the history lesson and the wonderful story!
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Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
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Excellent! Filled with abundance of emotion and hope. You wrote “the era” very well!
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Ah, that is so nice to know. Thank you!
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Interesting story, captivating.
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Thank you.
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This really captured me, Loré! With or without the link the story is captivating and compelling. I want to know more about the Widow and her life. Really wonderful!
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Glad you liked it, Dawn. Thank you. 🙂
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My Mother used to be a pharmacist and loved a visit to old apothecary shop. As children we were treated with her magic cream – mainly mild antiseptic, but we believed it and it usually worked.
Wonder how many people were killed by blood-letting. Your story certainly packs a punch – great job.
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That was nice of you to share.
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Really powerful piece.
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Thank you.
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Great history lesson and wonderful story. She’s much better off without that apprentice. Medicine of that time… makes us appreciate modern science a bit more, doesn’t it?
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Fascinating background to your story. I find it disturbing that, despite Dr Cademan’s incompetence, she later married him!
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I think that says a lot about the position of the women of that era. Gender of comptenece. Although, sometimes it doesn’t feels like that, we came a long way.
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Nice take on the prompt
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Thank you.
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A fascinating story, and powerful dialogue. Hopefully she’ll replace the apprentice with one who appreciates her skills a bit more.
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Glad you liked it. I hope she did just that.
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A great story and thank you for the link to the article about women apothecaries – it’s a subject that has always fascinated me. 🙂
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That is great to hear, thank you!
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