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The Apothecary's Journal by Logan73

Page history last edited by Rob Classact 13 years, 9 months ago

The Apothecary's Journal

by Logan73


January 2nd

Dorothy gave me this journal for Christmas, so I intend to at least make an effort. I have never been much of a writer, but the book is of such a beautiful quality that it seems an awful shame to let it go to waste.
Our holiday was very cozy and pleasant. It brings me great joy that after so many years we are still so content with each other’s company. For Christmas dinner we were, I regret to say, rather too extravagant, but after all it is only once a year and it made Dorothy happy, so I cannot complain.
The new year looks to be a good one. Our little shop is prospering and I anticipate good things to come.

January 12th

I have decided to take on an assistant. Business is booming and I’m not getting any younger (or so Dorothy persists in reminding me.) I was resistant to the idea at first – I still feel as capable as ever – but I suppose it would be nice to have a little extra free time. After all, the apothecary has been my sole responsibility for nearly four decades. A change of pace will surely do me good. I have placed an advertisement in the local gazette and expect to start interviewing candidates within the week.

January 17th

I have met with several applicants for my assistant position, but as yet none of them has seemed suitable for my needs. Perhaps it is merely my reluctance to accept help in something I have done alone for so long. I am meeting with a young girl tomorrow, but my expectations are frankly low. I have received no more replies and I may have to abandon the whole idea (a thought which I must confess does not leave me wholly depressed.)

January 18th

I am forced to admit that my initial doubts about hiring an assistant have vanished completely. The young lady with whom I met today has won me over. It was about three o’clock when she entered my shop. I was expecting her earlier and had concluded that she was not coming, so when I first saw her I mistook her for a customer, but she was quick to correct my misapprehension. I was instantly impressed with her bearing and demeanor. She has the kind of personality that makes one feel instantly at ease.

In addition to her pleasant manner, she displayed an extensive knowledge of my humble trade, offhandedly quoting facts about various drugs and medicines that I had all but forgotten. I tried to ascertain where she had acquired such detailed training, but on this issue she was evasive, admitting only to have worked “around.” However, I am not concerned by this. It is the nature of the business. In fact, some of the greatest pharmacists I have known got their start in situations that could now be considered somewhat dubious.

The other remarkable thing about this young lady (whose name is Mary McDowell) is her striking appearance. Her face is lovely. Her hair is jet black and at first glance I thought she was Oriental, but her features are plainly Anglo-Saxon. However, the first thing one notices when she walks into a room is her diminutive size. She is certainly no dwarf, but I would guess her to be well under five feet in height. At first one might mistake her for a child were it not for her womanly proportions. Nevertheless, she presents herself very well and I find her appearance quite charming. I only hope our customers feel the same way.

January 25th

Mary has been with us for almost a week now and she is performing her duties admirably. Her knowledge of chemicals is exhaustive and she fills prescriptions with a grace and speed that I have rarely seen. More importantly, she has already established a kind of rapport with our clientele. I may have underestimated the impact that having an attractive lady around can have on business. Even Dorothy has become quite taken with her. At first I feared she might resent me spending my days in the company of such a beauty, but I suppose she regards me as too old to think of wandering. Of course she is quite correct, but I think it would be nice if she were just a little jealous.

On several occasions I have witnessed Mary mixing chemicals together in the back room after hours. It is a little unusual, but the profits she brings in far outweigh the slight cost of the chemicals she uses. I suppose she is merely experimenting in an attempt to create better medicines – a laudable goal indeed.

January 31st

I think Mary has attracted an admirer. Over the last few days he has been into the shop nearly half a dozen times. Sometimes he buys little things such as quinine, but he looks healthy enough to me, and I have seen the way he looks at my lovely assistant. To be sure, Mary has caught the eye of quite a few lads, and our business is certainly improved for her presence, but this fellow attachment to her seems to go beyond the norm. He is handsome enough, but rather short, which probably explains his infatuation with Mary. He cannot be more than five foot five, and it must be refreshing for him to meet a woman nearly five inches shorter than himself.

So far, Mary has responded to his advances in an appropriate way, polite but not overly encouraging. I hope the boy is not in over his head.

February 14th

Mary is still mixing chemicals in secret. I caught her at it last night just before closing, and she struggled to come up with an explanation. It is the first time I have seen her flustered and I took pity on her, allowing her to escape having to justify her actions, with the condition that she use my chemicals only in very moderate quantities that will not cost me too much money. I was considering giving her a raise anyway, so I don’t mind paying the excess in chemicals. I only told her that if she ever had any problems, she could always talk to me about them. I am still concerned that she may have a dependency problem, but I have not noticed any of the more dangerous drugs being depleted, and her behaviour is not abnormal, so I am content to let the matter rest, at least for now.

February 25th

My assistant’s little suitor is back, although I suppose he never really left. He has been in and out of the shop for weeks, but now he has finally screwed up the courage to ask Mary to the theater. The poor little fellow was so nervous he was shaking, and I was glad for him when she accepted. They make a nice couple. Due to the boy’s small stature the pair stand eye to eye, which causes them to present a rather cute sight.

I have been neglecting my journal, I fear, but I will try to write more in the future. Not now, however, for Dorothy has made me a pie that needs eating.

February 26th

Pie was delicious. Thank you, Dorothy!

March 5th

Dorothy is out on the town today with my assistant. Several days ago, Mary spilled a little acid on her sleeve, ruining the garment completely, and my wife has generously offered to take her shopping. It seems as though more and more Mary is becoming almost a member of the family. It should be an engaging outing for the women. Mary has an elegant frame that I’m sure will do great justice to the town’s dressmakers. Dorothy had initially hoped to lend the girl some of her more stylish dresses from her youth, but they all turned out to be rather too small.

March 17th

I am now convinced that Mary is suffering from some sort of addiction. She has been exceeding her allotment of chemicals for some time, but I have until now let it slide. Yesterday, however, I was attempting to fill an order for a customer when I discovered that a crucial ingredient was utterly depleted from my stock. There was no question that it was Mary’s doing, for it was an unusual ingredient and one which I am sure I had an adequate quantity of it. I did not mind Mary indulging a little, but not when it interferes with my business.

When I confronted her about this, I saw a flash of anger behind her eyes that I have never seen before. I must confess that I felt a little fear at her reaction. She is an impressive woman, and she stands fully as tall as I, making her anger a fearsome thing. Fortunately, this flare up quickly passed and she apologized most humbly, but I have seen that look before in the eyes of addicts. I am at a loss as to how to proceed, and I hope it will not result in my having to let her go. She has been immensely valuable to me and it would be a shame to lose her.

March 24th

I have begun to hope that the situation with Mary has been resolved. Shortly after the incident, I asked her about the addiction I suspected. I was afraid she would be angry, but instead she broke down in tears and admitted her problem. We had a long talk about it, and since then I have noticed no missing chemicals. It would be a wondrous thing if a chemical dependence could be so easily conquered. I remain somewhat skeptical and watchful, but Mary is very strong willed and I believe that she can overcome almost any problem.

April 10th

All of my fears have been assuaged. Mary is apparently completely recovered and business has never been better. I am immensely relieved that I did not have to take drastic action, as Mary is the best thing to ever happen to my little shop. Ever since she came on board, young men from far and wide have come to admire her statuesque beauty. She smiles down at them politely, but her heart belongs to her young man, and quite a comical picture they cut. At his size, I’m sure that he is used to looking up at women, but next to Mary he appears positively childlike. Neither of them seems to mind, though, and when she stoops down to give him a kiss he lights up like a Christmas tree. Meanwhile, my trusty old stepladder is gathering dust, since Mary can easily reach the higher shelves in the stockroom.

I was initially hesitant to hire such an unusual woman, but I must admit that it was the best move I have ever made. I feel certain that the future holds only good things for us.

May 23rd

I regret not having written for a long time, but work has been very tiring of late. I am not as young as I once was, and the hours are long and the work, at times, grueling. Not that I am not grateful. Dorothy and I would be relegate to the poor house were it not for the generosity of Miss Mary. She truly is a remarkable woman.

I remember when I first came to the door of her shop, begging for a job. When I first laid eyes on her, I thought I had taken leave of my senses, for I had never before beheld a human being as large as she. When she stands in the shop, her head brushes against the ceiling. But her giant stature is matched by the kindness in her heart, for she agreed to take me and my wife out of the cold and give us a fair wage for a day’s work. Dorothy was so moved that she rushed to embrace our benefactrix. The poor dear’s head was practically swallowed by Miss Mary’s ample bosom. Imagine my astonishment when I met the man of the house. He was even shorter than Dorothy! What a sight he and his wife make when they walk down the street together! He is a meek fellow and the Lord knows what she sees in him, but there’s no accounting for taste.

In any case, there is no question that we owe our very lives to Miss Mary and hard though the days have been, I will gladly toil to my dying breath in order to repay her for what she has done for me and my wife. God bless Miss Mary. I will try to write again tomorrow.

The End

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