Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
by Grady Hendrix
Contents
Chapter 8
Overview
Fern is punished at dinner with a liver-and-milk “iron supplement” and ordered to sit alone until she drinks it, until Rose quietly intervenes by chugging it for her. Later that night, a new pregnant girl arrives—Zinnia, a Black teenager brought by her mother in secrecy—and her arrival exposes the house’s racial tensions and the girls’ unease. Miss Wellwood’s attempt to place Zinnia in the attic sparks Rose’s protest, reshuffling rooms and leaving Fern and Holly to share with Zinnia while doing cleanup as punishment.
Summary
On Sunday, Miss Wellwood leads breakfast prayers for national leaders and the fight against communism while Fern sits through another day in the Congregation Room, distracted by memories of Myrtle’s brutal labor and removal. By dinner, Fern is singled out: her place setting is replaced with a foamy brown “health supplement” ordered by Dr. Vincent.
Miss Wellwood reveals the drink is calves’ liver blended with milk and insists Fern finish it. Fern tries but cannot force it down, and when dinner ends Miss Wellwood orders Fern to remain at the table alone until the glass is empty.
After the house quiets, Rose enters, takes Fern’s glass, and chugs the liver shake in one go, declaring “Solidarity.” Relieved and hungry, Fern takes the glass to the kitchen, but Hagar snaps that Fern must wash it herself before she can leave.
Upstairs, the girls are tense because Miss Wellwood unusually remains in the house late into the night. After nine, a green Lincoln Continental arrives; a tall Black woman and her pregnant daughter enter, and Briony is chosen to show the girl around while Miss Wellwood takes the mother to her office. The girls’ awkward, curious greetings are interrupted when the new girl vomits over the balcony, apparently triggered by the heavy Pine-Sol smell.
Miss Wellwood names the girl Zinnia and announces she will sleep in an attic bedroom. Rose challenges the decision as segregation and offers to take the attic room herself; Miss Wellwood accepts, then assigns Zinnia instead to share Fern and Holly’s room and punishes Fern and Holly with mopping the porch vomit. Back in the room, Zinnia—well-dressed and clearly from a wealthier family—continues vomiting and admits her mother drove nonstop for safety and drugged her with sleeping pills. When Zinnia mentions having read the novel Rosemary’s Baby, Fern recognizes a rare kindred reference and warns that Wellwood House will likely be worse.
Who Appears
- Fern (Neva/“Fern”)Targeted with an iron “supplement,” rescued by Rose, then assigned to room with Zinnia.
- Miss WellwoodEnforces obedience, keeps girls anxious by staying late, admits Zinnia and reshuffles rooms punitively.
- RoseChugs Fern’s liver shake in solidarity; confronts attic segregation and moves into the attic room.
- ZinniaNewly arrived pregnant Black girl; repeatedly vomits, is first placed in attic, then rooms with Fern and Holly.
- HollyFern’s roommate; ordered to mop the porch and adjusts to Zinnia moving into their room.
- HagarKitchen worker who harshly orders Fern to wash the supplement glass.
- BrionyChosen to escort Zinnia; performs a stiff tour and manages the girls’ reactions.
- Zinnia’s motherBrings Zinnia late at night, speaks privately with Miss Wellwood, and avoids the other girls.
- Dr. VincentCited as ordering Fern’s iron supplement, reinforcing medical control over the girls.