Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
by Grady Hendrix
Contents
Chapter 5
Overview
Hazel is sent to the hospital to give birth, while Fern is pulled into Wellwood House’s clinic system and learns how little control she has over her own body and information. Dr. Vincent subjects Fern to a rough, humiliating exam, and Fern endures it by clinging to the promise of going home. Immediately after, social worker Diane “Miss Keller” persuades Fern to choose adoption as “surrender,” and Fern signs papers—under a false name—after seeing her father has already signed first.
Summary
Fern wakes to the house bell and the chaotic morning bathroom routine, listening as the girls speculate about how much childbirth hurts while Hazel snaps at them. At breakfast Hazel can only drink a medicinal sludge before being driven “downtown” to the hospital, and Fern is given a cup of assorted pills she is told to take without explanation. Hazel leaves for Flagler Hospital with Miss Wellwood, and Fern feels abruptly isolated in the Home.
Nurse Kent finds Fern and takes her to the on-site clinic. As Nurse Kent weighs Fern and runs basic questions and tests, Fern asks about labor pain; Nurse Kent insists modern medicine makes childbirth painless, which gives Fern a small, shaky hope. After blood and urine tests, Nurse Kent brings Fern to Dr. Vincent.
Dr. Vincent questions Fern clinically, then challenges her due date until Fern provides the date of her last menstrual cycle. He performs a physical exam and, despite Fern’s reluctance and modesty, forcibly exposes her belly, palpates roughly, listens to the fetus, and orders her to undress. Dr. Vincent then conducts an internal exam with Fern restrained in stirrups, shaming her and making the experience feel violating; Fern endures it by focusing on getting “one step closer to going home.”
Immediately afterward, Fern is sent to meet Miss Keller, the social worker, who introduces herself as Diane. Seeing Fern’s distress, Diane apologizes for Fern being put through an internal exam and assures her she will not have to endure another unless something is wrong. Diane reframes adoption as a “gift” and a chance to “start over,” describing legal surrender as a way to go home and erase the entire episode from Fern’s life.
Diane presents surrender papers and promises Fern will be put to sleep for delivery and won’t have to see the baby before the adoptive family takes it. Fern hesitates when she sees her father has already signed, feeling the weight of making it permanent, but ultimately signs anyway. Following Diane’s instruction, Fern writes “Jane Doe” on the line beside her father’s signature.
Who Appears
- Fern (Neva)New girl at Wellwood; undergoes invasive exam and signs adoption “surrender” papers as Jane Doe.
- Dr. VincentWellwood’s doctor; dismissive and rough, performs Fern’s physical and internal examination.
- Diane Keller (Miss Keller)Social worker; comforts Fern after the exam and convinces her to sign surrender papers.
- Nurse KentClinic nurse; conducts intake tests and insists childbirth pain can be eliminated by modern medicine.
- HazelPregnant resident; sent downtown with Miss Wellwood to deliver at Flagler Hospital.
- RoseFern’s roommate; sardonic presence during the morning wake-up routine.
- HollySilent, childlike roommate; resistant to waking and largely withdrawn.
- Mrs. DeckleStaff member; orders Hazel to leave and tells Fern to take pills without explanation.
- Miss WellwoodHome’s authority; drives Hazel to the hospital and maintains control over residents’ lives.
- DaisyResident; reinforces that Fern must take her pills and joins childbirth talk.
- FloraResident; speculates about labor pain, contributing to Fern’s anxiety.
- JasmineResident; present in morning banter and later seen doing kitchen prep work.