It's the early evening of November 14th, 1849. Rochester, New York. Two teen girls in

white dresses sit alone on a musical stage lit with candles and lanterns. Their stomachs

royal with nerves as they watch nearly 400 people file in. Adding to the creepiness

of the room is the pounding rain outside. The girls on stage are Kate and Maggie Fox,

just 12 and 16 years old. They look innocent with their dark shiny hair, translucent skin,

and wide expressive eyes. They can hardly believe all these strangers have braved the worst

weather here in decades just to see them. And they've paid a lot of money to do it.

Tonight, these people have come to watch Kate and Maggie Fox talk to dead people.

Well, if they're being honest, a lot of paid good money to watch the girls fail.

The whole thing sounds just too good to be true. Speak with the dead, hogwash. And yet they remain

hopeful. After all, this is Rochester. This Erie Canal Bloom Town represents all the newness and

optimism and progressive spirit of America. The frontier is closing, and this town is helping

lead the way. These are modern people, and they should be open to modern ideas. What if there

is something to the rumors surrounding these girls? What if they can? Like some people say,

actually speak to the dearly departed. The candles and lanterns dim and hush falls over the audience.

In that moment, the girls realize this is their one and only chance to come clean. Nerves

set in. Maybe they should just stand up and beg forgiveness, return everyone's money.

It's their chance to tell everyone that what they've been doing for the last year

is based on lies, trickery, and deceit. But Kate and Maggie Fox have always been able to

sense what the other is thinking. And right now, they're both a step ahead, thinking the same

thing. This is their chance to take charge of their lives, to chart their own course. This could

be their way out of a dreary future, limited to obligation and marriage to insert name here.

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