The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern

Augusta’s father’s pharmacy, Stern’s Pharmacy, is a fixture of their Brownsville neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. The family lives above the shop. Her father, Solomon Stern, is a skillful practitioner and thoughtful listener. However, he cannot heal Augusta’s mother, Irene, who develops diabetes when Augusta is 12. A year after Irene dies, insulin is discovered. Augusta feels bitter that the discovery did not come in time to save her mother. 

Augusta and her sister, Bess, work at the store when they are not at school. Bess works behind the makeup counter, and Augusta teases Bess for having her eye on George, who runs the soda fountain. When Augusta tells her father she wants to learn about giving prescriptions, he instructs her to read the Pharmacopeia and reminds her that discussions with patients must be confidential. One day, her father introduces the new delivery boy to her. The boy is skinny and shabbily dressed, and his name is Irving Rivkin.

Augusta is embarrassed when Irving asks about her family. She reveals that Bess died a few months ago, and George died in 1983. They had three children, and Augusta is closest with Jackie, who runs a boutique in New York City. Irving has twin sons, but his wife, Lois, left him for another man in 1942. Augusta recalls that Irving had proposed to Lois and left for Chicago with her and her family in the span of a week. Irving is surprised to learn Augusta never married; he thought she had a daughter. Augusta reflects that her work saved her from loneliness. She even lied about her age at the hospital so she wouldn’t be forced to retire. She jabs at Irving for being fat, and he says that after growing up hungry, he’s proud of his belly. He wants to catch up, but Augusta makes an excuse to get away. Irving warns her not to get the tuna sandwich from the snack bar.

Augusta’s great-aunt Esther comes to stay with the family. She is older, unmarried, and old-fashioned. She takes over the cooking and makes delicious meals, including chicken soup with kreplach—meat-filled dumplings. Esther has an authoritative way about her and discourages pushy customers, but she is also wise and helpful. When a mother comes into the pharmacy saying that her sons are complaining of stomach ailments, Esther suggests that she feed them her chicken soup, which cures the boys. Gradually, Solomon becomes annoyed when customers seek Esther’s advice instead of his own. Solomon insists that Esther must not undermine his authority. Augusta takes her father’s side, disliking how Esther has reorganized the apartment, but in truth she misses her mother. Esther begins calling Augusta “Goldie” for her flaxen hair. When Esther is challenged about her beliefs, she says it doesn’t matter what anyone else says since she knows herself well.

Augusta feels adrift without work to anchor her. To defy Irving, she orders the tuna sandwich from the snack shack and becomes ill from the mayonnaise. Irving brings her Pepto Bismol, saltine crackers, and ginger ale. He calls to check on Augusta and reminisces about Esther’s chicken soup. Augusta retorts that she never eats soup anymore, saying, “I’ve been burned too many times” (32).

Everyone in the neighborhood begins asking for Esther’s chicken soup, which they consider a remedy for all ailments. Esther never makes it the same way twice. She grinds the herbs with a mortar and pestle she brought with her from Russia. The mortar has Hebrew letters carved inside the bowl. When Augusta asks what the inscription says, her aunt doesn’t tell her. Solomon and Esther strike an agreement that Esther will not advise his customers, but she can see people upstairs. Solomon fears Esther’s “superstitions and old wives’ tales” will harm his reputation (39).

Irving and Augusta begin a friendship, talking between his deliveries. She confides that she wants to go to pharmaceutical college. Irving says he has street smarts but not book smarts. He asks Augusta her favorite memory of her mother, and Augusta recalls how her mother would take her and Bess to the beach to swim. She recalls that swimming in the ocean made her feel brave, but once, when she was swimming, a wave pulled her under, and she was frightened. Afterward, her mother advised her not to give up on things she loves just because they come with challenges. However, Augusta has not swum in the ocean since her mother died.

At the retirement community, Augusta meets Shirley, who is from the Bronx. Shirley invites Augusta to the community book club, where they are discussing Sense and Sensibility. To Augusta’s great surprise, Irving is the moderator. A retiree named Harold Glantz, who is from Flatbush, says he didn’t care for the character of Elinor, but Augusta identifies with how Elinor suffered in silence. She defends Elinor by saying, “The only man she ever loved is going to marry someone else, and she has to live with that heartache” (46). Irving says he first thought Elinor was cold, but he came to admire her once he realized how hard things were for her.

Augusta hopes if she does well with her work, she can help bring her father out of his grief. She spends more time with Irving, who sits with her while she prepares prescriptions or does homework. Irving says he enjoys watching Augusta study. Irving and George come for dinner one night, and Augusta is self-conscious about her appearance. She notices how much Irving eats. He learns her family nickname is Goldie.

One day, after a snowfall, Augusta notices Irving is ill. He has influenza, and though Solomon brings him remedies, Irving doesn’t improve. Augusta is terrified when she visits him and sees how ill he is. She is upset when her father says he has done all he can; she wants to believe that medicine is always effective. Esther says she will take Irving her soup.

Augusta orders a new bright red swimsuit. She attends a tennis tournament and watches Irving and Harold play doubles against another pair. When Irving collapses from the heat, Augusta runs to help him. Irving teases her, saying that this means she cares about him.

Augusta wakes in the night to find Esther working in the kitchen. Her wooden apothecary case is open, and Esther selects herbs that she grinds in the mortar. She wears a long, silky blue robe, and she hums a song as she works. Esther places her herbal mixture in a square of muslin and then blows out the candles. The next day, Esther makes soup for Irving. She and Augusta visit his home, and Esther insists on giving Irving the soup right away. His mother says Irving isn’t eating, but he drinks Esther’s soup, to which she adds the herbs. The next day, the doctor reports that Irving is much better. Augusta thinks the cure must have been Esther’s soup, but Esther agrees with Solomon that the illness must have simply run its course.