The Beast of 1977 (Book 1)

Mr. Mercer stopped the car in front of a shabby, one floor, white and black house and said, "I won't be able to come and pick you up till around eight tonight."

"That's cool, I'll just catch the bus home." Isaac nonchalantly responded while fixing his hair in the rearview mirror.

Mr. Mercer then began to fiddle with the car keys that were still lodged in the ignition until he was able to unhinge a rusty, gold key and hand it to Isaac.

"You be careful coming home."

"Yes, sir," Isaac replied as he grabbed the key that was still tightly gripped inside his father's large hand.

Without looking at each other, both men's hands grasped the others for a few moments. There were no words exchanged during the event, just heavy breathing and longing silence. Isaac's own hand was becoming increasingly sore with his father's paw gripping his, but the young man held on, and he held on some more.

"See you at home, boy." Mr. Mercer said as he released Isaac's sweaty hand.Isaac took the key and got out of the car.

With water in his eyes he watched as his dad pulled away back onto the main road before carrying on towards the house ahead of him.He didn't even want to ponder on how his father felt at that point, Isaac knew that it would only cause him to shatter right there on the sidewalk.

The neighborhood was a rundown excuse for a community. On both sides of the street sat six houses, four of the six on Isaac's side were boarded up, while the others were completely in shambles; all forgotten by a city that in and of itself was in the thralls of ruination.

Just as Isaac was about to step up onto the dilapidated porch, loud music could be heard clashing down the street. It was a dark green Volkswagen Beetle proudly playing Rose Royce's, 'Car Wash' for everyone to hear.

For Isaac, it wasn't the song that caught his attention, nor was it the volume at which it was playing, but rather the vehicle's color that seemed to mesmerize the man. Only his drooling eyes watched as the car tooled down the road. Its green tint flashed in his face like an explosion.Isaac stood on the porch and waited for the car to clear the street before turning and knocking on the front door. Suddenly, all he could see was the color green in front of him.

Standing there on the porch, Isaac could hear footsteps march their way to the door. He immediately wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans and waited ever so impatiently for the door to swing open.

Abruptly, the door opened to reveal a young, short, brown skinned woman with hair rolled up in pink curlers. The young lady's face instantly became mortified and nervously excited at the sight of Isaac.

"Isaac." She stuttered as though he were the last person in the world that she was expecting to see standing on the other side of the door. "I...I thought you wouldn't be here till tomorrow."

Smiling from ear to ear, Isaac said, "I wanted to surprise you."Isaac then stepped through the door and hugged the woman with such force that he could hear her bones pop a bit.

Quaintly, the woman unhinged herself from Isaac's grip before looking into his face and asking with a serious expression, "They still haven't figured out what's wrong with your eyes?"

Isaac drew back surprised, and with a confused glare on his face he remarked, "I get home after two whole months and you ask me about my eyes?"

"I'm sorry, I guess I still haven't gotten used to them." She humbly replied. "I sure wish I knew that you would be here today. I would've done something with this crazy hair of mine. How did you get here from the hospital?"

Relaxing himself a bit, Isaac said, "Dad brought me." He then moved in and passionately kissed the woman on the lips. "Damn, you look fine."

"Negro, please, my hair is a mess, and I got a hole in my jeans." She callously waved off.

"You don't see me

lost a lot of weight." The woman

"But, hey, I didn't come

"He's in there asleep." Lynn pointed behind

and down with both intense passion

"Isaac...I—

out of the hallway and into the warm living room. His bleary-eyed self nearly bumped into the hot kerosene heater

were handling a pot of gold. He excitedly kissed the boy's soft cheeks and forehead while rubbing

been gone." Lynn said while standing next to Isaac and caressing the child's

Isaac sat himself and Isaiah down onto the

"Wassup, little man? How

"Say, 'I've been a good little boy, daddy.' Lynn mocked as she sat down next to

Gradually, the child opened his brown eyes and gazed strangely upon his father as if he were looking at a total stranger.Isaac continued to play with the baby until Isaiah began to anxiously wrestle out

Isaac's entire body went completely numb at that moment. "Damn, Lynn, he wouldn't even let me hold

patiently replied, "Well, he hasn't seen you for two months, Isaac. You

to visit me back in December, then

stale glaze in her eyes and said, "Isaac, I told

of blistering silence passed before Isaac spitefully turned his head and asked, "So, how have you two

Sighing, Lynn responded, "We've been okay. Got behind on the electric bill again last month. Mr. Harris said if it happens again then we'll have to find another

gasped. "But you're only renting this

father has been helping me, but...I'm tired of other people helping me out. If it's not your father then it's mine. If not my dad then it's my mother and sisters. I

"Does your family know where I was these

Isaac." Lynn irritably groaned. "I haven't

I'll see if I can get my

"At where," Lynn contemptuously interjected. "Down at Larry's garage, where they also sell drugs after hours? Isaac, if your father knew all of that was going

"But he doesn't know!" Isaac

alright." Lynn softly said into Isaiah's ears as she tried

shot up from off the couch and began to wander about the small living room that was full of nothing but two wooden chairs

Mr. Harris ever fix the

"No, he said that he'd have to replace

Out of agitation, Isaac rolled his eyes and stormed into the smoldering kitchen where he noticed a pot of greens boiling

tried with all his might to twist and turn the rusty thing only

"It probably just needs some WD-40!" He proclaimed while making his way back into the living room. "These landlords will do

"Well, let's just forget about." Lynn sighed. "Since we've been here I haven't needed to use

Sitting back down on the couch, Isaac smirked at Lynn, "I see

if someone had told me that they were coming home today