The Beast of 1977 (Book 1)

That evening, Isaac stood at his father's bedroom door with a fist pick lodged in his thick hair, silently watching as the well-disciplined man studied his bible, as he did every evening prior to falling asleep.

Forever it amazed Isaac at how deep and methodical his dad would sink himself into his lessons, even to the point where the man would become totally oblivious to another person standing near him.

Isaac examined his father up and down as though he were an age old masterpiece that was clothed in a pair of striped pajama bottoms and a white Fruit of the Loom undershirt. His drooping cheeks and sullen eyes gave the impression that whatever he was reading upon in his great book was something very serious, yet somber.

Mr. Mercer then sighed and took off his reading glasses before slowly closing his book and staring off straight ahead at the bare, white wall for ten seconds. Once the ten seconds had passed, the man gradually looked up at Isaac and slightly grinned as if he were awakening from a stupor.

"Hey." Mr. Mercer yawned as he placed his bible on the bed next to him. "I didn't see you there."

Humbly grinning with his hands in his pockets, Isaac said, "You never do, dad. I just stopped by to see how you were doin.'"

"Aww, shoot, I'm just getting ready to fall asleep." Mr. Mercer gleefully smiled while stretching his chunky arms outwards. "It's been a long day. A long, good day, son."

"You know, I was just thinkin' to myself, perhaps I'll go and find a job."

"You goin' back to the garage?"

"Uh...no, sir," Isaac began to squirm. "I was thinkin' about maybe another line of work. Maybe...cleaning."

Almost immediately, Mr. Mercer's eyes grew two sizes larger with joy at his son's remark. "Cleaning, huh? And what brought this on? I thought you liked working down at the garage with Larry and Marvell. You three have been buddies for years."

"Yeah, I know, but...I wanna do something on my own for a change."

"Well, I can put in a good word for you with Mr. Wallace. Maybe he can put you with me at the federal building downtown. We can go in together every afternoon. That is if you don't mind getting off at eight every evening."

"That's cool. I figure it's time for me to start something new. Like you said this morning, 'start a brand new slate.'

Mr. Mercer smiled favorably at his boy and asked, "So, what was it like to see Isaiah after all this time?"

"Okay, I guess." Isaac huffed."Just okay," Mr. Mercer questioned in awe. "I figured you'd be over there all night."

"Yeah, me too, but he acts like he doesn't even know me." Isaac griped. "Lynn says that I just need to give him time to readjust to me all over again. Man, if only she had brought him along when she came to visit, then he wouldn't be actin' like this."

"Sometimes we act in the best interest of those we love." Mr. Mercer patiently explained. "Lynnette did what she thought was right for your son. You can't be mad at her for that. Proverbs 14:29 says that whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly."

Isaac swallowed heavily at his father's words and asked, "So does that mean I'm supposed to forgive Lynn, even when she keeps my boy away from me?"

behind you and be thankful for what you have now.

said, "I was planning on taking us three down to Jimmy's

"Oh yeah," Mr. Mercer

"Yes, sir, just a little something to

drawer and pulled

took the money and gazed seriously at the numeral 20 as if he had never laid eyes on such a large amount of money before in his

"For real,"

With a grin and a shrug, Mr. Mercer said, "Why not? You can pay me

pants pocket and watched as his father began to tuck

was so much he wanted to tell the man on the way home from Ashlandview, but the shock

stuttered, trying not to allow his voice to crack in mid-sentence,

himself up from out of the bed and stroked his face while looking up at his child with consoling eyes.With a heavy sigh, the man said, "Son, what happened has happened. Neither God nor I want you to live the rest of your life full of regret. I realize that what

his lamp while

and carefully shut his father's bedroom door

Wearing only a long John shirt and a pair of grew sweatpants, Isaac went into the living room and turned on the television. The full moon outside shined brightly into the room like a fog lamp in the darkness.He flicked on the lamp and picked up the TV's remote control to flip the

man wanted more than anything to put the past behind him. It seemed as though that all the important people that he had hurt had pretty much

the mantle where a wide mirror was mounted, along with an assortment of Kodak pictures that sat side by side above

anytime soon, no matter how much and how hard he prayed. The longer he peered into

cooked on the stove that Isaac was standing over. He watched and waited as the metallic package ballooned in both size and smell over the course of three and

11:16 p.m.

while gobbling down every kernel of buttery popcorn that his wide mouth could inhale, along with the oatmeal cream pies that were given to him earlier

11:21

clock news, to a Bewitched rerun, and all the

such a protected environment like a mental hospital meant that all of the things that he wanted to

for a son that would embrace his dad the moment he walked through the door, but when all of his so called hopes and aspirations fell through, there remained only an empty feeling in the pit of his gut. He was bored and let

12:33 a.m.

bathroom and shaved. The young man detested even the slightest stubble on his face. With every meticulous stoke of the blade Isaac made sure that not one shard of hair was left behind. Even if it meant cutting close to the grain, nothing was

last, like many times in the past, he nicked himself, this time just beside his

making sure that his

and ripped off a piece of toilet paper before patting the open wound that was beginning

did in past instances; it was just his own blood. But the more he tried to soak up the substance that was all the more his nostrils began to flare. Suddenly, the blood had a scent that seemed

motion. The man felt as light as a feather at that moment. Just then, the bathroom light started to flicker off and on. Isaac looked up and twisted the hot bulb to make sure it was screwed in tight. He then looked down at his bloody fingers. His mind went completely blank at the sight.