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?"

"It means put it behind you and be thankful for what you have now. God hates

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

"Oh

sir, just a little something to get us all back

saying another word, Mr. Mercer reached over to his nightstand drawer and pulled

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

"For real," Isaac

and a shrug, Mr. Mercer said, "Why not? You can pay me back when you get your first

and watched as his father began to tuck himself into

home from Ashlandview,

stuttered, trying not to allow his voice to crack in mid-sentence, "I just wanted to say that I'm...sorry

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 took place back in November with your

lamp while Isaac, with tears welling up in

Isaac turned and carefully shut his father's bedroom door before venturing out into

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 past behind him. It seemed as

where a wide mirror was mounted, along with an assortment of Kodak pictures that sat side by side above the fireplace. Isaac picked up the frame of himself, before his eyes changed their color. From the photo to

most, while the man in the mirror was someone that he realized would not go away anytime soon, no matter how much and how hard he prayed. The longer he peered into the mirror that was the angrier his stomach seemed to grow. Isaac placed the frame back onto the mantle and

11:10 p.m.

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

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every kernel of buttery popcorn that his wide mouth could inhale, along with the

11:21 p.m.

eleven o' clock news, to a Bewitched rerun, and all the way to

his release from the institution. For him, being away from such a protected environment like a mental hospital meant that all of the things that he wanted to do while he was interned there could at last come to fruition, but sitting there in the lonely living room, gawking at a television screen and listening to the furnace roar from out of the nearby register

Isaac envisioned a girlfriend that was no longer leery of her man's behavior. He longed 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 down, and watching

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young man detested even the slightest stubble on his face. With every meticulous stoke of the blade Isaac made sure

Deeper and more carefully he shaved, until at last, like many times in the past, he nicked himself, this time just beside

screeched, making sure that his father was

Isaac reached over and ripped off a piece of toilet paper before patting the

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 to burn

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