The Curse of 1977 (Book 2)

Even before she could enter Jimmy's that evening, Lynnette could already hear The Brothers Johnson, 'Strawberry Letter 23', blasting loudly inside the building.

With two jittery legs the young woman steadily ventured towards the establishment like she was heading for a prison term. She was wearing only a short-sleeved shirt that read Topaz High Drill Team on the front in bright glitter, and a pair of bell-bottomed blue jeans. Her fists were balled up so tight that sweat was glistening on both the insides and out.

The young lady stepped up on a ledge before approaching the front door where a large black man was standing. Without saying a word to each other, Lynnette pulled out two dollars and handed it to the man before the man opened the door to allow her inside.

Once she was in, the woman was bombarded by not only the loud music but also by legions of young black men and women roller skating, dancing and playing video games. But rather than become engulfed in all the chaos, Lynnette simply glided past one merrymaker after another on her way towards the rear of the building.

On her way back, she just happened to take a very quick glance at a certain familiar booth. The booth was empty, and that was the only glance she required. She could hear her own heart beat in her ears.

Before Lynnette could even reach the rear, she immediately saw another large black man standing at a door speaking to a young woman. Lynnette barged her way past scores of skaters just to get to the man.

"I'm here to see Clavell!" Lynnette raised her voice to the man.

For a second or two both the man and the woman he was speaking with appeared offended by her presence.

"Is he expecting you?" He spoke out loud.

"He told me to meet him here around eight! I'm Lynnie!"

The man stood and stared at the young lady, contemplating his next move. He then sighed and opened the door behind him.

"Follow me!"

Lynnette did as she was told and followed the man down a long, dark corridor. Down the hallway was just one light bulb that was burning faintly in a corner all to itself.

The man then stopped at a door that was at the very end of the hallway. He knocked four times before the door swung open to reveal a young, angry looking, slender black man named Wendell behind it.

"I got a Lynnie here to see Clavell."

Lynnette held her breath for what seemed like countless moments while waiting for the man behind the door to reply.

"Oh yeah, we've been waitin' for her." Wendell said as he opened the door all the way.

Sidestepping the larger man, Lynnette entered into the smoke-filled room that reeked of marijuana from one corner to the next. Seated in a corner was an older black woman with grey dreadlocks who was sifting through bags of white powder, while clear on the other end of the room was another black man named Marvin who was counting money and cutting his own stash of white powder on a table.

Lynnette's emaciated frame stood at total attention. The woman honestly could not make a single move. It was as if she no longer possessed the will to operate her own body. She hadn't stopped shaking since before she entered the parking lot.

There was another door just two feet away from her. Behind that door emerged an older, caramel skinned man with a perfectly manicured mustache and finger waves in his hair. He was wiping his hands clean and smiling as he came out.

The woman and the two other men all stopped what they were doing at that moment to take notice of the man.

"Well, if it ain't little Lynnie." The man smiled gregariously.

She probably should have become relaxed at that stage, but all Lynnette could do was continue to stand in the middle of the floor while the music up above her head vibrated down into her feet.

Sitting himself down in a chair, the man said, "Come closer so I can see you better."

Unclenching her body, Lynnette dragged herself from the middle of the floor to the man. Once she was standing directly in front of him, the man sat perfectly still and eyed the woman from her sneakers all the way to her face. Once he got to her face, Lynnette immediately began to shiver all over again.

"How long is your eye gonna be like

a deep, red scar in the middle. Lynnette cut her face away momentarily before replying, "The doctor said that it

to hear that. Don't take it personally, but I heard that you looked a whole lot worse months ago. I'm glad to

you, Clavell." Lynnette

Lynnie." Clavell motioned to a chair that was already seated beside her. "You don't

the chair up to where Lynnette could sit down right in front of Clavell. She sat only

"I'm sorry for not being here a few weeks back when you first arrived." Clavell said as he began shuffling hundred dollar bills

"It's okay." Lynnette blushed

the middle of his stacking duty, Clavell all of the sudden paused to turn and

"Tell me, how have you been doing all

the question had sawed right through her body like a chainsaw. In her

Biting down on her bottom lip, Lynnette answered,

you, I almost couldn't

Bashfully turning her head, Lynnette

dealing with some

heard that those same Jamaicans knocked off both Larry and Marvell." Clavell said. "But then again, Larry was such a simple nigga, he would've slipped on a banana peel and killed himself. That's the number one rule in this business, never get high on

gathered inside the room began snickering. Lynnette only pressed her lips together while holding

can't hurt anyone anymore." Clavell patted Lynnette

"He's fine." Lynnette rushed to say. "I, uh, I really have a long night

"Okay, okay, just calm down, you can't rush perfection." Clavell smirked as he bundled his wad of bills inside a rubber band. "So tell me, how did your meeting with my contact

tried to collect her thoughts on the question that she knew full

"Uh...I didn't get a chance to get what

smirk immediately shrank into a frown at that stage as

"Nita, come over here and do

the corner dropped what she was doing and proceeded to step up behind Lynnette. From

Lynnette could have melted away in sheer fear at that moment. She couldn't even shut her

inspection she raised her hands to Clavell

his head in approval, Clavell said, "Just checking, that's all. Now, tell

Wiping sweat from her forehead, Lynnette replied, "I just didn't feel right last night. I felt like someone

Clavell sat and eyeballed Lynnette ever so carefully before steadily saying, "I see. But I was under the assumption that you really needed my stuff. I mean, my contact was a

"I know, and please don't think that I don't need your stuff, Clavell, I

"I guess I could understand that, with all that happened months ago. But you have to understand, I can't have my people

"I understand, and

his attention back to counting his money on the table and asked, "So now be honest with me, Lynnie, it's been on my mind for a while now. Was your man dealing with those Jamaican cats? You see, I need to

together, Lynnette kept her eyes focused solely upon Clavell. "I swear, Isaac was never into drugs." She

"He sure could've fooled everyone back in

"Yeah, the nigga cut off your damn finger, girl." Clavell turned to Lynnette. "I've seen those Jamaicans do that and a whole

"That man is gone. Do you understand? He's gone." She firmly stated. "You're people have been dealing with me now for the past four months, and not one time have I double-crossed you, Clavell. I've

woman with such a thoughtful contemplation that

"Tell me, do

Subtly stunned by the question, Lynnette humbly responded, "A little

to New York, they got some places there for up and

"Yeah, go to

"Nigga, that's for white folks!" Clavell chuckled out loud. "You should go to