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 that?" He

right eye that had a deep, red scar in the middle. Lynnette cut her face away momentarily before replying, "The

Don't take it personally, but I heard that you looked a whole lot

"Thank you, Clavell." Lynnette meekly

chair that was already seated beside her. "You don't have to stand before me;

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

back when you first arrived." Clavell said as he began shuffling hundred dollar bills on the table he was seated at. "I was busy taking care of business

"It's okay." Lynnette blushed

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

have you been

if the question had sawed right through her body like a chainsaw. In her mind, time was something that didn't

her bottom lip, Lynnette answered, "I've

but when they told me what Isaac did to you, I almost couldn't believe it. I mean, I didn't

Bashfully turning her head, Lynnette

heard he was dealing with some Jamaican cats."

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

only pressed her lips

he's gone now. He can't hurt anyone anymore." Clavell patted Lynnette on the

fine." Lynnette rushed to say. "I, uh, I really have a long night to get back to, with

bundled his wad of bills inside a

question that she knew full

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

into a frown at that stage as he stared

"Nita, come over here

once, the older lady in the corner dropped what she was doing and proceeded to step up behind Lynnette.

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

Once Nita was through with her invasive inspection she raised her hands to Clavell and went back to her table in the

his head in approval, Clavell said, "Just checking, that's all. Now, tell me why you didn't get what you needed last

feel right last night. I felt

Lynnette ever so carefully before steadily saying, "I see. But I was under the assumption that you really needed my stuff. I

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

I could understand that, with all that happened months ago. But you have to understand, I can't have my people meeting you all over town just for you to up and ghost

"I understand, and I'm

money on the table and asked, "So now be honest with me, Lynnie, it's been on my mind for a while now. Was

her hands together, Lynnette kept her eyes focused solely upon Clavell. "I swear, Isaac was never into drugs." She shook her head from side to

fooled everyone back in February."

damn finger, girl." Clavell turned to Lynnette. "I've seen those Jamaicans do that and a whole lot

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 paid you every time, on time. You've no reason to doubt

with such a thoughtful

do you still write

Lynnette humbly responded, "A little

New York, they got some

go

folks!" Clavell chuckled out loud. "You should go to The Fever, that's where the