The Curse of 1977 (Book 2)

Chapter 7

On such a hot, hazy and humid summer day sat a two story farmhouse all alone in a quiet valley that overlooked two hundred acres of nothing but wheat. As much wheat as the human eye could take in all at once.The picturesque sight lay beyond the outskirts of Cypress; no more than an hour and some ten minutes outside of the town.

For Charles, however, driving from Cypress to the farm felt like cruising from one end of the earth to the other.The man pulled his car into a long, dust layered driveway before coming to a complete stop in front of a white mailbox that bore the name Holcomb on the side. He looked straight ahead at the brown and white house where a mix breed collie, pit-bull came running and barking at him.

Charles only put the car in park and cut off the ignition before climbing out and proceeding towards the house.

"Can I help you, sir?" A man's deep voice called out from the front screen door of the house.

With a genial smile upon his face, Charles approached the porch, only to have the man on the other end of the screen door come out in a burst of laughter the second he could see him better.

"Well I'll be, look who it is!" The middle-aged, medium built, grey bearded white man shouted in a slight southern twinge in his undershirt and blue overalls.

The two men hugged the life out of each other before the white man stood back and continued to beam, "It sure has been a long time!"

Smiling right back, Charles replied, "Yes, sir, it sure has."

"What brings you all the way out here, of all places?"

"Well—

"Who are you talking to, Elmer?" A middle-aged white woman questioned as she came out the same screen door.

"Look who it is, Ida." Elmer pointed to Charles.

Ida stood for a brief second before she clutched her chest and smiled, "My Lord, Charles...is that you?"

Still holding on to his million dollar smile, Charles gladly responded, "I'm afraid it is."

The two embraced before Ida stood back. She then skittishly glanced over at Elmer before her smile turned into a subtle grimace.

"We're so sorry we didn't get a chance to come to the funeral, Charles." She held Charles' hands in her own.

Blushing, Charles said, "Now you two cut that out. I didn't come all the way out here for that."

"Well, can I get you something to drink or eat?"

Exhaling, Charles said, "On this hot day, I sure could go for a sip of some of that lemonade of yours. If you still make it, that is."

Playfully slapping Charles across his right arm, Ida answered, "Of course I still make it. You two boys go on and play while I take care of that."

Both men watched as Ida went back into the house before Elmer studied Charles from head to toe as though he were just fascinated with the man.

"I see old Luke still likes to play." Charles patted the bouncing dog on the head.

"Yep, we're gonna have to put him out to stud before fall gets here, though." Elmer said as he began walking back into the house, making sure Charles was right behind him. "C'mon in, Chuck."

The two men went through the spacious, sun drenched living room that was littered with nothing but pictures of family members from one corner to the other. Charles tried his almighty best not to allow any of the frames to catch his eye.

Once they cleared the living room, Elmer opened a screen door that led to a back porch where two rocking chairs were placed right beside the screened in window that overlooked the yard. Charles sat down beside Elmer and immediately began rocking back and forth like a little boy.

"I sure do miss a rocking chair." He grinned from ear to ear.

"Yep," Elmer sighed, "Ida gets on me for falling asleep out here on this porch."

A deep silence captured the men at that moment before Elmer put his rough hands together and murmured with a blushing face, "Me and Ida are truly sorry for not coming to the funeral, Chuck."

Charles just waved the man's apology away as to say it wasn't even necessary before he began rocking faster in his chair.

"The snow just kept us hunkered down here like a bunch of old hermits."

Leaning forward, Charles smiled, "You stop that right now. You have nothing to be sorry for."

Elmer only humbly pressed his lips together before asking, "So...how have things been for you?"

Charles sat back in his chair and clutched the arms as if he were holding on for dear life. "I'm doin' the best I can." He beamed.

Elmer sat and stared on at the man with a glimmer of kindness on his face and said, "I'm glad to hear that, my friend."

"Yeah," Charles sighed, "it's been an uphill battle, but I'm

to interrupt." A young, blonde girl came into the porch with a platter of

Elmer sat up and proudly announced, "This is our

onto the small table

"This here is Lindsey?" Charles' eyes lit up. "Good Lord,

to toe as her grandfather took

is Pastor Charles Mercer." He handed Charles his glass. "Mr. Mercer and I go way, way

Charles stared back at

caught themselves for a second or two before Charles looked back up at

Giggling, Lindsey replied, "No, sir, but I get teased at school by some of

said, "Me and my boy used to watch her and the 'Six Million

Lindsey gladly responded as

Elmer began sipping on his glass. "So, everything is fine, huh?" He asked with a hint of doubt in

goodness, Ida sure does put a lot of sugar in this here lemonade." He looked

at Charles. "You didn't answer my question, Chuck." He uttered in a more serious

Charles placed the glass down onto the table before glancing up at the ceiling. "I

"Oh

he wanted to know if I wanted to sue the police

"What did you end up telling

Charles

"Sue them for that

of money in this world is gonna...is gonna bring

Elmer sat and glared on and on at Charles. "Perhaps

"I left my flock." Charles simply blurted

before Elmer stroked his beard and said, "Something told me you didn't drive all the way

Charles only grinned at the man before dolefully saying, "I left three

"And just what on earth

to the back of his head, Charles said, "I can't quite explain why. I guess I don't see myself fit to

further from the truth." Elmer

seat, Charles said, "I sold my house. I can't even bring myself to drive by there no more. All I do is drive around that city

"How are the baby

Charles answered, "Lynn's mama and daddy won't even let me see the child. And as for Lynn herself, I haven't seen her since May. She tries and tries to say that she's not, but the girl is strung out. You know I've seen that all too many times in my

"Is there anything you can do to reach out to her?" Elmer desperately

"As much as I love that child, it's all for the better that I stay away from her

"What in the world

eyes at Elmer and just stared hard and long at the man. "I have reason to

Elmer's face immediately went stone white at that instant. "You do recall that what Carl went through

only nodded his head in a nonchalant fashion before closing his eyes and

before Charles and placed his hand on the man's shoulder

a brief

was a quiet stroll amongst the tall corn stalks that sprawled for miles in every direction. The sweat that was drooling down Charles' head was more of a relief than a

right beside him, Charles, with his hands inside

He mumbled lightheartedly. "I reckon that's normal, being

when you leave a place like this, it always pulls you right back. Places

walking until Charles could see what looked to be a tall pole in front of a fence. His mind was

"I went over to that house." Charles murmured with his head

"I see."

first time I'd been there since Isaac's life

"And just how did that end

the dry ground beneath his feet and said, "I

and the decrepit fence that the pole was leaning against. Charles and Elmer themselves leaned against the crippled barrier as the sound of cicadas shrieked from every portion of the

Studying Elmer's face very meticulously, Charles gripped the fence as tight as he could. "I need to ask you a very important question, and I

ever known me

Charles braced himself. "You can laugh at me all you want, but...do you really believe in all that

looked right back at Charles and asked, "What

"I know that the bible talked about it all the time, but I need to

"How can you, of all people, not believe in it?" Elmer pointed

Elmer again. "I never said that I didn't, but I

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