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

blonde girl came into the

and proudly announced,

Lindsey sat the platter down onto the small table between the men and smiled, "Grandma said to

Charles' eyes lit up. "Good Lord, I

her grandfather took the

"This here is Pastor Charles Mercer." He handed Charles his glass. "Mr. Mercer

back." Charles stared back at Elmer with a

men caught themselves for a second or two before Charles looked back up at Lindsey. "So tell me, young lady, do you get that name

sir, but I get teased at school by

himself, Charles said, "Me and my boy used to watch her and the 'Six Million Dollar Man' all the time together. Tell your grandmother how much we appreciate the

sir," Lindsey gladly responded as she turned and walked

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

lot of sugar in this here lemonade." He looked at the sweating glass. "But that's how I

Elmer continued to stare on at Charles. "You didn't

the table before glancing up at the ceiling. "I got a call

"Oh really," Elmer looked

"Yep, he wanted to know if I wanted to sue

"What did you

Shrugging his shoulders, Charles

"Sue them for that officer killing your boy." Elmer reacted somewhat

Charles gulped, "Elmer, no amount of money in

and glared on and on at Charles.

"I left my flock." Charles

an entire minute before Elmer stroked his beard and said, "Something told me you didn't drive all the way out here just for my

Charles only grinned at the man before dolefully saying,

what on earth made

Charles said, "I can't quite explain why. I guess I don't

"That couldn't be further from

can't even bring myself to drive by there no more. All I do is drive around that city night and day

"How are the baby

I haven't seen her since May. She tries and tries to say that she's not, but the girl is

do to reach out to

the better that I stay away from her and

"What in the world makes you

Charles focused his drooping eyes at Elmer and just stared hard and long at the man. "I have reason

"You do recall that

in a nonchalant fashion before closing his eyes and clutching

chair, Elmer stood before Charles and placed

eyes and looked up at the man. For a brief moment all he could see was

that was drooling down Charles' head was more of a relief than a burden. It

beside him, Charles, with his hands

this heat." He mumbled lightheartedly.

leave a place like this, it always pulls you right back. Places where the weeds

men continued on walking until Charles could see what looked to be a tall pole in front of a fence. His mind was racing so much

that house." Charles murmured with his head

"I see." Elmer murmured

time I'd been there since Isaac's life was required of him

"And just

beneath his feet and

pole was leaning against. Charles and

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

replied, "Have you ever known me to

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

amused, Elmer looked right back at Charles and

all the time, but I need to know if you believe it or

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

never said that I didn't, but I saw my boy that

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