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."

sighed, "it's been an

A young, blonde girl came into the porch with a platter of lemonade and

Elmer sat up and proudly announced, "This is our

Lindsey sat the platter down onto the small table between

"Good Lord, I haven't seen you since you were a tiny

to toe as her grandfather took the pitcher of lemonade

"This here is Pastor Charles Mercer." He handed Charles

stared back at Elmer

back up at Lindsey. "So tell me, young lady, do you get that name

I get teased at school by

used to watch her and the 'Six Million Dollar Man' all the time together. Tell

"Yes, sir," Lindsey gladly responded as

sipping on his glass. "So, everything is fine, huh?"

put a lot of sugar in

Charles. "You didn't answer my question, Chuck."

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

"Oh really,"

wanted to know if I

did you end

his shoulders, Charles responded, "Sue the police department for

"Sue them for that officer killing

gulped, "Elmer, no amount of money in this world

and on at

"I left my flock." Charles simply blurted

Right there, a blistering silence hung over the two men. It must have lasted for nearly an entire minute before Elmer stroked his beard and said, "Something told me you

at the man before dolefully

"And just what on earth made

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

"That couldn't be further from the

Sitting up in his seat, Charles said, "I sold my house. I can't even bring myself to drive by there no more.

"How are the baby

as for Lynn herself, I haven't seen her since May. She tries and tries to

you can do to reach out to

"As much as I love that child, it's all for the better that I stay away from her and the baby. I ain't no

the world makes you say that,

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

head in a nonchalant fashion before closing his eyes

Charles

eyes and looked up at the man. For a brief moment all he could see was Elmer's beard,

for miles in every direction. The sweat that was drooling down Charles' head was more of a relief than a burden. It let him know that he was

Elmer right beside him, Charles, with his hands inside his pants pockets,

to get so upset at this heat." He mumbled lightheartedly. "I reckon that's

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

be a tall pole in front of a fence. His mind was racing so much that he had to take deep breaths just to gather one thought

went over to that house." Charles

"I see." Elmer murmured right

"It was the first time I'd been there since

"And just

Charles kept his face to the dry ground beneath his feet and said,

the tall, wooden pole and the decrepit fence that the pole

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

Smiling, Elmer replied, "Have you ever known me to be

want, but...do you really believe in all that demonic possession stuff they show on TV

Appearing slightly amused, Elmer looked right back at Charles and asked, "What

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

of all

Charles glanced around the area before looking back at Elmer again. "I never said that I didn't, but I saw my boy that night before he was taken away, and something wasn't right

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