The Curse of 1977 (Book 2)

Yes, it was blazing hot outside in the park. Mosquitoes swarming about made a simple existence unbearable, but there was always something alluring for humans to be outdoors on a day where the luxury of air-conditioning was nowhere to be sought.

It was 95 degrees, and it seemed as though people were only fighting the heat rather than escaping it. Some dared the humidity to overwhelm them as some played with their dogs, frolicked at the jungle gym or in the Glovers case, barbequed underneath the timid, cool shade of two maple trees while listening to The Commodores', 'Brick House' on a tiny transistor radio that sat atop a bench table where hamburgers, hot dogs, buns and condiments were already spread out.

Running through an open field within the park were little children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, eight in all, with Lynnette chasing after all but one.

The woman felt as light as a feather as she romped about in the sunshine with her nieces and nephews, while all the time ignoring her own son that was doing his best to try and keep up with his mother that was steadily trying to make believe that he wasn't there to begin with.

When Lynnette had finally had enough playing hide and seek she ran back over to the same table where her three sisters, Jackie, Bernadette and Lavonia were all casually seated smoking underneath one of the trees.

Sweating, huffing, puffing and laughing like one of the other little ones, Lynnette dropped herself down next to her heavyset sister Bernadette.

The sisters all stared oddly at the young lady as she wiped her face with the bottom portion of her t-shirt.

"Damn, I must be gettin' old," Lynnette caught her breath, "I can't believe I got winded that quickly."

The three sisters just continued to puff along while giving one another quaint, offhanded glances.

"Mama," Isaiah came running up to his mother crying. "Gina hit me!" The boy wailed.

Rolling her eyes, Lynnette just gave the child a quick look before yelling, "What do you want me to do about it?"

At that, Isaiah went away crying even louder than before while the sisters once again handed one another rolling glimpses.

"Regina, quit hittin' people!" Jackie yelled at her daughter.

"Damn kids get on your nerves, man." Lynnette moaned as she turned and focused her attention to her sisters. "What ya'll up to?"

At first, the sisters didn't reply, they all just sat and smoked away as to say their baby sister wasn't even there. But their individual, haughty eyes made sure to keep studying Lynnette all the same.

Lynnette, feeling the weight of her sisters' silence bear down upon her, took a cigarette of her own and lit it before saying, "Your mama was acting real strange last night."

ain't the only one acting strange." Lavonia all of the sudden

long enough to study her sisters one by one. A cold wave slipped down the small

"What do you mean?"

The sisters all twisted their lips in unison before Bernadette remarked, "Just who do you think

to laugh off her embarrassment, Lynnette persisted, "What is goin'

In between puffs, Jackie said, "Look at you. You're lit up

Trying to conceal her blushing face, Lynnette turned her head in the opposite direction as so her eyes would no longer

you can fool George and Weezy over there." Jackie pointed to her parents. "They still think this is the 1940's.

butt is higher than the

stop, Lynn." Bernadette calmly placed her hand on top

draggin' us all the way out here in this hot

She was aware that trying to conceal her shame was as pointless as trying to keep the sweat off

dead in the eye, and in a low

"What?"

foolin'," Jackie said, "It's

Giggling like a fool, Lynnette shook her head, "I don't know what you all are talking

we got here in this city." Jackie continued. "Nope, this brother is the real deal, baby girl. He not only has New York, Chi-Town and Detroit locked up, but they even say that he's nearly got Houston under

"Yep, I heard he got shot twelve times while in Chicago." Bernadette mentioned. "And he still had

thing you know, he'll not only have you strung out, but

thought Isaac was bad, Clavell will eat you alive if you fuck

could do was sit with her still smoldering cigarette dangling in between her fingers. No longer could she even stand to look at her sisters. The cold wave that had slithered down her back was gradually making its way to her

beginning to sweat all over again,

Jackie, Bernadette and Lavonia all sat and stared strangely at Lynnette as though the woman was

"Hold on,

are done!" Their father shouted from the barbeque

"Fuck those burgers." Lynnette attempted to get up and away from the table. But before the young lady could

many that Lynnette's eyes just couldn't seem to part from. Amongst all the revelers, the aromas of meat cooking on a grill, the joyous screams of children playing, all Lynnette could seem to connect with was