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."

"She ain't the only one acting strange." Lavonia

enough to study her sisters one by one. A cold wave slipped down the small of her back just

do you mean?" Lynnette

The sisters all twisted their lips in unison before Bernadette

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

Jackie said, "Look at you. You're lit up right

conceal her blushing face, Lynnette turned her head in the opposite

see, you can fool George and Weezy over there." Jackie pointed to her parents. "They still think this is

butt is higher than the Goodyear Blimp right now."

hand on top of Lynnette's. "You might as well just be cool and don't make a scene at their square ass

don't want us around, but they don't mind draggin' us all the way out here in

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

a low tone she asked, "Is it true

"What?" Lynnette's eyes

"You might as well stop foolin'," Jackie said, "It's

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

nickel and dime niggas like we got here in this city." Jackie continued. "Nope, this brother is the real deal, baby girl. He not

shot twelve times while in Chicago." Bernadette mentioned. "And he still had the nerve to get up the very next day and get the

out, but he'll have you out there on 32nd Ave trickin' for

bad, Clavell

to look at her

out and her forehead beginning to sweat all over again, Lynnette looked hard

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

"Hold on, we're just tryin'

"The burgers are done!" Their

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

person among 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