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."

acting strange."

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

"What do you

The sisters all twisted their lips in unison before Bernadette remarked,

Trying to laugh off her

In between puffs, Jackie said, "Look

her head in the

"Look at your arms. You see, you can fool George and Weezy over there." Jackie pointed to her parents. "They still think this is the 1940's. But you can't fool us,

black butt is higher than the Goodyear Blimp right

"No I'm not!" Lynnette protested. "Just stop, Lynn." Bernadette calmly placed her hand on top of Lynnette's. "You might as well just be cool and don't make a scene

draggin' us all the way out here

Lynnette knew her sisters well, and vice versa. She was aware that trying to conceal her shame was as pointless as trying to keep the sweat off

in a low tone she asked, "Is it

"What?" Lynnette's eyes

foolin'," Jackie said, "It's all over town

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

niggas like 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 his

"And he still

not only have you strung out, but he'll have you out there

"And you thought Isaac was bad, Clavell will eat you alive if

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 stomach and causing it

With her lips poked out and her forehead beginning to sweat all over again, Lynnette looked hard at all three

Lavonia all sat and stared strangely at Lynnette as though the

"Hold on,

"The burgers are done!" Their

before the young lady could even hit the grass, she saw something from out of the corner of

walking around, but there was one 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