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 all of

one by one.

"What do you mean?" Lynnette

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

Trying to laugh off her embarrassment, Lynnette persisted, "What is

"Look at you. You're lit up right

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

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're black butt is higher than the Goodyear

her hand on top of Lynnette's. "You might as well just be cool and

draggin' us all the way out here in this hot ass heat for some cookout." Jackie

and vice versa. She was aware that trying to conceal her

Lynnette dead in the eye, and in a low tone she asked, "Is it true that you're fuckin'

"What?"

stop foolin'," Jackie said, "It's all

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

nickel and dime 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

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

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

was bad, Clavell will eat you alive if you fuck up."

between her fingers. No longer could she even stand to look at her

and her forehead beginning to sweat all over again, Lynnette looked hard at all three sisters. "What the fuck do you all

and Lavonia all sat and stared strangely at Lynnette as though the woman was turning into another being

"Hold on, we're just

"The burgers are done!" Their father shouted

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

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 the black woman that was jogging