The Curse of 1977 (Book 2)

Charles sat inside the quiet office of his former church waiting patiently while viewing the walls that at one time bore all of his personal property. From one end of the small office to the other he carefully studied until his eyes met up with the middle of the floor.

Charles sat and stared at the grimy carpet where a small chair once sat. In the chair was a young man that Charles once knew; a young man that he spoke so fondly to one Sunday morning a time ago.

The man scratched at his growing, grey beard. He wore his jacket that smelled of aging sweat, while his dingy, white undershirt underneath stuck to his chest. His corduroy pants looked as if they hadn't been pressed in weeks, while his shoes still wore the dried up dirt stains of his ill-fated trip to the country.

Charles remained in his seat, still looking down at the middle of the floor with a drooping bottom lip. All he could hear was his son's voice speaking to him. It didn't matter what he was saying, as long as Isaac was talking, Charles could keep the image inside his head.

The office door abruptly opened, behind it appeared Mr. Hawthorne, who with a bible in hand, also wore a vexed frown upon his light-skinned face.

Charles immediately pulled himself out of his trance before sitting up and paying absolute attention to Hawthorne who sat down behind his desk and placed the bible in front of him.

"I found it in the janitor's closet, of all places." Hawthorne said while pointing at the bible. "Brother, do you know how it even got in there?"

Shaking his head from side to side, Charles replied with a grin, "I can't even begin to imagine."

"Well, it's yours." Hawthorne smiled back before gently shoving the book towards Charles.

Charles reached and retrieved the bible. He sat back with it and ruffled through the pages. "It looks like it hasn't been damaged at all."

Hawthorne sat and thoughtfully stared at Charles in the most pitiable way. The man folded his hands and asked, "Charles, aren't you hot?"

Taking his eyes away from his bible, Charles waved his hand saying, "Nah, I'm fine."

Hawthorne then sat back in his chair. "Did you know that Sister Woods' granddaughter had her baby last month?"

With a simple smile, Charles replied, "No, I didn't. That's good."

"Have you heard from Lynn and the baby lately?"

Charles leaned over in his seat and sighed, "No, Lynn is out there somewhere. All I can do is pray for the child."

"Well, she is grown; I guess she has to find her own way in the world."

"Yeah, I reckon so." Charles groaned.

A deafening silence lingered all around the men like dense fog. The longer it was quiet, the less Charles could think of something to say.

"We got a few new members last month, too." Hawthorne mentioned from out of nowhere."

"Well, praise Jesus for that." Charles mumbled with a humble grin.

"We were gonna try and have our picnic last Saturday, but—

"Was I wrong for sending Isaac to that hospital?" Charles unexpectedly asked.

Hawthorne sat with a paused appearance written all over his face. It seemed as if the question were offsetting to him, considering the paleness his face took on at that moment.

"Brother, I...I can't answer that for you."

"I can't answer it either." Charles' head hung.

"You have to understand, you just up and left everyone."

Charles said, "I

stayed here with your

looked back at the middle of

feel

"How

taken, something was taken

do you think that something

endless seconds before saying, "My tongue won't let me

and sighed, "Well, you certainly didn't leave me with a very easy job when you left. You never told me how difficult being a pastor would

said, "You've been my friend and deacon for over seventeen years. How could you not be

to me for all kinds of help." Hawthorne giggled. "I had

having the opportunity to joke, albeit briefly, was like hearing a favorite song

should've never left, Charles." Hawthorne seriously

in frozen time. His stare was locked

in!" Hawthorne said out

black lady with some papers in

at the sight of Charles' presence. Charles stood to his feet and stepped forward to

"Sister Mary." He smiled. "How have you

her thin lips together as tight as she could before replying in a cold tone, "Fine. She then turned back to Hawthorne. "These are the minutes from last Wednesday's prayer

said as he took the papers and placed them down

stomach as the woman simply turned, without taking another glance at him, and walked out

myself." Charles

"You don't have

do." He turned to Hawthorne

shake his hand, Hawthorne instead grabbed

anything, just let me know." Hawthorne whispered into

As the two released each other, Charles stood back with his bible in hand and said, "I need

With that, Charles walked out of the office and through the

immediately stopped right in the middle of the floor, in between the aisle of pews. He wanted to turn around, but he knew better.

sanctuary. He had felt its weight time and time before. Amidst the ominous silence, he was completely surrounded. It was such a dreadful feeling that the man wanted to drop to

her face that looked as if it were dipped in white paint. She was waving back at Charles in a delightful

Something inside of him wanted to scream out loud, but Charles was aware that such an action would have been futile. The old

the front entrance. He didn't even check behind him to make sure the double doors were shut all the way; he just persisted

his pants pocket before a person came trotting out from behind the

of instinct, Charles swung around with both

"Lynn?" His eyes lit up in surprise as

outstretched, Lynnette carefully approached Charles. "I...I saw your car here." She timidly stammered. "I

stepped towards the woman and embraced her as hard as he could; Lynnette returned the gesture, only her hug seemed to feel even more aggressive,

Charles looked down at her and asked, "How...how

been better." She

otherwise, but he also realized that he himself wasn't too far from judgment. A swelling of pity dropped deep down into his gut. For the first time in months

"How is

"Uh, he's fine." She hastily answered. "Look...I need to talk

lot gazing at one another in the strangest manner possible. He couldn't speak for Lynnette, but Charles was at a complete loss for words on so many levels. He was elated to see her, and frightened all at the same time.

Charles smiled and said, "Of course you can

Charles closed his door a burst of heat immediately struck him across the face. However, it wasn't heat from the temperature, but rather that of emotion. He hadn't forgotten what he experienced back inside the church,

and onto the road. He

moment she rolled down her window, Charles said, "I've been trying so hard