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."

said, "I didn't

"You could've stayed here with your flock. We were all here for

back at the middle of the floor for a

"I just feel like something left

"How do you

Charles folded his arms. "I feel like when Isaac was taken, something was taken from me as well. And I'm not talking just about him

"What do you think that something

seconds before saying,

leave me with a very easy job when you left. You never told me how difficult being a pastor

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

had one young man ask me to

Both men just laughed for a while before coming back down and settling. To Charles, just having the opportunity to joke, albeit briefly, was

"You should've never left, Charles." Hawthorne

the man in frozen time. His stare was locked on the

in!" Hawthorne said out

with some papers in her hand.

Charles' presence. Charles stood to his feet and stepped forward to the woman only to have her back

"Sister Mary." He smiled. "How

together as tight as she could before replying in a cold tone,

he took the papers

simply turned, without taking another glance at him,

"Well...I'd better be going myself." Charles murmured with a

"You don't have to leave so soon,

to Hawthorne and extended his hand

hand, Hawthorne instead grabbed Charles

let

released each other, Charles stood back with his bible in

walked out of the office and through the sanctuary

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

before. Amidst the ominous silence, he was completely surrounded. It was such a dreadful feeling that the man wanted to drop

dress. Her hair was totally white, as was her face that looked as if it were

wanted to scream out loud, but Charles was aware that such an action would have

check behind him to make sure the double doors were shut all the way; he just persisted in moving as fast

Charles whipped his car keys out of his pants pocket before

both of his

eyes lit up in surprise as his breath left him. "Child, what are

your car here." She

returned the gesture, only her hug seemed to feel even

prying himself away from her grip, Charles looked

"I've been better." She meekly

he also realized that he himself wasn't too far from judgment. A swelling of pity dropped deep down into his gut. For

"How is Isaiah

She hastily answered. "Look...I need to

manner possible. He couldn't speak for Lynnette, but Charles was at a complete loss

sore throat, Charles smiled and said, "Of course you can talk to me. Get in on

He hadn't forgotten what he experienced back inside the church, but with Lynnette's sudden appearance from

on the ignition and pulled out and onto the road. He made sure to

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