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."

Sitting back, Charles said, "I didn't know what else to

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

of the

feel like something

"How do

Isaac was taken, something was taken from me as well. And I'm not talking just

do you think that

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

a very easy job when you left. You never

and said, "You've been my friend

all the people in need that would be coming to me for all kinds of help." Hawthorne giggled. "I had one young man ask me to help him fight some gang a couple of months ago. Do I honestly look like

having the opportunity to joke, albeit briefly, was

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

Charles just sat and looked at the man in frozen time. His stare

in!" Hawthorne said

an older, black lady with some papers in her hand. "Good afternoon, Pastor. I have

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

He smiled. "How have you

in a cold tone, "Fine.

as he took the papers and placed

the woman simply turned, without taking another

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

"You don't have to leave so soon,

He turned to Hawthorne and extended his hand for

But rather than shake his hand, Hawthorne instead grabbed Charles and pulled him in for a healthy

anything, just let me know." Hawthorne whispered into Charles'

two released each other, Charles stood back with his bible

With that, Charles walked out of the office

in the middle of the floor, in between the aisle of

surrounded. It was such a dreadful feeling that the man wanted to drop to his knees which were already trying

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

to scream out loud, but Charles was aware that such an action would have been futile. The old hag just waved in all her ghastly

front entrance. He didn't even check behind him to make sure the double

the hood, Charles whipped his car keys out of his pants pocket before a person came trotting out from

of instinct, Charles swung around with both of his fists drawn before he recognized the

up in surprise as his breath left

"I...I saw your car here." She timidly stammered. "I just happened

returned the gesture, only

grip, Charles looked down at her and asked,

been

swelling of pity dropped deep down into his gut. For the

"How is

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

two just stood in the church parking 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

said, "Of course

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

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

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