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 know what else

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

the middle of the floor for a moment before turning back

just feel

"How

arms. "I feel like when Isaac was taken, something was taken from me as well. And I'm not talking

do you think that

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

didn't leave me with a very easy job when you left. You never told me how difficult being a

a sharp eye and said, "You've been my friend and deacon for

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

and settling. To Charles, just having the opportunity to joke, albeit briefly, was like hearing a favorite song from long ago;

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

the man in frozen time. His stare was locked

"Come in!" Hawthorne said

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

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

Mary." He smiled. "How have

dismayed, Mary pressed her thin lips together as tight as she could before replying in a cold tone,

"Thank you, Sister." Hawthorne said as he took the papers and placed them

woman simply

going myself." Charles

have to leave so soon,

do." He turned to Hawthorne and

shake his hand, Hawthorne instead grabbed Charles and pulled him in for

just let me know." Hawthorne whispered

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

walked out of the office and through the sanctuary that

on through the peacefully quiet area, he felt something tap him on the shoulder from behind. Charles immediately stopped right in the middle of the floor, in between the

dreadful feeling that the man wanted to drop to his knees which were already trying to buckle beneath him. But he stood strong until he was eventually able to at least turn his head to

was an old woman adorned in an all snow white dress. Her hair was totally white, as was her face that looked as if it were dipped in white paint. She was

an action would have been futile.

him to make sure the double doors were shut all the way;

Slamming his bible onto the hood, Charles whipped his car keys out of his pants

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

surprise as his breath left him. "Child,

approached Charles. "I...I saw your car here." She timidly stammered. "I

and embraced her as hard as he could; Lynnette returned the gesture, only her hug seemed to

away from her grip, Charles looked down at her and

"I've been better." She meekly

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 he took his own anguish and

"How

hastily answered.

at a complete loss for words on so many levels. He was elated to see her, and frightened

said, "Of course you can talk

the passenger side of the car. The second 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, but with Lynnette's sudden appearance from out

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

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