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

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

looked back at the middle of the floor for a moment before

just feel like

"How

arms. "I feel like when Isaac was taken, something was taken from me as

do you think that something

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

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

looked at the man with a sharp eye and said, "You've been my friend

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 I can fight?" He pointed

Both men just laughed for a while before coming back down and settling. To Charles, just having the opportunity to joke, albeit briefly, was like hearing a favorite song from long ago; it felt good

never left, Charles."

time. His stare was locked

"Come in!" Hawthorne said out

papers in her hand.

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

He smiled. "How have

as tight as she could before replying in a cold tone, "Fine. She then turned back to Hawthorne.

"Thank you, Sister." Hawthorne said as he took

woman simply turned, without taking another glance at him, and walked

be going myself." Charles murmured with

"You don't have to

I do." He turned to Hawthorne and extended his hand for a

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

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 for God to speak to

With that, Charles walked out of the office and through the sanctuary that lead to the

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, he simply

the 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 his knees which were already trying to buckle beneath him. But he stood strong until he was eventually able to at

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 waving back at Charles in a delightful manner while smiling a mouth full of blood-stained fangs at the

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

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

of his pants pocket before

Charles swung around with both of

His eyes lit up in surprise as his breath left him.

Charles. "I...I saw your car

Charles 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, as though she didn't want

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

been better." She meekly

far from judgment. A swelling of pity dropped deep

"How is Isaiah

he's fine." She hastily answered.

at a complete loss for words on so many levels. He was

and said, "Of course

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 of nowhere, an outpouring of panic overwhelmed him to where his feet began to

The man cut on the ignition and pulled out and onto the road. He made sure to roll down

moment she rolled down her window, Charles said, "I've been trying so hard to reach you these past few