The Curse of 1977 (Book 2)

Charles and Lynnette walked down the hallway of the five floor tenement that led towards his apartment. The wallpaper was peeling and the hardwood floors creaked with every step. Termites could be seen crawling in and out of the walls, while the light bulbs above fizzled off and on every other minute.

But to Charles, his surroundings were all just mere annoyances that he managed to bypass with every day that went by; in other words, he didn't care what his new home looked like, it was a home.

The second they reached his apartment, Charles took out his key and unlocked the door. Before they could even enter, the aroma of fried chicken immediately made its way into their nostrils and out into the hallway.

Allowing Lynnette to enter before him, Charles snickered, "I've been trying to fry some chicken like Mrs. Mercer used to do, but I still don't have the hang of it after all these years."

Lynnette just casually smiled as Charles closed the door behind him. The apartment was only one room that consisted of a murphy bed that was still lying flat on its feet, a tiny stove and fridge to the far corner and a bureau that sat right next to a window that overlooked Downtown Cypress.

Directly in the middle of the floor was a small dining table. Charles placed his bible down onto the table and meekly uttered, "I'm sorry that the place is such a mess. I didn't get much of a chance to pick up this morning before I left."

Grinning, Lynnette said, "You don't have to apologize. Believe me, I've seen worse."

Rubbing his hands together in a nervous fashion, Charles said, "Well, go ahead and have a seat."

Lynnette sat herself down at the dining table while Charles went for the fridge. "Did you want something to drink? I have water and milk."

"I'll have some water, please."

At once, Charles took a glass and filled it with water before handing it to her and sitting himself down on the other end of the table.

The man sat in distant silence and watched as the young lady took her water down in one, continuous gulp before she sat the cup back down onto the table.

Charles thoughtfully reflected upon Lynnette, from her eye all the way to her missing finger. Isaac was everywhere; no matter where he turned, his son was there. He tried so hard not to stare, but the urge stabbed at him like a sword to the stomach. Just Lynnette's mere presence inside his apartment was both surreal and haunting.

"So, this is where you're staying at now?" Lynnette glanced all around.

"Yes, yes, this is it." Charles aimlessly tapped his fingers on the table. "Sometimes we all have to just move on."

Concealing her right hand out of sight, Lynnette said, "I went away for a while after the incident, too."

"Yeah," Charles murmured to himself before looking away for a second. "So, how has the rest of your family been lately?" He looked back at Lynnette.

Playfully rolling her eyes, Lynnette replied, "My family is my family. My sisters are still crazy after all these years."

Smiling, Charles said, "I hear you."

Lynnette then leaned forward and asked, "So tell me, why did you leave your church?"

Grunting, Charles answered, "Child, sometimes this life takes us in all kinds of unexpected directions."

"Don't I know it?"

"Heck, the men and women in the bible went through all kinds of crazy journeys. I just needed to back away for a moment or two."

Lynnette humbly nodded her head. "I know you look at me and wonder just what in the world I've been up to."

"It's crossed my

"Well, I've been working

con a con man." Charles blatantly stepped

At once, Lynnette sat perfectly still while her eyes jittered back and forth in their sockets.

"How long," he

"How...how

"How long have you

Immediately, Lynnette blushed while

"Isaac told you all about my life before I met his mother. Believe me, I know a junkie when I

turned her head away from Charles at that instant. "What

anything. I'm not a stupid man. I realize that what you and the baby went through nearly killed you. But by the grace of God, you're both still here." Charles could tell that Lynnette was trying to hold back tears as hard as she could. "Who

Snapping back around, Lynnette boldly said, "No one anymore. Clavell is

"Clavell

the other night. He and his crew," she

Charles gently nodded his head up and down. "I knew that brother way back when. I didn't know him personally, but he was a real beast back in the day. It looks like the devil

"I was never afraid of Clavell." Lynnette

hard as he could at Lynnette before leaning forward and asking, "Lynn, I need for you to tell me something, and I want the truth. Now, I know you hate talking about him, but I need

up from her seat and began wandering about

terrible situation to discuss, but I have a feeling that you haven't discussed it since

to say?" She spun around

night right before he left this world. That young man that I saw down at that church was a completely different man. But I know for a fact that you saw something else. Isaac didn't just

told you, you would never, ever believe me! Why? Because I still can't believe it myself! Hell, as

nothing. You look like you haven't eaten or slept in weeks. Believe me, child, I understand tragedy, but what you went through was more than just a tragedy. You can't even say the man's name. You won't even look at the picture sitting next to my bed. You're avoiding

can't imagine what to tell

his eyes when he came to the church. He didn't

Lynnette began to cry while trying to back away from Charles, but the man was relentless as he kept pace along with her, practically not

strangely into her eyes. "Did it have something to do with

"Please, Mr. Mercer, don't do

had my

know!" Lynnette hollered while crumbling to the floor in a heap and curling up

"Keep that shit down over there!" A man's voice yelled from the other side of the

Lynnette, Charles stood back in jolting fear. He then looked at his hands which were shaking, along with

the man knelt down and cradled Lynnette in his arms; Lynnette in turn

sorry." His skittish voice

and not let go, while looking over and

"Do you think he's in

"Who, honey?"

she pointed behind

With his eyes closed, Charles responded, "I sure

from his grip, Lynnette got to

my own son. Or better yet...I don't even want to look at

well got up from off the floor and stood beside the table,