The Curse of 1977 (Book 2)

Topaz Central High

Clarence Higgs, school principal, John Hopewell, gym teacher, Joan Roach, tenth grade algebra teacher and Catherine Lewis, the twelfth grade health teacher were all gathered inside the teachers' lounge on the third floor of the empty school building.Seated on one side of the long table were Higgs and Roach, while on the other end sat Hopewell and Lewis.

With the exception of Higgs, the other three were a collection of lethargic, blank masses of white flesh that sat sullenly in their wooden seats much like many of their various students during class.Mr. Higgs, who was black and older, sat while steadily scribbling away on his notepad, seemingly oblivious to the stuffy heat that inhabited the room despite two of the windows being wide open.Hopewell sipped away at his thermos while Lewis, who was the youngest of the group, wiped sweat from off her brow and fanned herself with a piece of notebook paper. All the while, Roach, the eldest, who was patiently waiting for Higgs to finish, conspicuously tapped her fingernails on the table.

"Okay," Higgs sighed before stopping his writing, "I promised that this wouldn't take long."

"I'm awfully glad to hear that, because I promised my kids that we would go to Kings Island once I got home." Hopewell sat up and irascibly protested.

Straightening his glasses, Higgs stared at the man for a second before looking all around the table.

"I apologize for wasting your time, Mr. Hopewell." Higgs kept his piercing eyes on the man. "Perhaps you would like to re-convene this meeting once your family outing is complete?" He stated in a dry, commanding tone.

Hopewell just sat back and pressed his lips as to say that the matter was closed, while the ladies glanced at each other in an unflattering, hopeless manner.

"Now, this shouldn't take any more than fifteen minutes to complete." Higgs said. "We just need to go over the new student roster before next month so we can get a clue as to who these new students from Eastern High are."

"Well, we do know that we got some good, strong fellas from that school coming over here." Hopewell sat up and mentioned. "Have you seen this Jackson kid? The guy is built like a tank. He could be our best offensive lineman we've had in a long time."

"Before we move any further, I'd like to take our minutes on the recorder." Higgs said as he pulled out a mini tape recorder from his pocket and sat it on the table in front of him.

"Besides great football players, I happen to know that Eastern has some very learned geometry students." Mrs. Roach spoke up. "That's something this school could definitely use when it comes to the 'In The Know' meets."

"Okay, okay, just because Eastern is shutting down does not mean we use this to our advantage." Higgs stepped in. "These are students, not prospects. Now, we've all heard of the disciplinary issues that Eastern has been known for these past few years. And considering why that school is shutting down to begin with, it should come as no surprise to any of us that we may end up with some issues of our own."

"How do you propose we weed out the troublemakers in this vast group?" Mrs. Lewis asked. "I mean, let's face it, it's not as if we as a faculty get to choose who we do and do not want here."

"With all due respect, Mr. Higgs, Mrs. Lewis is right." Hopewell interjected. "We're kind of picking apples blindfolded here."

Higgs took off his glasses and sat them down on the table beside the tape recorder before folding his hands and saying, "I admit that we do have a few major issues here; one of those issues being a lack of discipline at Eastern. The other being that we are going to have an overflow of students in this already crowded school."

"That's what I myself am curious about." Mrs. Roach said. "How is this exactly supposed to work? Topaz itself isn't a very big school to begin with."

"I understand your concern, Mrs. Roach, but the school board assured us that this transfer would only be for a year, no more."

"That's what they said three years ago to Southern, and look at the problems they have." Hopewell tossed up his hands. "For God's sake, just this past year alone they had eight kids arrested for smoking grass in the bathrooms. If they're doing that, who knows what else they could be conjuring up for the following year?"

"With all due respect, Mr. Higgs, I honestly don't think I can handle this." Mrs. Lewis suddenly stood up from her seat. "My husband and I are planning on having a baby before this year is up, and I don't think I can handle the stress of more students, especially if those students are doing the things that Mr. Hopewell is talking about."

"Mrs. Lewis, I absolutely understand your concerns. And like I said before, the school board is—

Right then, a distant explosion of glass stopped Higgs' speech in mid-sentence. Everyone inside the lounge, with the exception of Hopewell, remained perfectly still.

With lips twisted, Hopewell rolled his eyes, "You see, those hooligans are already starting up their shenanigans for the year, and it's still only July."

"Maybe Mr. Holt broke something while he was cleaning." Mrs. Lewis sat back down in her chair.

"We can go and check it out later; right now we need an official count

a locomotive an enraged lion. There were only four floors in the

All four individuals sat absolutely still and quiet in their seats as if they were told

hands, Mrs. Roach's voice stammered, "Would someone like

"It was probably just a dog." Hopewell slowly began to get

up and walked over to the window

some kids playing

he made his way over to the door. "I'm gonna

the halls. Higgs only

Jesus, what is that?" Hopewell yelled before picking up a stool from a nearby

"Maybe we should call the police."

for a few moments before Higgs turned back and said, "I think we should just gather our things and head home.

Higgs opened the door. Just as soon as all

God, what is that?" Roach

are you around?" Higgs

downstairs to the front office just to use the phone." Lewis

Mrs. Lewis and I will take the other end."

then I get to my truck and get my gun." Hopewell snarled before taking off down the

further, another roar ripped through the hallways, expect by then, the noise sounded as if

the other steps." Higgs desperately whispered

straight ahead and towards another set of stairs. Once they were out of sight Higgs and Lewis slowly began to back away until they were

"Do...do you think there's two of

Trying not to allow his voice to falter, Mr. Higgs slowly replied, "We can find that out

a sound, a sound that came thumping around the stairwell corner.

were beyond stunned; their individual hearts skipped beatings as they watched an enormous, hairy creature stalk its way

shade. That same shade gave both principal and teacher the

"What...is that?" Mrs. Lewis grabbed Mr.

now." Higgs gripped her

the beast growling behind them. Mrs. Lewis' crying eyes could hardly see

"C'mon on this way," Higgs shouted as they took off down another hallway.

of them. Higgs and Lewis immediately stopped short of the stairwell directly in front of them. Both of their faces were sweating so much that they could barely

"Dear God, there's another one!" Higgs'

herself from Higgs' hand and ran

we gonna do?"

her petrified eyes opened wide, Mrs. Lewis twirled around and around until she finally went for the stairs behind her, only to trip over the second

at the dead woman below before he turned back to see the

Without even thinking, Higgs ran over to a nearby balcony and jumped over the steel barrier, only to crash face

all the doors locked?" Mrs. Roach hollered as she and Mr. Hopewell

one door to the next in the hopes that escape was imminent, but when even his own logic had seemingly eluded him, he stopped fighting and stood still in the middle of the floor next to the school's

ago!" Mrs. Roach