The Curse of 1977 (Book 2)

And behold, it stood upon the sand of the sea, and I saw a beast rise up out of the sea:

She wore an all blue one-piece bathing suit as she treaded in the three foot high, crystal blue ocean water. Lynnette's hair was wrapped in a halo of lilies, and the tranquil smile that she wore upon her face was reminiscent of that to someone who had just happened across the threshold of life and eternity above the clouds. She allowed her hands to skim across the soft, warm water as she carried on deeper.

For as far as her eyes would allow all she could see before her was wide, open and blue water. There were no clouds to speak of in the sky, nor was there a boat or person anywhere to be found. She was absolutely alone in the expanse; even her breath felt effervescent, like she had just tasted the greatest sip of refreshing water that lingered inside her mouth unceasingly.

There were the events of the past weeks and days that somehow, someway were nowhere present inside her being. The woman was a picture of isolation and rest. Even when her smile vanished there was still a relaxed warmness melting inside her belly that caused it to tickle with every movement. She looked down at the shimmering water to see goldfish swimming back and forth around her feet and ankles.

The further out she ventured that was all the more clearer the air became. She breathed it all inside her lungs until she couldn't inhale any more. Behind her was a sound. She could feel the waves nudge her bottom half forward. She turned only her head around to see none other than a naked Arthur Bushard coming towards her with a gentile grin gracing his handsome face.

Lynnette didn't cringe or even budge for that matter, she just turned her head back aroundwhile the man came up behind her and fondled her chest and neck with his soft, strong hands.

The young lady closed her eyes and allowed the man's actions to carry her further away into the blissful abyss. Soon enough, his lips met with her neck. She moaned in ecstasy as Arthur's luscious mouth kissed all over her warm, goose-pimpled skin.

Lynnette took Arthur's hands off of her before turning around and clasping his face. Her eyes were still shut as she pressed her lips against his in one passionate, tongue-induced kiss while the burning sun's rays caressed their beautiful, black bodies.

Lynnette's eyes then opened. Lying beside her was Isaiah. She gawked all around to find herself lying in her own bed inside her room. The woman, somewhat confused, continued to scan around before catching her mother sitting in her rocking chair against the wall.

Her mother was wearing the most idyllic look on her face as she sat in her bathrobe staring at her. It unsettled Lynnette more than she already was.

"I haven't watched you sleep since you were a little girl." Her mother quietly stated.

Lynnette ignored the comment before listening to water outside the window tap in a chorus. "Is it still raining?" Lynnette rubbed her aching forehead.

"A little bit." Her mother sat up. "I think the flash flood warnings are all over with. I got tired of all those beeping alarms on the TV, so I ended up turning the darn thing off after a while."

Lynnette managed to catch a glimpse of her blue pajamas that she was wearing underneath the covers. She then glanced back over at the baby who was steadily snoring right beside her.

"I don't even remember getting cleaned up last night." Lynnette attempted to sit up on the bed, only to realize that her entire body was nearly immobilized from head to toe.

"I found you outside last night on the front lawn." Her mother began rocking back and forth. "You were just kneeling there. I don't think you were even hardly awake when I brought you inside. And, child, your breath sure was stinking, too." She giggled.

Lynnette cracked a grin while still struggling to get up. But when she came to the realization that her body just wasn't in any condition to act, she instead resigned to her fate and lied back down on the bed underneath the old blanket that her grandmother made for her when she was still a little girl.

inside the same room with her mom seemed normal for the

"I never realized how restless of a sleeper you are." Her mother said. "At first I thought you were going to hurt Isaiah with

I was dreaming of Jaws." Lynnette

mother only grinned before saying, "That eclipse yesterday was something to see; if you could see, that is. We all thought the

Lynnette rested upon her uncomfortable pillow while wondering in her head

"God is funny."

Lynnette lifted her weary head and looked dead at her mom in the most curious fashion.

"It's funny how he seems to bring things back around full circle. I can't remember a single thing that's been going on these past few days, and yet, here

in the chair, her mother was seated at the foot

we go

her eyes away for a moment and kept them locked on the closet door to her

complacent in our lives to where going to church was such a burden. It didn't mean that we didn't believe in or love God, we just felt that we worked so hard that we deserved at least one day to ourselves. But I look

it's just that...I didn't know how to." Her voice cracked. "I didn't know how and where to begin. It all started with Isaac, and then...then it just went downhill from there. I still think that I'm

her child as though it were

to live with these past few months. I know that I've caused so much damage, but you and daddy have to understand that...I just don't know where to begin

to look on at Lynnette before asking, "Why did you stop writing your

down onto her pillow and sighed, "Mama, I don't have the will to do that

"But I remember you told me years ago that writing poetry gave you the opportunity to express yourself in ways that you couldn't say out loud. I never once said that you had to tell me every minor detail in your life, but I never wanted to be cut out of

Lynnette looked back at her mother with a baffled grimace, as to say her words had

through with Isaac was terrible, but, child, you've been through something recently, too. I can see it not only in your body, but also in your soul. I have a feeling that what you went through back in February, and last night for that matter, shook you so hard that words just

is, it's not even about Isaac anymore." Lynnette sniffed. "This whole matter goes so far beyond that man. When I say evil, I don't just mean something bad, this was something from hell. It got Isaac, and it almost got me and Isaiah. Something

little girl, it's up to us to make it

mysteriously began to blink in and out. At first she thought she was

that they don't have. And that same motivation is what has caused you to survive all this time. God is

the bed before sitting on the edge. Her mother's words didn't have to sink inside, they hit with such ferocity and suddenness that

daddy

Exhaling, her mother replied, "He's in the room. I guess something happened to him, too. He doesn't want to talk

further, got up from off the bed

last night; he was singing 'Jesus loves me' in his sleep." Wilma mentioned before shutting the

came to her parents' room. The door was wide open. She looked inside to see her father lying down in