The Death of 1977 (Book 3)

Chapter 8

"Okay, he we are." Audra pleasantly announced as she parked her blue, 1973 Monte Carlo in front of a three story apartment building.

Charles sat in the passenger's seat and looked out the window at the aged building in a subtle, if not somewhat passive glare as to say that the tenement wasn't what he expected.

Slowly climbing out of the car with his cane in hand, Charles watched as Audra, dressed in a pair of brown corduroy pants and an orange jacket, practically raced around the vehicle to open the trunk.

"Now don't you go gettin' my bags for me!" Charles limped over towards the woman. "I am perfectly capable of carrying my own stuff." The man politely smiled as he secured his two duffle bags from Audra.

Smiling right back, Audra said, "Okay, but don't you go trying to climb those stairs without me." She shut the trunk and walked beside Charles.

The sharp, morning wind scooted both individuals up five stone steps that led to the front door of the brick building. Audra pushed open the door and held it for Charles behind her.

"This door is left unlocked until 8 p.m." Audra explained. "Everyone has their own key, so if you need to get in then it shouldn't be a problem."

"I understand." Charles graciously made his way inside. "Shucks, at my age, I'm in the bed at 8 p.m." He snickered.

"Me, too," Audra laughed back.

Charles stood for a moment or two and examined the downstairs area where to his immediate right was ten mailbox slots. Straight ahead was the kitchen, as well as another door just shy of the threshold.

"As you can probably tell, this is the second floor." Audra presented. "I already put your name on your own mailbox.

"Thank you very much." Charles grinned.

"Down that way is the kitchen. Now, each apartment has its own icebox and stove, but the kitchen is primarily used for the big meals like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter."

"I see." Charles nodded his head.

"And that door there leads down to the basement." Audra pointed. "We have a few folks in here that keep their bikes down there. We actually had a woman that tried to hide her Doberman down there once."

"Are you serious?" Charles looked shocked.

"Oh yes, I had to kick her behind outta here."

All of the sudden, both Charles and Audra spun around at the clamoring of what sounded like feet tumbling down the stairs next to them. Charles staggered back a bit to see just what was happening.

"Oh, it's you!" Audra caught herself.

It was a young, white man with a curly, brown afro who was clothed in an all blue jogging suit and tennis shoes.

"Oh, sorry, Mrs. Watson, I was just on my way out." The man suddenly stopped short of the front door.

"Robin, I want you to meet Mr. Mercer."

"How are you, sir?" Robin gladly extended his right hand.

you, young fella!" Charles gregariously greeted the boy with

"Mr. Mercer is gonna be staying in room

"Oh yeah," Robin lit up. "That's right next

"Well, that's good to know!" Charles exclaimed as he studied

out and

"Get running?" Charles questioned. "Gettin' your exercise

like that, sir. You see, I'm

don't say!"

sir, it's been a dream of mine ever since I was

"Oh, the fella on

good day, and it was great meeting you, sir!"

"I'll see

for the upstairs. "Always runnin' around

boy, a good boy indeed."

"Can you make it up

I can."

all the rooms are upstairs." Audra lamented as she made it to the third

"Now you stop apologizing, this place is like a castle to me. Besides, the

a different story attached. One door had The Floaters', 'Float On,' playing behind it, while another door had the smell of chicken frying on the

and after so many months, everything that surrounded him was a complete and utter mystery. All

apartment number six with a key

Inside was a small stove, a couple of cabinets above it and an icebox, while in another room adjacent from the tiny

self-explanatory as you can tell." Audra

than my last place, I can assure you that." Charles grinned from ear to

door is the bedroom." Audra directed. "The last gentleman that was here made sure to keep

around at his new environment with the same subtlety

you enjoy yourself here." Audra handed

"I'm quite sure I will, Mrs. Watson." He happily took the

"Now wait a minute, you and I have known each other since July, and you're still calling me Mrs. Watson.

that's just the way I

the hand, Audra leaned forward and said,

and saying, "Now, I'm gonna tell you something, Mrs....Audra. I don't plan on just sitting around here and doing nothing morning, noon and night." He adamantly stated. "I plan on going down to that little diner on

"But what about your condition," Audra looked

on the hand, Charles

Audra placed her hands on her hips and stared around the apartment for a while before focusing back on

need a maintenance man around here. The

"I know how to fix stuff." Charles' eyes grew two sizes larger with

having to go out and look for work. You pick up the maintenance

back at Audra with a suspicious hint in his eyes, as though he could sense that the gears

"It'll all work out for the better." She

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