The Death of 1977 (Book 3)

Charles, with his cane in one hand, and a tool box and steel snake gathered in the other knocked on door number 5 and waited until Robin opened it.

"Good morning, young fella!" Charles said with a wide open smile.

"How are you, Mr. Mercer?" Robin smiled back while stepping aside to allow the man in. "Glad you could show up on a Sunday morning."

Coming in, Charles replied, "Don't you worry about that. I got nothing better to do on these mornings anymore."

Robin's apartment was as cluttered and out of shape as one would possibly expect from such a young man. Jiffy Pop bags lying on the couch, sneakers scattered in various spots around the living room floor and a few smelly clothes draped on and across one of the chairs.

Charles just dragged himself along as though he were more than accustomed to the scene. "I figure the more I keep myself busy, then that'll keep me out of trouble." Charles humorously stated.

"I try to do the same thing myself, sir." Robin remarked as he stood before Charles.

Charles couldn't help but to take notice of Robin's t-shirt that bore a very curious image pasted on the front. For a second or two Charles had to take a double glance.

"I've seen that fella before somewhere." He pointed at the shirt with a grin.

"Oh, this," Robin proudly poked out his chest. "It's Lord Vader from Star Wars."

"Oh, that movie," Charles playfully rolled his eyes. "Man, you can't go anywhere without hearing about that movie."

"I saw it three times at the theatre over the summer."

"Three times," Charles nearly dropped to the floor. "I ain't never heard of no one seeing a movie three times! It must be that darn good."

Laughing out loud, Robin said, "It's incredible! I've never seen anything like it. I sure hope they make a sequel sometime soon."

Shaking his head in jovial disbelief, Charles said, "My boy used to love going to the movies. I never did take him to see...a movie." His voice suddenly hesitated without warning. "I never did." He then bowed his head for a moment.

Sitting himself down on the messy couch, Robin said, "I think it's still playing down at the Olen Theater. If you're lucky you can still catch it before it goes away for good."

Waving his hand, Charles responded, "No thanks, Hollywood can have it. I went to the drug store down the street yesterday, and there were all these little kids in there buying costumes that look like that fella on your shirt; and some Bigfoot character, too."

Giggling, Robin said, "Oh, you must mean Chewbacca."

"I don't know what his name was, but it looked pretty darn gruesome to me."

Just as Charles was about to make his way into the kitchen, his attention was suddenly snatched by Robin picking up a small, black contraption from off the floor in front of him. The thing had a black stick protruding from out of its center. The man watched in odd curiosity as the young man turned on the television in front of him and stuck a cartridge inside a medium sized box.

to the animated TV, Charles, with his mouth hanging wide open, asked in

"Oh, it's an Atari system, Mr. Mercer." Robin

could see was shapes and hear sounds come from the television as if

video game."

Charles shook his head, "A game,

"I've got Video Olympics in the box right now, of course, and

asked me and his mama for anything like that. We'd never

as I can when it comes to the decathlon, even if it

"I hear you

"So, how do you

"It's just fine." Charles smiled. "Mrs. Watson sure does a great job keeping everything running smoothly around

"I know, she's really a nice lady. She's everywhere in this city. Ever since the incident back at that shelter

most peculiar fashion. "Tell me, young fella, does Mrs. Watson ever talk about...you know what? It doesn't matter. What does matter is that yesterday I finally got to see my

"That must've

was." Charles blushed with a shining smirk. "That little scratch is getting bigger and bigger every time I see him. He's shooting up like a weed like

stopped playing his game and turned around to face Charles. "I take it she and

back and saying in a polite tone,

Blushing, Robin replied,

Now, if you'll just point me to your kitchen, I'll see what I can get my hands into." He grew back his smile in

way through a curtain that revealed the tiny kitchen

sink, Robin announced,

and peered down into the sink to find it filled to the brim

first I thought it was a sewage

floor, along with both his toolbox and snake. Then, from out of his pocket he pulled out a pair

I was getting some water after my run, the next thing I know, this crap comes out."

"It's probably

Right then, the phone from the other room blared

ahead." Charles said as he dipped his hands into

brought out was something that not even he could have expected. It was his son's head dripping with blackness all over. Out of shock, Charles promptly dropped

He stood and stared for a brief moment before muttering at the sink, "So...you've found

could not peel themselves away from the sink. He waited and waited for something else to occur; anything that would cause him to

"Did you find the problem?" Robin came back into the

taking a long view." He wiped the sweat from

he approached the sink and shoved the snake into the drain. With hesitant muscles the man wrenched and pulled until

anymore contrasting. It took the water at least thirty seconds to empty out. For Charles, it was those same thirty seconds that lasted for an eternity. He