The Death of 1977 (Book 3)

Charles sat inside Audra's apartment on a gusty evening staring down at his plate that still had a sizable slab of meatloaf lying to one side. Mahalia Jackson's, 'How I got over,' was playing on a low volume on the record player that rested on the bureau behind Charles. The man sat and scraped at his plate like a child. He couldn't decide what to focus on more, the music playing behind him, or the wind outside the window. Every so often he would glance over at the window and the streetlamp beyond it that was burning bright as it possibly could for 6 p.m., as well as the tree beside it that was losing its leaves daily.

Audra suddenly came back into the dining room and closed the blind before looking down at Charles' plate. "Well, I thought you said you liked meatloaf." She grinned somewhat.

Coming out of his stupor, Charles sat up and smiled, "I like it very much. I was just thinking for a few moments."

Audra sat herself down at the small table opposite Charles before she began eating away at the last bits of her okra. "It makes me wonder if Mrs. Mercer made better meatloaf than me." She smirked.

Chuckling, Charles replied, "There is absolutely nothing wrong with your cooking. I'm quite sure Mr. Watson enjoyed every bit of it himself."

Blushing, Audra said, "Shoot, that poor man ate like an ant. People used to call 'em Mr. String bean."

Both Charles and Audra giggled amongst themselves for a few seconds before Charles finished the rest of his milk and sighed, "No, I was just wondering a few things to myself."

"I wonder a lot, too. Like how many days it'll take for me to get used to this time change all over again." Audra quipped.

"I know. I sure do wish they would make up their minds on this daylight savings nonsense." Charles griped. "I always hate it when it gets dark at 5 p.m."

Right then, Audra placed her fork down onto her plate before rearing forward and asking, "Do you realize that this is the most conversation we've had ever since you arrived this evening?"

Catching himself, Charles said, "Really? Sometimes people have to tell me to shut up."

"You were certainly a chatterbox back at the hospital. But now, it seems ever since you arrived here, you've just shut down."

Blushing, Charles sat back and exhaled long and deep. He knew exactly what Audra meant, and yet, he felt as if he had to tread lightly when it came down to his business.

"It sure was great to see my grandson the other day." His eyes beamed.

Smiling, Audra said, "I bet it was after all this time."

"But as much as I enjoyed seeing him, I sure do wish I could've seen Lynn, too."

"It's sad that she just up and left her son the way she did."

Wincing in his seat, Charles said, "I don't think she simply just up and left. Lynn is a good girl. The last time I saw her she was such a mess. And I surely didn't help matters myself. I just feel as if she's into something a lot deeper than I first thought."

"You don't think she's in some kind of danger do you?" Audra frowned.

It took a moment for Charles to answer. "I pray to God that's not the case." He murmured with his head down. "She and Isaac was such a good couple before...before everything went downhill."

Appearing faintly surprised, Audra remarked, "I believe that this is the first time you've actually mentioned your son to me since you were in the hospital."

that instant in a syrupy kind of sentiment. "He was such a good boy." His voice spoke so soft and fond. "Me and his mama were so happy when he was born. After all the mess I did

both Charles and Audra such a blissful calm inside the dining room that one would believe that their very souls had

smile. "Both his mama and I about fainted. We were happy, mind you, but that boy was so into sinful music and girls that hearing

and sat up in his chair with his hands

he sure was a good boy." His voice floated

somberly remarked. "My husband felt that doing his work down at the church was far more important than starting a

"Well, I am sorry about that." Charles humbly

at least you got a chance to love your

Charles sat and peered down at the white table cloth before allowing his

okay?"

this time last year, my son stumbled upon something very ugly. And believe me when I

Looking confused and standoffish, Audra

that took place back in February with

to Charles with a stunned glare on her face. "That was your son?" Her voice

that horrible night. And I believe that same something has followed me right here to

ever so strangely at the man. Her eyes gave off the impression that she was able to gather bits and pieces of what he was trying to say, but her face told the story of a woman who was stumbling into territory that

"Because I've seen people of all ages and

weren't one of them. These past few months I've been going up the wall trying to figure out something that I know deep down in my soul doesn't make any sense. I've been reading all these ridiculous books and watching all kinds of movies here and there, and still, I can't bring myself to even

a thing

"The other day, when I was fixing Robin's sink, I felt it. I even felt it when I met the fella in

"Oh, that's Russell Parrish." Audra callously waved her

"Is that

music. If he's not doing that then he's walking all over town like he's homeless. He gets a check from the Army every month, so as long as he pays

me could try and take me

you believe this thing is?" Audra

the seat that was placed right next to her. Both of them drew close to each other at that instant as the record on the turnstile finished its final song. Charles wanted to reach out and grab a hold of Audra's hands, but he composed himself, not wanting to be too direct with his emotions. Instead, he sat and looked

"I...I know that you don't like talking about it all that much, and believe me when I say, I totally understand. But I've been

his surprise, Audra took Charles' hands before she uttered with a serious

saying, "I need to

from Charles before sitting back in her chair and looking away. Charles could see the glassiness in her eyes. The very last thing he wanted was to harm Audra in any fashion, but he just couldn't seem

Audra...I have to know what went down in there

spun her head around with such

these visions. I can see all of these horrible things, but I can't even see my child without it being something just as terrible. I remember the last night I spoke to him. I had to cuss that boy out. Funny thing is, I barely recall what I even said.

sighed. Charles could sense that the subject was bearing down upon her to the point where pulling out just

Audra looked back up, but away from Charles. "You have to understand, I went next door to the hardware store to use the phone because our power went out." Her voice shuddered. "Even before I could get back to the shelter, I heard nothing but screaming and yelling inside. Lord help me, I was just too scared to go back in there. All those women and their blessed little children,"

and still, he didn't want her to stop. Every fiber in