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."

a good boy." His voice spoke so soft and fond. "Me and his mama were so happy when he was

the dining

and I about fainted. We were happy, mind you, but that boy was so into sinful music and girls that hearing him say those words about gave us a

with his hands folded. The man could feel the ice

sure was a good boy." His

to admit that not having any children was my biggest regret." Audra 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

you got a chance to love your son for the time

down at the white table cloth before allowing his thoughts to distance himself away from

Charles, are you okay?" Audra stared hard at the

"Around this time last year, my son stumbled upon

standoffish, Audra asked,

"Do you remember that incident that took place

Audra sat and reflected before turning back to Charles with a stunned glare on her face. "That

took my son away from me long before that horrible night. And I

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

She asked. "Because I've seen people of all ages and colors get into stuff they have no business being in to

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

thing as

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

"Oh, that's Russell Parrish." Audra callously waved her hand. "He got out of Vietnam three

"Is that

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 his rent on

Robin, or anyone else for that matter is the problem. I'm saying that this thing that's following me could try and take me down with it

this thing

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 at Audra with

and believe me when I say, I totally understand. But I've been meaning to ask you about this for the past

before she uttered with

and out before saying, "I need to know just what exactly went on inside that

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 to maintain himself any

"Please, Audra...I have to know what went down in

her head around with

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.

head and sighed. Charles could sense that the subject was bearing down upon

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

busting Charles up inside just to hear her tell the story, and still, he didn't want her to stop. Every fiber in his body