The Death of 1977 (Book 3)

Chapter 27

"Alright, Mrs. Howell, just make sure to rinse the tub out three times a day, and the ring should be gone by the end of the week. Call me if you need anything else." Charles exited apartment four and stood in the middle of the hallway gathering his tools.

An older white man and woman walked by Charles down the hall as he sat his toolbox down onto the floor and scribbled on his notepad. The man continued on before taking a slight glance down the other end of the hallway to see apartment eight. Charles then slipped his pencil and notepad inside his back pocket and picked up his toolbox before carrying himself down to the door and knocking. It took exactly two seconds for Russell to fling open the door.

Charles took an abrupt step backwards before looking up and smiling, "Good morning, sir."

"Oh, good morning," Russell sullenly mumbled before stepping aside to allow Charles in.

Feeling the coldness of his response, Charles made sure not to get too close to the young man as he entered into the darkened apartment.

"Sorry I wasn't able to come last night." Charles said. "I had to wait for the drug store to open this morning so I could get some supplies."

"Don't worry about it." Russell replied as he shut the door behind him. "Mrs. Fuller let me put my food inside her icebox until mine got fixed."

Charles took in as much of the living room area as his eyes would allow at once. From one end of the room to the other was nothing but dimness. Had it not been for the sun shining outside and poking tiny rays through the closed window shade it would have been completely black. Much to Charles' surprise Russell's living room was neat and tidy; just a couch with an issue of Playboy seated on one of the arms, a television and a bureau where a stereo was placed. Had he not known any better, Charles would have thought that the man had just recently moved in.

Russell, who was wearing a brown sweater and a pair of blue jeans and socks made his way towards the kitchen.

"The icebox is in here, man." He suspiciously muttered.

Caught off guard for a moment, Charles came to and smiled, "Oh, okay, here I come." He followed the young man inside the kitchen and right away saw the refrigerator before anything else.

"These old Kelvinator's ain't what they used to be." Russell scratched at his unshaven beard.

Cautiously approaching the icebox, Charles replied with a humble smirk, "No, sir, they sure aren't." Skittish at the thought of opening the refrigerator's door, Charles sucked in his gut and reached out.

"I wish Mrs. Audra would buy some new ones." Russell blurted out. "She said these have been in here for years."

Quickly snapping back, Charles said, "I see." He then gripped the handle and slowly opened the door to find nothing but an empty space where food once resided. Inside his own head he exhaled.

The man rooted about inside before saying, "Yeah, it's the motor alright." He observed. "I got exactly what you need right here."

Charles turned and reached down into his toolbox to pull out the equipment he needed. He then stood back up and noticed Russell staring oddly right back at him before he continued turning back to the icebox. As Charles diligently worked he could feel Russell's penetrating eyes burn a hole right into his back. He couldn't help but to think that something was stirring not only within the young man's mind, but also with the evil that had been following him. Charles could feel it like an oncoming car wreck. The longer the kitchen remained ominously silent the faster he seemed to work. The thought of getting out of the apartment as quickly as possible gave him the vigor of a toddler.

"So, uh, if you don't mind me asking, what happened to your leg?"

Rolling his eyes, Charles kept on working while replying, "Well, I had a bit of an accident a few months back."

"Yeah, I have accidents, too." Russell sniggered.

Charles was taken aback at the reaction. In his ears it sounded accusatory rather than sympathetic.

Charles then turned back around to his toolbox and managed to catch a glimpse of Russell leaning against the counter with his arms folded.

"Every time I pass by your apartment I always hear music going." Charles went back to work. "What happened today?"

Russell said. "I really wanna go down to The Porter to catch

I see." Charles grinned. "You like

"Not really, but they take my mind

opened his mouth and said, "Yeah...I can see how those kinds of flicks could get your

"I heard that Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier got a new movie

"Oh yeah," Charles perked up slightly.

called 'A Piece of the Action,' I

I remember Sidney from a while ago." Charles said. "Really

man, I just wanted to make sure my fridge was working again before

off to work?" Charles asked as he examined a pair of

hang around. Mrs. Audra caught me staring out the window a few times.

Charles just chuckled right back before turning around with the pair of wires in his hand. "It seems that not only is your motor out, but you got two frayed

back

"You got something for

"Well, I'll have to head back down to the hardware store to get what I

much to do myself." Russell once again

to the couch where his Playboy magazine was lying. Russell took the magazine and promptly stuffed it underneath one of the couch's pillows. A bit startled, Charles stood in place and stared strangely at the man for a second or two. Russell had the

on his face, Charles steadily

I just didn't want you to see

"Brother, I know exactly what that is. This is your apartment, you

for a living, I don't want to

Charles' grin soon vanished before a concerned stare came upon his face. "What I do for a living?"

back pockets, Russell said, "Yeah,

just dropped his head and blushed. "And just how do you know that I used to do

"Used to," Russell appeared puzzled.

afraid not." Charles

"But I was just at your

see a brand new person appearing before him. He wasn't at any more ease than he was when he first walked

my church before?"

went last summer. You were preaching in the

"Yeah...yeah, I recall that sermon." Charles

was sitting up in the front row,

Charles just gritted his teeth right then. "I must have not left much

head and smiled before looking back. "Man, I was in a bad place in my life at that time. I was just going around...looking for something, I guess. Don't get me wrong, I

For Charles, it felt like his legs were being dragged underwater by an anchor at that instant. He was standing only six feet away from Russell and

made you

There wasn't a muscle inside of Charles' body that didn't want to turn and storm out the door. His patience

he could, Charles responded, "Just like you, I needed

back at Charles before he turned and began for the lone window inside his living room. "Yeah, I can definitely

"It's crossed my mind a time or

the states, I've been trying my hardest to find a song that makes me feel...good. But when I heard that one song on the radio, I couldn't

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