1st & 2nd chapters to "The Casting" enjoy

Chapter 1
The Prophecy

Jim had just caught one of the longest lizards he's ever seen when he heard
Momma Walker call for him and Rich.
"Jim! Rich! , yall come to the house now, Grandma Ree wants see yall!"
He put the lizard in his bucket and started to run home when Rich ran up
from behind, pushed him down and started running ahead toward the house.
"Race ya! Last one's a rotten egg!" He left his bucket and got up. He ran
just fast enough to be right beside Rich, and then he left him in his dust.
He was always faster, and Rich knew it. Jim made it to the porch first,
rubbed their dog Grady's head and slid through the screen door that was half
way closed. He could hear Rich in the background saying he let him win.
As Jim made his way down the hall to grandma Ree's room he saw the guest
living room door closed,
but it wasn't closed all the way. Jim stopped Rich from trying to make the
race extend into the house
and made him aware of what he saw. They have never seen the guest living
room door closed
before. Momma Walker says its needs to stay open so that visitors can feel
real welcome, and so they don't
go snooping in other rooms in the house.
Rich poked his nose in the space where the door was open just enough where
he could get a look,
and that's when momma grabbed them by their shirts and escorted them to
where they were supposed to be.
Rich whispered to Jim that he saw Mr. Walker, the boy's father in the guest
room sitting in one of the chairs.
When they got to Grandma Ree's room Mrs. Kelly was there, sitting next to
grandma holding her hands
and wiping her face with a handkerchief.
Mrs. Kelly lived next door; she and grandma Ree were best friends.
Jim and Rich just loved Mrs. Kelly. She didn't mind them trampling through
her yard picking peaches
from her trees. She had some of the biggest peaches Jim and Rich had ever
seen. Her and Grandma
Ree got real close when Mr. Kelly died last winter. Grandma Ree didn't leave
her side then so it appears as if
Mrs. Kelly intends to return the favor by not leaving grandma's side now.
Grandma Ree was sick, but everyone didn't know or didn't realize just how
sick she actually was.
Momma wasn't saying a word, it was like she was looking real scared of
something that wasn't even in the
room. She had a distinct look on her face. It was a look of pure fear, a
fear of something that was to come.
Mama pushed the boys closer to the foot of the bed and slipped out of the
room as grandma tried to sit up.
Mrs. Kelly helped her by propping up her pillow behind her and that's when
Grandma Ree started coughing.
The way she coughed seemed like it hurt so bad, grandma still winced even
when she pushed out a small
one. Momma heard grandma coughing and she rushed back in the room as if her
presence somehow stops the episode of suffering. Sure enough, grandma
stopped coughing. During the last two muffled coughs, grandma started
reprimanding momma about bothering dad who was in the other room.
You just let your husband be girl. He needs to be alone right now.just him
and the good Lawd." He's going to need lots of strength from the Lawd from
now on- just like the rest of yall. We all need strength from God."
She pointed to everyone in the room with her finger in one sweeping motion.
"We can't live on our own strength.it's not enough." She added with a stern
voice of instruction.
She then propped herself up a little more and said "That's why I wanted to
speak to you boys."
With a big smile she looked at Jim and Rich and with such love said "Yall
gon grow up to be two fine boys, yall gon make Grandma Ree real proud."
"The Lord is watching over you boys- he loves yall, and that's why he showed
me some things concerning yall."
Being intrigued thy moved closer to her- Mrs. Kelly wiped the sweat from off
grandma's forehead with one of those fancy handkerchiefs she always makes
and gives to everybody.
Grandma Rees' energy seemed to increase right at that moment of telling them
what was on her mind- thus stressing the importance.
She asked, "You boys love each other?"
When she asked them that they both looked at each other and said, "Yes" then
they kind of gave each other an elbow shove- just to lighten the mushiness.
She immediately said "Good" and proceeded to tell them more as if hearing
them say yes was some sort of password enabling her to go further with her
information.
"You boys need to stick together- with love."
"Remember the Lawd is always with you- ya hear?"
"No matter what happens in life, yall just stick together and please stay
prayerful, prayer changes things."
Her eyes fixed fast on the boys as she spoke with authority saying, "yall
listen well.there's a evil spirit waiting and hovering .just waiting to
wreak havoc in this family."
"The Good Lawd showed me this.this foul spirit."
"I prayed a lot of prayers in my lifetime and the Lawd answered many of
them - that's why I am so thankful for his goodness and mercy. But he let me
know you two boys are goin to have to do this for yourselves and seek the
Lawd for yourselves.this is very important.he wants to use you boys, yall
are special."
"Remember God is love and that's why you two are gonna be needing him to
overcome this spirit. No matter what, have love between the both of you and
stick together!"
Grandma Ree's voice was cut short by a series of those hacking coughs again
and Mrs. Kelly reached for a glass of water that was on the wooden night
table their father had built for Grandma Ree's birthday last month.
At that moment of Grandma Ree's coughing, the room got suddenly dark.
Everyone knows that grandma keeps the room pretty dim, but it was as if
whatever light existed in the room had been driven out. Even though it was
brief, it was evident and it wasn't the regular darkness that fills a room
when the lights are shut off. This was different. The darkness was felt; it
was rather heavy and quite terrorizing.
The short darkness preceded something or ushered in something in the room.
Momma grabbed to two boys by their shoulders and pulled them towards her as
she back stepped towards the corner of the room behind the door.
Grandma Ree sat up even further in her bed and stared at the wall that was
reflecting light from her dim lamp sitting on her night- stand.
There was enough light coming from the lamp to shine on whatever was in the
room with the family. There was a figure of something casting a shadow on
the wall. Momma covered her mouth in fright while still holding the boys
close to her with her other hand. Mrs. Kelly stood motionless with her hands
folded close to her face. Grandma Ree looked as if she wanted to get up
approach the image that was portrayed on the wall.
The image looked almost beastly -very large and life like. There were two
recognizable features the shadowy image possessed. The image clearly
appeared to have a head. The other feature seemed to be a pair of wings that
looked almost tattered and worn
Everyone gazed in horror. By this time grandma's eyes were fixed on the
image and she began to yell and waiving her fist at it.
"There's that spirit!"
"I know you- you foul spirit!"
"I call you by your name; you are the spirit of Jealousy and Strife!"
"You are evil and this family comes against you in the name of the risen
savior Jesus Christ!"
"I declare victory over you- you demon, and these boys will have victory
over you too!"
As she spoke with such forcefulness the spirit seemed to grow larger and
move closer to the bed as if grandma aggravated it.
The image moved slowly but steady, its movement was terrifying.
Mr. Walker barged through the door making it swing almost slamming against
mama walker and the two boys. He began waiving his bible and quoting
scriptures.
At that moment one of Grandma's dresser drawers flew out and bashed Mr.
Walker knocking him to the floor.
"Ben!"
Mrs. Walker attended to her husband, and Mrs. Kelly removed the lampshade
from the lamp and the room got brighter.
Mr. Walker gathered himself, grabbed his Bible from the floor and approached
the evil spirit for another round.
"You leave from here you evil spirit.in Jesus name!"
"I come against you in the name of Jesus Christ.his blood is against you!"
"As long as I am alive you demon.you will have no place here- this family is
in the Lawd's hands and we rebuke you in the name of Jesus!"
At that very moment and at the uncontested name of Jesus the evil spirit
fled. The spirit didn't scream, it didn't explode, and it didn't lash out in
one final attempt to harm anyone again. It just completely disappeared.
The boy's father just stood there staring at the wall where the image was.
He didn't look amazed. He looked as if he was confirmed. It was confirmed
deep within him of what he had to do. He had no doubt of what he had faced
in that room in front of his family. He had no doubt that evil spirit was
gone right then -but it wasn't gone forever.
Mrs. Kelly handed him a handkerchief she had sopped in the cold water that
had been knocked over in the scuffle. He thanked her in a polite soft tone
and applied it to the side of his head, which harbored a medium size gash.
"You alright son?"
"Yes ma'am I'm ok"
He wiped the stream of blood that ran down into the collar of his light blue
dress shirt.
Mamma Walker kneeled down to speak to the boys.
"Hey, listen -I need you two boys to go to your rooms for a while ok?"
"Momma is gonna come and check on yall and bring yall some lunch alright?"
The boys nodded in consent and raced playfully out the room and down the
hall. She then assisted her husband with his injuries and they both quietly
began to pick up the wood from the broken drawer.
Mrs. Kelly broke the silence by instructing Grandma Ree to lie back down.
"Ree lets go ahead and lay down now. That was more than enough excitement
for one day, can't have ya heart quittin' on us."
"I'm going home soon anyway so it don't matter"
Jim senior spoke like his late father softly and concerned. "Now momma don't
talk like that now.you aint going nowhere, you gon stay right here wit us"
As Grandma Ree started settling down in the bed, mamma Walker walked over
and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"I love you momma Ree- we all love you."
Grandma folded her hands together and gave a pleasant smile saying-"I love
yall too, yall stay strong...stick by ya husband baby."
Grandma turned toward Mrs. Kelly
"Diane you think I could have a cup of your good tea?"
"Ree you know you can, I was starting to think no one liked my special tea
anymore"
Only hearing part of grandma's request to Mrs. Kelly, Mr. Walker asked.
"Mrs. Kelly if you're gonna make some of that good tea, could ya make a big
pot of it?"
She replied - "I don't mind sweetie, it'll be my pleasure.
There were many creaks in the hardwood floors of the house, but they didn't
seam to make a sound when she walked out the room-mainly because Mrs. Kelly
was a pretty small- framed woman. It was clear that she was a senior, but
she moved lightly and could still get around without ever missing a beat.
Before they knew it-they were hearing the water fill the kettle from the
kitchen.
The Walker family settled down and cleaned up as if they were accustomed to
spiritual warfare. They indeed were familiar with it. Mr. Walker was a
pastor, his father the late Reverend Walker was a pastor and they both were
known in the city as great God sent missionaries.
When Rev. Walker was alive they made a great team- God worked through him
and grandma Ree to be a big spiritual help for many people in the city.
One time in the fall around when the carnival comes to town, and everyone
shows up to enjoy themselves for the whole week that its there. There was a
couple that went to one of the gypsies that set up shop as a palm reader.
The couple just bought a house that had apparently had a previous owner who
dabbled in voodoo.
The couple would experience doors opening and shutting late at night. Their
4 yr old daughter would also get headaches during the height of the
often-home disturbances.
They heard of the palm reader selling love potions, wellness herbs, and
home-blessing baskets filled with incense and they figured that maybe they
could get some help. They love their new home and there was no way they were
leaving it. They burned the incense and completed the instructions that came
in the home blessing basket they bought from the palm reader. The problem
only got worse. The couple's neighbors became very concerned and informed
Reverend Walker and his wife of their situation.
The Walker arrived at the couple's home and began praying in every room of
the house.
When they got to the attic, a hissing cat met them. The couple didn't own a
cat. The cat was possessed.
Rev. Walker threw his coat on the feline while he prayed aloud. Moments
later that cat was motionless. After removing the coat- there laid a dead
cat. The Walkers hadn't even harmed the animal. What was surprisingly
unbelievable to the young couple was that the cat was decomposed as if it
had been dead for a few years.
There were many things that the Reverend and his wife did for the Lord back
then. The city in turn regarded the Walker family as spiritual pillars and
often resorted to then for guidance.

Although the Jim and rich were twins they looked nothing like each other.
They were fraternal twins. Jim was born almost 5 minuets ahead of Rich thus
making him the oldest. Mr. Walker unknowingly treated Jim as if he was 5
years older than Rich. Jim had to answer for their behavior and the seldom
negligence to pick up after themselves. Jim didn't mind the responsibility-
in fact he enjoyed making his father proud. Momma Walker says Jim looks much
like his father- he even has a lot of his ways, mainly his stubbornness.
Rich is a bit reserved -he even acts as if he's the younger child at times.
Jim calls Rich a momma's boy. He says, "Rich is always sitting on mamma's
lap!"
The boys rarely fight each other. They get along together just as good if
not better that any other 5year old set of twin boys. However, Grandma Ree
being as spiritual as she was really saw a need to tell them to stick
together in the future. Mr. Walker called it spiritual insight.
Three years before the twins were born, the Walkers had a beautiful baby
girl. She was 2 months old when the late Reverend Walker passed away and
they moved in to help Grandma Ree take care of that big house.
Before the Reverend passed away; he got to enjoy the newborn baby girl and
he also had the pleasure of naming her. He named her Ruth Marie Walker.
At the age of 6, the Walkers discovered their growing daughter had a voice
from heaven.
Ruthy, as her father would call her sang all through the house. As the boys
grew, they would run up to Ruthy-begging her to sing their favorite songs.
Ruthy loved the boys with all her heart and she was very protective of them.
When she was younger she helped as much as she could with the caring for the
twin baby boys. In turn the boys leaned towards their sister as a source of
guidance and protection. She appreciated that.

Ruthy was asleep and sick with fever in her room during the whole
altercation with the uninvited evil spirit.
Momma Walker had been bringing meals to her room for two days now. Ruthy
would eat and then fall back asleep. Her fever had just broken -so she would
be back to full health by morning.
Not long after supper -the boys were fast asleep-Grandma Ree was resting and
Mr. and Mrs. Walker were on the porch sitting in rocking chairs.
Mr. Walker was on his second cup of Mrs. Kelly's famous tea.
"It's been a long day hasn't it Honey?"
"Yea, well if the good Lawd is willing then we'll have a long life to match
it."
Mrs. Walker always had a way of being positive and looking at things in a
different way. She would always encourage Mr. Walker. Whatever he set his
mind to do for the good welfare of the family or the church she would back
him up 100% - In result of this virtue, he would always request her opinion
and suggestions. That's one of the things he loved about her.
As she gave him a teaspoon of honey in his tea, he briefly reminisced of
when they were younger.
They both grew up in Monroe, North Carolina. In the mid 1940's work was slow
around those parts of the south. Before moving to Rock Hill, South Carolina,
he would help his father build houses. Before his father was ordained as
Reverend Walker he worked as foreman for a Mr. Bolton- a white man who
seemed to have everybody asking him to build them a house.
He started off tagging along with his dad to work, and soon he became a very
knowledgeable apprentice.
He remembers arriving early to Mr. Bolton's house in the morning with the
other workers to the day's schedule of work. He laid his eyes on the most
beautiful girl he'd ever seen.
She was Honey Walker then. She lived next door to Mr. Bolton. She was the
daughter of a cleaning lady and her father was a well- known bee- keeper. He
ended up dating her for three months before he signed up for the army. Mr.
Bolton had died which left the Reverend and many others out of work.
Mr. Bolton was a trusted white businessman and since he was gone, there wasn't
anyone letting a black man take over and build the house they'll be living
in.

Mr. Walker wanted to marry his new love but he didn't have any money. When
Uncle Sam was hiring, he wanted to do something to make a future for
himself. He also heard that these days black folk don't usually come home
after signing up. Mrs. Walker assured him that he could learn a new trade in
the army- and that she would pray everyday for his safe return. She told him
on many occasions while looking into his smoky brown eyes that she will
marry him as soon as he returns to her.
She said she would wait for him-as she spoke those words he fell deeper in
love with her. When he returned she was there waiting just like she promised
and often mentioned in her letters. They been together ever since.

-chapter end-

Chapter 2

Growing Pains

The sun had twelve minuets before rising to give light to the new day. A
cool breeze moved gently across the leaves that fell from the trees through
the night.
Momma Walker awoke and noticed that Mr. Walker was already out of bed. He
had been getting up earlier than he normally does for about a week now- ever
since Grandma Ree has been sick.
Mrs. Walker put on her robe, and made her way down the hall to the guest
living room where he had been going to pray.