His Home Is His Castle
Part 4
One
afternoon, after the last of the lunch crowd had paid their bill and left,
Huggy and Anita sat at the bar, sipping a cup of coffee. Linda finished drying
the last of the glass mugs and joined them.
Anita
shook her head and glared at Huggy. "You know, that slimy little Whitney
tried to get out of here without paying his check again. Why you still let him
in here, I'll never know."
"Anita,
you know that's just a game with him. He likes to give you a hard time. Whitney
wouldn't really stiff us with the bill."
Anita
raised an eyebrow. "Huggy, that little creep would stiff his own mother if
he thought he could get away with it. You're just too soft-hearted to admit it.
Honestly, the way you coddle these bums, I'm surprised the place hasn't gone
bankrupt by now."
"In
case you haven't realized it, my winning personality is what's kept this place
in the black, if you'll pardon the pun."
Anita
made gagging noises. "Quick, somebody get a shovel."
Linda
smiled at the ongoing bickering then her expression sobered. "Oh,
no! I forgot my mother's ring!"
Huggy
looked confused. "Linda, you don't have any kids. Why would you have a
mother's ring?"
"No,
I meant the ring that my mother gave me. It has real diamonds in it, and it's
been passed down for generations. The ring's worth probably a couple of
thousand dollars, but it has more sentimental value than that. I kept it hidden
in a secret place where Jimmy could never find it. I knew if he did, he'd hock
it the first time he needed beer money."
Anita
stood up. "So tell me where it is, and I'll go get it for you."
Linda
shook her head. "No, I'll get it. If my neighbors saw you go into the
house, they'd probably think you were a burglar and call the law. Besides, I'm
the one that left it behind."
Huggy
frowned. "I don't know if that's such a good idea, Linda. You know that
Starsky and Hutch said you should stick close to The Pits right now. Why don't
you let me call them and they can take you over there after their shift is
over?"
"Huggy,
I'll be fine. Jimmy's still in jail, right? I know right where the ring is, so
I can get it and come back in a flash."
"Then
at least take Anita with you. Starsky will kick my ass if I let you out of here
by yourself."
"Huggy,
I am not a child. I'm perfectly capable of going over there by myself. I don't
need a bodyguard." She looked at him with soulful eyes. "Don't you
understand? It's the only thing from my past that I can take with me. I have to
leave my hope chest, my mother's dishes, and all of my photo albums in storage.
The ring is small enough for me to carry and it will be something of my
mother's that I can keep."
Huggy
let his shoulders slump. "Oh, all right, but you'd better make it fast,
Missy! If you're gone one second longer than I think you should be, I'll call
Starsky and Hutch toot sweet."
Linda
leaned across the bar and kissed him on the cheek. "You're just a big old
teddy bear, aren't you? I'll be back before you know it. Thanks, Huggy!"
Huggy
watched her go. "I have a bad feeling about this."
Anita
followed his eyes. "Hey, what can happen? Jimmy's in jail, right? She
doesn't have anything to worry about. Right?"
The
black proprietor never took his eyes off the door. "Right."
Linda
walked straight to the house she had shared with Jimmy, mindful of the promise
she made to Huggy. She unlocked the door, and after a quick look around, went
to the closet in their bedroom. She pushed away the suits and dress shirts that
Jimmy seldom wore and moved the box of shoes that passed their usefulness long
ago. She'd noticed the small hole in the paneling at the back of the closet
when they first moved in, but never got around to patching it. When Jimmy lost
his job and started drinking, she'd decided it was the perfect hiding place for
her mother's diamond ring. Linda removed the spare sock she'd shoved into the
hole, and took out the small, velvet-lined box. She held her breath as she
opened the box, letting it out when she saw the ring nestled in its spot.
Tenderly, she closed the box and smiled. This was one treasure Jimmy had never
found. Clutching it in her hand, she crawled backwards out of the closet then
stood up.
When
she turned around, her eyes widened and she gasped out loud. "Jimmy!"
Jimmy
leaned against the entrance to their bedroom nonchalantly. "Hi, babe, did
you miss me?"
Linda
backed up a step. "How-how did you get out of jail?"
Jimmy
looked wounded. "Hey, I've got friends! They got some money together and
bailed me out. Are you surprised?"
Linda
carefully examined her husband. She realized that for the first time in a long
time, he was stone-cold sober. But instead of being encouraged by the change,
she felt a thrill of fear shiver up her spine. Without the alcohol to dull his
dark blue eyes, she could see the malevolence in them. His drunken tantrums
were frightening enough, but Linda had a feeling the cold anger she was seeing
now would be much worse.
"I
didn't know you were out. I'll go now. I promised Huggy I wouldn't be gone
long. It'll be dinner time soon."
Jimmy
rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and we all know how busy that shitty little bar
can be. Sorry, sweetheart, I'm afraid you're going to be a little late."
Linda
kept her voice firm. "I told Huggy I'd be right back, Jimmy. If I'm gone
too long, he'll call Starsky and Hutch, and they'll come to check on me."
Jimmy
showed his teeth in a fake smile. "Isn't that nice, you've got your own
private Rent-A-Pigs."
Linda
put the small jewelry box in the pocket of her jeans then took a tentative step
toward the bedroom door. When Jimmy didn't move, she straightened her back and
looked him in the eye.
"I
said, I'm going back to the bar now, Jimmy. I don't want to fight. I have a
restraining order against you."
"So?
This is my house and I was here before you. You were the one that came in
without calling. That crappy piece of paper isn't going to do you any
good."
"I
didn't call because I thought you were still in jail! Besides, this is my
house, too. I have the right to get my things."
"Bull!
This is my house and everything in it belongs to me, including you!"
He
lunged away from the door and toward her, grabbing her arm cruelly.
"Let
me go, Jimmy! I'll scream. I swear I will!"
He
slapped her viciously across the face. "Not this time, sweetheart! I've had all of those nosy
neighbors I'm going to take." Still gripping her arm, he reached into the
pocket with the other hand. "What have we got here? Linda, I'm surprised
at you. You've been holding out on me."
She
sobbed as she rubbed her cheek. "That's mine! You can't have it. It was my
mother's!"
He shoved
her away from him and she fell on her knees in the middle of the room. Keeping
his back to the door, he flipped the top open.
He
grinned ferociously when he saw the ring. "Well, now if that isn't the
prettiest thing I've ever seen. This ought to be worth a few bucks, anyway. It
is real, isn't it?"
"Jimmy,
please! Don't take it. I'll-I'll give you money, as much as you want."
He
laughed scornfully at her. "Where are you going to get that kind of money
from? That pitiful job you got at the bar? I don't think so. This ring is just
what I need to get out of town."
The
sight of Jimmy holding her mother's ring made Linda forget her fear. She
launched herself at him, screaming. "No! You can't have it! Give it back!
It's mine!"
His
evil grin never left his face as he held her off with one hand. Then, as he put
the box in his shirt pocket for safe-keeping, his expression turned to one of
rage and he back-handed her across the face. Tears of anger and pain streaming
down her face, Linda ran to the closet and grabbed the box of shoes. With a
speed born of desperation, she threw the shoes at him, not caring where they
hit.
When
one of his old work boots hit him in his forehead, Jimmy bellowed in pain. "Owww! That hurt! What the Hell are you doing? Stop
it!"
Linda
kept picking the shoes up and flinging them at him. "You're not taking my
ring! Give it back, Jimmy! IT'S MINE!"
Roaring
with fury, he advanced on her, deflecting the shoes with his arms. He knocked
the shoes out of her hand and with one arm, threw her against the closet.
"I
can't believe you actually had the guts to hit me, you stupid broad! No woman
is gonna hit me! You're gonna pay for that, Linda. By the time I'm through with
you, those other times that I hit you'll seem like love pats."
With
one hand, he pulled her up by her hair and slapped her face with enough force
to throw her across the room. Linda fell to her knees against the bed, her
cheek turning an angry red from the blow. She used a hand to steady herself,
bowing her head so that her hair covered her face.
Jimmy
stood in the middle of the room, his hands drawn into fists and his chest
heaving with exertion.
"You've
gotten way too uppity since I've been gone, Linda. I think we need to go
somewhere private and have a nice long chat about that. But first, we've got a
score to settle. You had me arrested, you stupid slut! I was sound asleep when
those stinking cops rousted me out of bed. They said I assaulted you. What a joke! If you weren't such a lousy excuse for
a wife, I wouldn't have to knock you around. This is my home, damn it! A man's
home is his castle. I rule here, and if I say jump, then you're going to
jump!"
The
room was eerily quiet as Linda stayed in a crouched position, her expression
still hidden by her hair. Gradually, she raised her head and looked at her
husband. The terror was gone from her eyes, replaced by an icy calm.
"No,
I'm not. It's all over, Jimmy." Linda stood up slowly and aimed the gun
she'd hidden in her other pocket at him. "Give me the ring, Jimmy."
Jimmy
dropped his hands to his sides and goggled at her. "Where did you get
that?"
The
first hint of hysteria swirled amid the calm. "You mean this little thing?
I picked it up a few days ago. I used to pass the pawn shop on the way to work,
but I've never been brave enough to go in it, until you went to jail. Everyone
told me that you wouldn't get out, but I knew better. So I sneaked out of the
bar when no one was looking and went to the shop. The owner kept calling me
'little lady', and when I told him about you, he was very helpful. He showed me
this gun and told me that it was just what I needed. He showed me how to load
it, how to take the safety off, and let me practice aiming it without the
bullets in it. Since I've never been in any trouble before, he even helped me
register it, so it's all nice and legal." She held the gun in both hands,
grim determination showing on her face. "Move away from the door, Jimmy.
Throw the box on the bed gently. If
you try to throw it at me, I'll shoot."
Jimmy
did as he was told then laughed scornfully at her.
"You won't shoot me, Linda. You don't have what it takes."
Linda
picked up the small box without taking her eyes off Jimmy. She put it back in
her pocket as she aimed the small .22 steadily at his heart. "Don't bet on
it."
Back
at The Pits, Huggy dried mugs that were already dry and rearranged them under
the bar for the third time. He looked up at the clock on the wall, cursing
every minute that passed. When Starsky and Hutch walked in, he pasted on a
sickly smile.
"Well,
what brings you two here in the middle of the day? Did Dobey get mad and kick
you out of the station?"
Starsky
shook his head. "Very funny, Hug. We need to talk
to Linda."
Anita
walked over and stood beside Huggy. "Why did you want to talk to
her?"
"Jimmy
Brewer was released from jail earlier today."
Anita
eyes widened. "Oh, no! I thought you said he'd be
in there until his trial! What happened?"
Hutch
gazed at them levelly. "Apparently, some of his friends bailed him out. We
need to let Linda know. Is she upstairs?"
Huggy
swallowed then replied sheepishly. "Uh, not
exactly."
The
blond's eyes narrowed. "Where is she, exactly?"
Huggy
mumbled inaudibly. "Shewentbacktoherhouse."
Starsky
leaned over the bar and spoke slowly. "What did you say?"
"She
went back to her house! She forgot something and said she was going to get it
and be right back. Hey, we didn't know Jimmy was out of jail! Why didn't
someone call her?"
The
brunet kept his anger under tight control. "Mary Anderson left strict
orders for the jailer to call her if
Jimmy made bail. They called her a few minutes ago and she called us. She knew
Linda would be upset so she didn't want to give her the news over the phone.
Damn it, we told her to stay close to The Pits! She shouldn't be out running
around by herself. Why did you let her go?"
Huggy
threw the towel down on the bar. "I didn't let her go! I told her you'd be pissed off, but she said she'd be
fine. The only person she had to be afraid of is Jimmy, and we thought he was
still in the clink! What was I supposed to do, handcuff her to the damned
bar?"
Anita
put her hands between the two men. "Hey, this isn't getting us anywhere!
Huggy's telling you the truth. He told Linda it wasn't a good idea, but she's a
grown woman. She's going to do what she wants. Besides, she was just getting
used to not having to look over her shoulder every minute."
Hutch
put a hand on his partner's arm. "Anita's right, we're wasting time. How
long ago did she leave?"
Huggy's
shoulders slumped as the anger went out of him. "She left right after the
lunch rush, about two-thirty. She should have been back by now! I was really
starting to get worried. If you hadn't come in when you did, I would have
called you."
Starsky
spun around and bolted out the door with Hutch close behind him. As they ran,
Hutch shouted an order over his shoulder.
"Call
the station and get back-up, now! Tell them no sirens, damn it!"
As
Huggy grabbed the phone, he cursed out loud. "I told her it was a bad
idea!"
Jimmy
watched his wife for a few moments, licking his lips nervously. "Put the
gun down, Linda. You don't wanna shoot me. I'm your husband, remember?"
Linda
clutched the weapon tighter. "You're my husband, but you act more like a
jailor. You keep me trapped inside this house, and you tell me what to do, what
to wear, where to go, and who to talk to. And if I do something you don't like,
you hit me. I'm not your punching bag, Jimmy! I'm a human being. I have
feelings. Just because we're married, it doesn't give you the right to beat me
up."
"You've
been listening to those cops too much! It's their fault. They've been filling
your head with these stupid ideas. Now you're gonna throw away fourteen years
of marriage because they tell you to?"
Linda
laughed shrilly. "Marriage? You call what we have
a marriage? It's a life sentence, Jimmy!" Her voice dropped as if she were
talking to herself. "When I was a kid, I dreamed about what my life would
be like. I imagined a wedding in a big church, with a white dress, and flowers
all around. Then I'd have a beautiful house with a fenced-in yard and maybe a
couple of kids. I thought I'd be married forever." She shrugged and gazed
woodenly at her husband. "Do you know what I dream about now, Jimmy?"
Not
daring to speak, he shook his head once.
"I
dream about you dying, Jimmy. I imagine you going to work, on one of the rare
days you actually do go to work, and
climbing on steel beams high above the sidewalk. Then suddenly you lose your
balance, and you fall. SPLAT! No more Jimmy. Or, I'll be lying beside you at
night, after you've passed out, of course, and I'll be listening to you snore.
I'll imagine reaching over to you and pinching your nose shut with my fingers,
and watching you turn all those pretty shades of blue. I even had a dream about
it one night, Jimmy. I dreamed that I was in Hitterman's hardware store, and I
was looking at boxes of rat poison. But instead of a picture of a rat on the
front of the box, there was a picture of your face. And on the back, it gave
directions for exterminating you. 'Put one tablespoon in food three times a day
until dead'. Isn't that sad, Jimmy?" As tears streamed down her face, she
gave him a parody of a smile. "You know what the saddest part of all is? I
was always too afraid of you to do anything but dream. All those times I laid
awake at night and prayed that you'd die. I never had the guts to do anything
about it. But no more, Jimmy. I'm free, damn it! I do what I want and I never
have to worry about making you mad. I never have to wonder what's going to set
you off next, and I don't have to be afraid all of the time! It's over, Jimmy!
I won't go back to the way it was."
Fourteen
years of anger and resentment boiled over as she straightened her arms and
squeezed the handgrip of the gun tighter. "You're not going to hit me any
more."
A soft
voice came from the doorway. "Don't do it, Linda. Please."
She
glanced at the brunet standing in the doorway. "I'm sorry, David. I can't
take it any more. You couldn't stop him, so now I'm going to."
Slowly,
Starsky walked into the bedroom with Hutch right behind him. They held their
hands away from their sides and took small steps, widening the distance between
them as they moved.
Hutch
shook his head slightly. "You don't want to do this, Linda. You're almost
home free. Do this the legal way. If you shoot him now, it won't be
self-defense, it'll be murder. You'll be the one in jail and there won't be a
thing we can do about it."
"So?
I've been in a cage all of my life! The only difference is this one doesn't
have bars that you can see. And if I kill him, at least he won't be around to
hurt me."
Starsky
took a small step toward her. "Give me the gun, Linda. Don't let him win.
You have the rest of your life to look forward to. Don't let him take that away
from you."
She
shook her head fiercely, gripping the gun tighter. "I don't have anything
to look forward to! Don't you see? You couldn't keep him in jail this time!
Where were you when he hit me all those times before? Where were you when he
conned those other cops into letting him go? You keep telling me that what he
does to me is a crime, but I'm the one who's done the time! He stays in jail
for a few lousy days and then it starts all over again. Am I supposed to go
through the rest of my life looking over my shoulder? As long as he's alive,
I'll never be free!"
"We
can have his bail revoked, Linda. He hit you again; I can see the marks on your
face. That's a violation of his bond. We can put him in prison, and Mary will
help you get a divorce. We talked about all this. You're so close! Don't throw
it away now." Starsky walked toward her, holding his hand out. "Give
me the gun, Linda. It really is over. He won't hurt you again. I promise."
She
relaxed her grip on the gun and let her hand fall to her side. Gingerly,
Starsky took it from her, breathing a sigh of relief. As Hutch drew his own
weapon and kept Jimmy in its sight, Starsky pulled Linda into his arms.
Without
taking his eyes off Jimmy, Hutch raised his voice. "It's okay, you can
come in now."
Bill
Preston and his partner rushed into the room. Carefully staying out of Hutch's
line of fire, they handcuffed Jimmy and took him away. Bill stopped for a
moment and motioned to Linda.
"Is
she okay?"
Starsky
nodded. "Yeah, she's going to be fine."
Sobbing
quietly, Linda laid her head on his shoulder. "I just want it to end. I
can't take it any more. I'm so tired of being afraid."
Starsky
held her tight. "You don't have to be afraid. I've got you now."
Tag
Linda Brewer sat on the barstool waiting for Huggy to
finish counting the day’s receipts. The last stragglers had left and the doors
of the Pits were locked. Huggy wrapped the cash register ticket around the cash
and dropped it into a bag. Finally, he reached under the bar and took a large
manila envelope out. With a somber expression, he handed it to Linda.
“Here you go, ma’am. There’s a brand new driver’s
license, social security card and birth certificate in here. My friend sealed
the envelope before he gave it to me, so I haven’t seen any of them.”
Linda smiled gratefully and opened the clasp. Her eyes
widened at the other contents in the envelope.
“Huggy, I can’t accept this! It’s too much!”
The slim black man held up his hand. “Now, don’t go
letting that stubborn pride overload your common sense. You got a long road
ahead of you, Linda, and you’re going to need every advantage you can get.
Whether you know it or not, you've got a lot of friends around here. We know
what you’re going to be up against, and we also happen to think you’re one
gutsy lady.”
She leaned over the bar and kissed him on the cheek.
Then, she turned serious again. “Huggy, this is forgery. I don’t want to get
anyone into trouble.”
“Linda, the dude that did this for me owed me a great big
favor. Now, he’s paid in full. He’s been out of the business for a long time,
but he’s still the best. And he’s a very happy man right now. He said to tell
you it felt like old times when he was making these. He doesn’t know your real
name, but he knows what happened, so he was more than happy to do this for you.
So, as the old saying goes, take the money and run.”
Linda laughed, feeling more alive than she had in a long
time. “Huggy, all of those women were right. You are the best!”
Huggy spread his hands out in front of him and grinned.
“Of course I am. Did you ever doubt it? Now, that’s enough of this soapy stuff.
Do you know where you’re going yet?”
“No, but I really haven’t thought about it. I’m just
going to go. I figure that if I don’t know where I’m headed, no one else will
know either. Then Jimmy can’t force anyone to tell him. I’ll pick a place, stay
for a while, and then move on when I get ready. There’s a whole world out there
that I’ve never seen, and I intend to see as much of it as I can. My life is
going to be one big adventure from now on.”
Huggy frowned slightly. “It sounds to me like you’ll be
on the run from now on. Do you think you can handle that?”
Linda smiled sadly. “I’ve spent the last fourteen years
in a cage. If I could handle that, I can handle anything. And traveling all
over the country beats the Hell out of a cage.”
Huggy came around the bar and hugged her tightly. “Be
safe, pretty lady. I hope you have all the happiness you deserve.”
Linda waited patiently while Anita folded the last of the
tablecloths and put them away, her heart aching with sadness. Of all the things
she had to do, saying good-bye to her friend was the hardest.
Anita put a brave smile on her face as Linda walked over
to her. “So, you’re all ready to go? Did Huggy do what he promised?”
Linda smiled. “He did great. I’m all set.”
Anita hugged her friend. “Oh, I’m going to miss you so
much! You’ve been the best friend anyone could ever want. Do you know where
you’re going yet?”
“Nope, so if Jimmy ever drops by and asks where I am, you
can tell him whatever you want. Unless you happen to be psychic, you probably
won’t tell him the right place.”
Anita gazed soulfully at her friend. “Will you send me a
postcard when you get settled?”
Linda shook her head sadly. “I can’t, Anita.”
“Can you at least call?”
Linda hugged the older woman again. “I wish I could, but
I can’t. I know you think I’m being paranoid, but you didn't see how angry
Jimmy was the first time I tried to leave. He swore he'd follow me and kill me
if I ever tried to divorce him. I can’t leave any clues behind, no matter how
much I want to.” She stood up and walked around the dark room. Turning back,
she tried to explain. “I talked to Captain Dobey. He was very nice to me, but
he didn’t pull any punches. They gave Jimmy five years, but he could get out in
two, or maybe three. That gives me a pretty good head start, but I still have
to be careful. I hate leaving you all behind, but I really don’t have a choice.
If I stay here, no matter how much you all try to protect me, Jimmy will get me
eventually. If I have to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder,
I’d rather be as far from him as possible. Please don’t be sad. If it weren’t
for you and Huggy, I never would have found the courage to leave. I have a
whole new life to look forward to. That’s the greatest gift anyone has ever
given me.”
Anita sniffled. "But what about
your stuff?"
"You keep it for me. As long as I know where it is,
I know Jimmy will never get it. And who knows? Maybe I can send for it
someday."
"I'll keep it safe for you, I promise."
The two women embraced for the last time. Anita smiled
through her tears.
“You be happy, you hear? I’ll
never forget you, I swear.”
Linda smiled back and with a small wave, she left the
Pits. She walked out of the bar and
started down the street, headed for the small apartment Huggy had rented for
her until Jimmy was sentenced. Her smile was bittersweet as she thought about
the tiny apartment. Though it wasn't much, and it was only temporary, if felt
more like home than the house on
"Need a ride, pretty lady?"
Linda laughed. "David, I'm only going a few blocks.
I think I can manage it."
Starsky pretended to pout. "Linda, I'm crushed. How
can you turn down a lift in this fine ride?"
She shook her head fondly and capitulated. "Oh, all
right, but only because you're so nice, and because I need to get some rest
before I start out in the morning."
He shifted the car into park and leaned over to open the
door. Once she was in and the door shut, he pulled back into traffic. They were
quiet for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts.
Then Starsky glanced at her and attempted a smile.
"So, this is it, huh?"
She nodded without looking at him. "Yep, this is
it."
"Are you all set? Did Huggy come through? Have you
said all of your good-byes?"
She turned to look at him in the eye. "I'm all set
and Huggy was beautiful. I won't have to worry about finding a job for a long,
long time. And I said good-bye to him and Anita."
His next words were almost too soft for her to hear.
"I wish you didn't have to go."
Tears glistened in her eyes. "Don't do this, David.
You know I can't stay. Oh, I wish I had met you years ago! Or,
never met you at all."
"Don't say that. I'm not sorry we met."
"Neither am I. I didn't mean that. We just met at
the wrong time. I don't want to hurt you, David. If it weren't for all of you,
I'd still be under Jimmy's thumb. Please don't be sad. You saved my life! You
gave me a second chance at happiness, and I never have to be afraid again. Be
happy for me, please?"
He parked at the curb in front of the small apartment
house. "I am happy for you. I just wish…"
She touched his cheek gently. "I know. But some
things simply aren't meant to be. I won't forget you, David Starsky. You're a
wonderful, caring man. I hope someday that you'll meet a woman that appreciates
all that you are."
He took her in his arms and kissed her. "Good-bye,
pretty lady. Be safe."
She hugged him tightly then got out of the car. Before she
went into the building, she turned and blew him a kiss. "Good-bye, David!
Don't forget me!"
As Starsky drove away, he watched her disappear in his
rearview mirror. "I won't forget you, Linda. I promise."
The next morning, a young woman with dark hair stood on
the corner of 8th and
The End
********************************************************************************************
His Home Is His Castle
Linda works the diner, pourin’ coffee, slingin’
hash
She said, “I wouldn’t have come in today
“But I really need the cash.
“I know I can’t fool anyone, 'cause dark glasses
tell no lies.
“But make-up won’t cover up a blackened eye.”
“You see, Jimmy works construction now
“But yesterday it rained
“So he went down to the liquor store
“And by
“I came in an hour late then I let his supper burn
“Well he hit the roof, hit the wall,
“And then it was my turn”
He said "A man's home is his castle
It always has been and so it remains
"But he holds the keys in a fist of rage
"His home is his castle
"And mine is a cage"
"Someone must have heard the noise and they
dialed 911
And the cop that showed up at the door asked,
"Is there a problem son?"
Jimmy smiled and said, "No sir, just a little
fight that's all
Hey you know how it gets sometimes
When you're layin' down
the law"
Oh, oh, oh no
"So I pulled out my suitcase and I started packin' up my clothes
"And Jimmy said 'Now Linda, where do you
expect to go with those'
"I told him, 'I have tried, but not an ounce
of love survives'
"Well he grabbed my wrist and shouted
"You're not leavin'
here alive'
She said, "I'm savin'
up my money and when I get the nerve I'll run
"But Jim don't give up easily so I intend to
buy a gun
"He will never see the way he treats me is a
crime
"Somebody oughta
lock him up but I'm the one
"Who's done the time"
He said, "A man's home is his castle
It always has been and so it remains
"But he holds the keys in a fist of rage
His home is his castle
And mine is a cage