AT THIS PLACE, THAT I HEARD ABOUT

* There’s This Place That I Heard About,
* Where it is, I can’t recall, not just yet.
* A Place, where Nobody could be Trusted,
* Where only the most cunning, could avoid getting busted,
* At This Here Place That I Heard About.

* Everyone had an angle of how to make money out there,
* It was a Jungle, where there was no such thing as playing fair,
* Where everybody played for keeps,
* And you better carry a piece,
* And learned to stand up, while sleeping on your feet,
* At This Place That I Heard About.

* In This Here Place, there was an exceptional Lady, Her Name was Lil’.
* They say that her looks could make a man excite and thrill.
* She drove a red Buick, with black velvet on the inside,
* They say that this here Lil’ had a dynamite ride,
* Right There, In This Place I Heard About.

* Now Lil’ had Class, at least that’s what they say,
* Some Folks said she shared a strange resemblance to Ms. Billie Holiday.
* She was never heard, using foul words, or speaking out in anger,
* And was always ready to lend a hand, to the Homeless, Or a Stranger,
* At This Place That I Heard About.

* Now also in this place was a guy, they called, Iron Chest Tom,
* Got his name because of his size, kind of built like old King Kong,
* He was the kind of guy, that most of the ladies, gave a second glance.
* And some of them even, went out of their way, to see if he’d give them a chance.

* As the story goes, there’s a history, surrounding Lil’ and Tom.
* The "Most-Talked-About" couple, In this here place, Living in this here town.
* Couldn’t separate ‘em, no more than you could Heat from the Sun,
* They always seemed so happy together, laughing and having fun.
* In this Town That I Heard Of.

* Then Lil’ heard a rumor, one day: ‘twas said, that Tom had another lady friend.
* But Lil' trusted Tom, Whole-Heartedly, and laid her trust, on all that they had been.
* They had been together, some folks say, more or less, about eleven or twelve years,
* And Tom messing with some other woman, was the very least of her fears,
* At this Place That I Heard About.

* Then shortly thereafter, she heard something again, about some lady named Roxie.
* And the word amongst the crowd that knew, said Roxie was sho’ enuf foxie.
* And unlike Lil’, had a spit-fire soul, and could cuss and drink like a sailor,
* And had the temperament, of a cornered, renegade, swamp alligator.

* They were supposedly seen, in a place, where Lil’ would not likely go,
* About two towns away, from where they lived, about 25 miles or so.
* The information, this time, being more specific, produced a sparkle in Lil’s suspicion,
* Accompanying her intact, alerting, infallible female intuition.

* Though she still refused to believe what people were saying, out there in the streets,
* She knew that until, certainty was restored to her heart, she’d not be able to sleep.
* “Though Love Is Blind”, as the saying goes, and they, say to “Follow Your Heart”,
* One never really knows, where one’s other half ventures, the times when they are apart.

* Trust – Lil' knew – is what Love needs to build on, rather than a union based on fear.
* Fear can result, in one’s thinking, to fail reason, and cause a lot of unnecessary tears.
* And Trust is a difficult realm, to step into, a difficult decision to make.
* And as comforting as Trust can be, believing that Betrayal, will not show its face, is a risky endeavor, that one must take.

* Lil’ called a friend, and adventurous gal, to join her, to where she would be headed.
* And told her about the talk about Tom, and her plans to find out for herself, something, she resentfully dreaded.
* She needed to have a companion on hand, if she found that the rumors were true.
* And if so, she’d be at such a distressful state, she’d need help in determining what she
must do.

* Now if you are wondering, why Lil’ didn't inquire directly with Tom, if to whether or not
the talk was true,
* It was nothing more than that female intuition, that laid the cap, on how to go about, what
she must do.
* When next Saturday came around, Lil's adventurous friend, who we'll call Gwen, drove
up about 10-past-10.
* And 25 miles later, from where they departed, they were in the parking lot of a place called
The Party Don’t Inns.

* The music vibrated smoothly, in their direction, on that lively, cold, winter filled night.
* And where, at the far end of the lot, was a one story structure, that emitted a dimly-lit,
blue light.
* The car now parked, and Gwen walked slowly, but purposefully into the building.
* The unfamiliar environment, and this thing Lil’ was doing, sent sensations through her
that were tingling.

* Walking through the door, and stepping in the place, their presence hardly registering, orcatching much attention.
* Inconspicuousness was welcomed, helping to pave the way, for that which was their
intention.
* Now as already mentioned, Gwen was an adventurous, gal, but she was also known to
have fun.
* And her reputation, also, according to some, had a history of her being familiar with how to
handle a gun.

* They sat down at a table, and ordered some drinks, to past the time, while they waited, which gave them time to talk.
* About 45-minutes later, from a view, through a window, Gwen saw the familiar figure of a man stepping up the walk.
* Giving Lil’ a quiet signal, about what she's seen outside, the two kept their cool-like composure.
* Into the well heated room, through the open door, came a cool breeze from the outside Winter’s night exposure.

* Lil's back to the door, she could not see what was taking place,
* Relying on what was occurring, by Gwen's whispers and the expression on her face.
* Tom walked on through the door, not noticing Gwen, and continuing to a table in theback,
* And sat himself down, across from a lady, who was elegantly dressed in black.

* Now Lil' was facing to the rear of the room, and through the dim light it was not hard tosee,
* That Tom was here to meet and chat, with this lady, who must be none other than Roxie.
* But Lil was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, knowing that things weren'talways what they seemed.
* And it was still difficult, to think that Tom would risk what they had, something that mostpeople had only in dreams.

* Now approaching the Midnight hour, the crowd getting larger; Lil now began to see faces that were familiar;
* Seeing people she knew – from the town that I heard about – was something she hadn't considered.
* And as they slowly became aware of her presence, a change crept into the atmosphere.
* An eerie feeling gradually evolved, dispatching a vigilance in the air, laced with a hint of
fear.

* This apprehension that was filling the room, spoke loudly to all who were there,
* Of a story with betrayal, of cheating and dishonesty, and loyalty discarded, without care.
* Not one word had to be uttered, the quiet that was spoken, confirmed to Lil’, what'd been said, must be true,
* And a life that was considered to many, as ideal, was ending - this life she once knew.

* With his back to the interior of the room, Tom also felt the intensity that was brewing,
* Turning around, to satisfy his curiosity, he surveyed the room, to see what was ensuing.
* Carefully examining the sobering crowd, discerningly investigating all that were within,
* I t was not difficult, after briefly searching, to see many of the eyes in the room were sporadically looking at him.

* Being an intelligent man, Tom chose to find out for himself – instead of asking – to find out the reason why.
* Continuing to look, the back of a head, belonging to some lady, kept getting his attention's eye.
* Though her countenance was hidden from view, from the rear, the lady he seemed to know,
* And across from her, a companion, face also hidden, a bare arm of a Lady, exposing from shoulder to elbow.

* Standing up to see who occupied the table, he was grabbed with a vice-gripping chill,
* Even before, he saw her full face, he knew, that it had, to be Lil’.
* Unexpectedly caught off guard, a blank expression, overwhelmed his handsome face.
* For those who were witnessing what was occurring, they knew that something disturbing was about to take place.

* Here's a man caught, doing the unforgivable, with insidious glances, zooming in his direction,
* Doomed to deal with the soul of this Lady, who's given him years of her true heart's Affection
* Paralyzed by doubt, he asks himself, "Now how did I get myself into this?"
* And by the expression on his face, Roxie now sees that something's amiss.

* In his villainous mind, he digs deeper into thought, with deception, his well honed tool,
* Saying to himself, this time, "I got to get out of this mess, without looking like a god-damned fool."
* With instincts like lightening, he thought of a plan, and his composure turning from cold to warm,
* He said to himself, "All I got to do, is to turn on, my irresistible, disarming sweet charm".

* Roxie then asked him, "Hey T Baby, what's wrong with you, you look like you seen a ghost?"
* In a dismissive manner, he said something about forgotten business that he had with the host.
* He walked, heading to the other side of the room, where Lil’ and Gwen were seated.
* But by the time that he got to their table, they'd already left - poor Lil’, was emotionally depleted.

* Thank God she was not there alone, for as she predicted something may have went wrong,
* Had it not been for Gwen, as this experience left her, she was too weak to get up and leave on her own.

* Now out in the parking lot, walking towards the car, the night began to rain,
* And through the cold darkness, came the familiar voice of Tom, calling out her name.
* Now anger filling her despondent heart, she had no desire for conversation,
* And this betrayal being witnessed by a room full of people, had also filled her with humiliation.

* The rain, came unexpectedly, pouring treacherously, down upon all within its tyrannical wrath.
* And as they neared the car, Tom somehow, came in view, and was now in front of them and blocking their path.
* "Not now", said Lil’, indicating that she was not ready to talk about this demeaning situation,
* But Tom was insistent, and the rain had diluted his irresistible charm, and now he was moved by desperation.

* Extending his arms forward, trying to limit her movement, Lil’ stopped before his outstretched arm and hand.
* And for a fleeting moment, she thought of his touch, and the love that she had for this man.
* Then pushing it aside, without speaking a word, and for the first time, making contact with their eyes.
* With her's, for the moment, not showing that love, only pain, for this man she now despised.

* But she noticed that Tom's had and uncanny stare, and a gleam that shone like glass,
* These were definite, irrefutable signs that he was high on coke, and had been smoking grass.
* Intending to only, delay the inevitable, Gwen intervened, saying, “Tom, can't this wait until later on?”
* “Stay out of my business, you trifiling bitch”, demanded Tom, with a wild violent filled tone.

* “Don't take out on her, what you brought on yourself”, cried Lil’, “And right now, I just want to be left alone.”
* “So get out of my way, and go somewhere and come down off your trip, and let me go on home.”
* Bad judgment presiding, his manhood now guiding him, as he roughly grabbed Lil’ by the arm,
* She winced when he snatched her, which startled him, because he didn't mean to cause her harm.

* Speaking angrily and out of character, Lil’ said “Mother Fucker, are you stupid or crazy.”
* “Manhandling me, grabbing me, like I'm something you own, and I'm suppose to be your Lady.
* Grownup man, out here in the rain, acting like a spoiled assed kid, because he can't have his way”.
* Never hearing her before, directing such words to him, left Tom speechless, not knowing what to say.

* Unaccustomed to not feeling in control, he was at a loss, as to what to do
* Feeling detached from himself, like observing from a distant, regretting as he made his next move.
* Reaching once more, in Lil's direction, this time, grabbing her by the throat,
* With lightning like reflexes, Gwen reached for her purse, which she snuggly held, out of the rain, inside her coat.

* She pulled out a gun, and pointing it at him, and said “Tom, let her alone. Don't make me shoot man.”
* And just as fast, as she was able to retrieve and point it, Tom slapped the pistol out of her hand.
* And into the air, off to the left, while Gwen moved right, barely escaping being hit by Tom,
* The gun hit the door, of a car parked close by, emitting a deafening noise, sounding not unlike that of a bomb.

(Pause)

* Several days later, an inquest was held, in this town that I heard about, to make a determination,
* Concerning the incidents surrounding the cause of Lil's untimely, ill-fated expiration.
* It was concluded that it was the primary result, of an unintentional firing of a 32-caliber gun,
* In a meeting involving the decedent, and two other people, which witnesses described as a violent filled commotion.

* It went on to say that during the process of this meeting, the gun was dislodged from the party's grip, in which it was held,
* Colliding against a parked car, which triggering the release of the bullet from the chamber from where it was expelled.
* The bullet traveled a distance of approximately 87-inches, and enter the body of the now deceased,
* Disrupting the functioning, of some of her vital organs, and forcing poor Lil’ off of her feet.

* The ambulance arrived, in record time fashion, and rushed to get Lil’ the help she was badly needing.
* The paramedics didn't have the equipment to help her, with their assessment of her having internal bleeding.
* Siren blaring, and lights flashing, soaring down the city streets in a justified desperation,
* But Lil’ couldn't keep the life held in her being, and died before reaching her destination.

* As the saying goes, life must go on, that's to say, for those that the departed leaves behind.
* Gwen went to jail for her involvement in this affair, and was penalized with only a fine.
* She had a license for her 32-caliber, which was legal and obtained by her husband who was a cop.
* And the damaging charges, which could have been detrimental to her being, they were eventually dropped.

* And in this town I heard about, they continued their gambling, stealing, and drinking whiskey and wine.
* Tom was in the county jail, and in big trouble, and was about to do some serious, and long time
* He was charged and convicted, for something having to do, with initiating and contributing to the cause, of the death of another human being
* Feeling so miserable, it blew his mind, the tragedy that happened that night, for the sake of him, he couldn't remember a doggone thing.

* One night, six weeks following this tragedy of this lady, who was known to have good taste,
* A county jail guard with a note in his hand, entered the captain's office, alarmed and in great haste.
* The note was an apology, to- Lil’ -from-Tom, who eventually remembered that horrible rainy night, that witnessed the death of his Lady Love.
* Who had hung himself, to end his grief, in his solitary cell, in this jail, In This Town That I Heard Of.