Edith

By

Amye

They say my story's important. Well, I'm not sure how, I'm just doing my job.

I'm a proud housewife. I know that's archaic in this day and age of women's rights. But I'm happy and I'm proud of my husband, my children, my house.

Lest one thinks I'm subservient, let me be clear. I'm not just a housewife. I'm a helpmate to my husband.

You see, he's a cop. And not just any cop, but one of the first Black Captains in the LAPD. He's a Captain of Detectives in one of the harshest LA neighborhoods.

It hasn't been easy for Harold. Between those in the department who are prejudiced and jealous, and some of our people who feel a black cop is a betrayal of their race, we've had to be careful. But I'm so proud of how he's handled it. With dignity, pride, truth, and honesty.

That's why whatever I can do to make his life easier, fulfills me. Makes me happy. As does raising our children to be honest, God-fearing, charitable, and inclusive. Lord knows, Harold can be stubborn, but he has to be with Dave Starsky & Ken Hutchinson, and Chris Babcock & Joe Simmons under his management. I've nevger seen a group of worse jokers, but they're good boys. They do their job well, and they have respect for the people in the neighborhood where they work, and for other cops. Ken and Dave, and Chris and Joe are partnered with each other. And I know how important a partner is to a cop. More than anyone, a cop's wife knows that when your husband gets a partner who's an extension of himself, that you don't worry as much sending him off to work.

Harold had such a partner once, but he was unable to protect his partner when Elmo was killed while working undercover. Shortly after than Harold took the Lieutenant's exam and a desk job. Elmo's death really got to him, and I think it put into perspective our family's future.

He doesn't need the streets anymore that much. As he got older he realized that he had nothing to prove. There were younger, up and coming cops like Starsky and Hutchinson for those jobs. Harold can make more of an impact as a role model for the younger generation of cops. Besides, his uh, physique, isn't quiet what it used to be. It sure isn't up for street or undercover work, honey. But he's my big man. A teddy bear, with a gruff exterior and a cuddly inside.

Harold never bring his work home, unless it's unavoidable. Like this one time when this ex-cop – a dirty cop – was out to get him, because my husband was instrumental in putting the man behind bars. And this ex-cop thought he'd get to Harold through us.

That was probably the scardest I've been due to Harold's job. We've had our house egged, prank phone calls, nasty letters, even our parentage called into question. When Leo – that was his name – tried to break into our home, I could hardly hold myself together. But I knew that protecting my children was important. There would be time to breakdown later.

And I did, right in Ken's arms. He let me have my cry and then I bucked up and did what any good woman would: Supported my husband, comforted my children.

People say it takes a strong woman to be a cop's wife.

All it takes is faith and love.