{"id":235,"date":"2018-12-17T05:09:46","date_gmt":"2018-12-17T05:09:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/?p=235"},"modified":"2018-12-17T05:09:46","modified_gmt":"2018-12-17T05:09:46","slug":"december-17th-fools-like-me-by-exbex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/?p=235","title":{"rendered":"December 17th- Fools Like Me by exbex"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Ken Hutchinson was growing up, he had a favorite tree on his grandfather\u2019s farm. It was perfect for climbing, and eventually its sturdy branches held the treehouse that Ken and his grandfather had built together over one summer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Later, Ken would identify that it was the constant nature of the tree that was so reassuring. Every year, tentative buds would bloom into leaves which would turn lush and green before becoming brittle, dry, and shifting to fiery colors before falling to the ground. Birds and nests and snowfall would adorn its branches in turn, and everything, even the eventual dismantling of the treehouse, was borne with a certain stoicism.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Hutch isn\u2019t sure why this year is so different from any other, why the shift of the general population from the everyday malaise to a seasonal cheeriness should grate on him with such ferocity. But there\u2019s something unsettling in the way it\u2019s snuck up on him this year. Back home in Duluth, there\u2019s always at least one layer of fresh snow to alert him to the change (and perhaps to cushion him from its impact) but Hutch hasn\u2019t been home in a long time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The tree that Starsky brings over and places on Hutch\u2019s table is artificial. But Starsky\u2019s smirk is genuine, the spring in his step more optimistic than grating. \u201cThe kind you put presents under,\u201d he states in a tone that\u2019s more than a hint. But Starsky has chosen blue and silver decorations that are easier on the eye than garish gold and red baubles, and Hutch can\u2019t help but wonder if he\u2019s done it on purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThey say it\u2019s only about fifty yards from the horse shoe pitch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The look on Starsky\u2019s face is a predictable blend of incredulity and disappointment. Just as predictably, he joins in the laughter and jostles Hutch\u2019s leg with his own.<\/span><\/p>\n

Molly and Keiko are safe and well, and throughout the day there\u2019s Starsky\u2019s steady presence. It\u2019s the best Christmas Hutch has had in a long time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The artificial tree is still sitting on Hutch\u2019s table on December 29th<\/sup>. Starsky seems to be scrutinizing its branches, brow furrowed and eyes narrowed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWondering if any belated Christmas presents are going to magically appear under there?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky\u2019s mouth twitches as he turns toward Hutch. \u201cPoems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky laughs at Hutch\u2019s expression. \u201cDon\u2019t look so surprised.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

What Starsky doesn\u2019t realize is that Hutch is startled by a flash of memory of his favorite tree, and the sudden realization of how much Starsky really does resemble it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch just offers a shrug and a small smile. \u201cJust a favorite poem is all. Haven\u2019t read it in a while.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Ken Hutchinson was growing up, he had a favorite tree on his grandfather\u2019s farm. It was perfect for climbing, and eventually its sturdy branches held the treehouse that Ken and his grandfather had built together over one summer. Later, … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,7,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fic","category-gen","category-sfw"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=235"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":268,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235\/revisions\/268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}