{"id":378,"date":"2019-12-24T05:51:01","date_gmt":"2019-12-24T05:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/?p=378"},"modified":"2019-12-24T05:51:01","modified_gmt":"2019-12-24T05:51:01","slug":"december-24th-two-part-presents-by-m-h-e-priest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/?p=378","title":{"rendered":"December 24th- Two-Part Presents by M H E Priest"},"content":{"rendered":"

~~Missing scene from The Specialist<\/em><\/strong><\/span>~~<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHutch!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Hutch snapped back at his partner.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWill ya stop pacing already! You\u2019re wearing a path in the carpet and you sure ain\u2019t buildin\u2019 the yellow brick road. The feds won\u2019t be happy having to pay for a replacement. Even if it\u2019s only a few bucks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Starsky, if you must know, I\u2019m going crazy in here. We should be out there, drawing Drew out of the shadows, instead of cowering in some cheap motel like some two-bit hustlers hiding out from their pimp.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky chuckled. \u201cHey, don\u2019t talk like that about Huggy. He\u2019s one of the decent flesh-peddlers. And I\u2019m worth way more than two bits.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch exhaled loudly through his nose. \u201cYou know, there\u2019s one thing I don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOnly one<\/em> thing?\u201d Starsky remarked with a snide upturn of one corner of his mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch rolled his eyes. \u201cI don\u2019t understand why you<\/em> haven\u2019t been\u2026 galloping around this stinking room. I mean, you\u2019re<\/em> the one who usually has ants in his pants.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSaving my energy to go dancin\u2019 when this is all over.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch harrumphed, sounding just like Dobey, and halted in front of Starsky. \u201cThat explains why you\u2019re hanging off the bed as if you\u2019re some sort of bat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou better hope I\u2019m not the vampire sort. That long neck of yours would make having lunch a piece of cake.\u201d Starsky smirked at the disdainful look Hutch nailed him with. \u201cYou look different upside down.\u201d Now Starsky was staring at the infamous Hutchinson index finger accompanied by his equally infamous scowl. Far from being intimidated, Starsky said with contrived condescension, \u201cAh, c\u2019mon, Hutch, lighten up. Why don\u2019tcha go back to readin\u2019 your book.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFinished it.\u201d Hutch restarted the back-and-forth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, then, let\u2019s talk about somethin\u2019 you find–\u201d Starsky waved his hand around as he sought the right word — \u201dcomforting. Tell me some more about spending time on your granddad\u2019s farm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch smiled, and his expression turned from irritated frustration to peaceful nostalgia. His speed slowed to a crawl. For several laps, he quirked a smile. Then, it was gone. \u201cGood try, partner, but I don\u2019t want to lose my edge waiting for nothing to happen here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Just tryin\u2019 to help out my antsy-pantsy friend. What if –?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch cut Starsky off with a growling, \u201cYou know where you can stuff those what-ifs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky closed his eyes and shook his head. \u201cI was just gonna suggest, before you so rudely interrupted me, that you splash some cold water on that cute mug of yours. The shock will derail your brain-train.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch stopped mid-stride and stumbled. \u201cMy brain<\/em>-train? Where did you come up with–never mind. So why would I want to derail my brain? It\u2019s the only thing that\u2019s keeping us alive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky looked properly annoyed. \u201cIt\u2019s just an expression, Hutch. You probably worked up a sweat anyways. Maybe even shower. Now get your caboose in the bathroom. Drew could find us by your B.O.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDoubt it. Yours is dominating mine. And I\u2019m not \u2018cute.\u2019\u201d Hutch huffed and strode for the bathroom. Before shutting the door, he turned back toward Starsky and said, \u201cBy the way, Starsky?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou are most definitely not<\/em> cautious.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky waited to laugh until the door was closed. Working his way back to lying on the bed rather than suspended from it, he thought, Wonder if he got that hint for my Christmas present through that thick skull of his. Now, what for him? \u2026 Got it!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

~~Tag to Nightmare<\/em><\/strong><\/span>~~<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky caught the delectable aroma of pizza–Ah! Smells like an Antonio\u2019s Special!<\/em>–before Hutch\u2019s foot pounded on the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOpen up, Starsk! Hands full here!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky smiled at the unexpected visit from his best friend. He laid his tattered copy of his open book face down on the coffee table and exuberantly jogged the few steps to the door. He grinned at Hutch, hair ruffled from the wind, listing toward his left where the two six-packs of Michelob were tucked between arm and ribs, and barely keeping the pizza box parallel to the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

His hunger greater than his thirst, Starsky opted for grabbing the pizza. \u201cHey! What\u2019s the occasion? Thought you had a date with that new traffic cop, uh\u2026\u201d Starsky struggled to remember her name–much too difficult a task with his mind on salami, pepperoni, cheese, olives, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMadeline. She got hit by a car.\u201d Starsky\u2019s eyes widened in alarm. Hutch shrugged as he moved the cartons around until each hand carried a pack. \u201cShe\u2019ll be fine. Some bruises and a broken arm. She\u2019s staying with her mother for the next few days.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThink I\u2019ll send her some flowers to cheer her up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey–you trying to horn in on my woman?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky placed the pizza on the dining table. \u201cThis was gonna be your first date, buddy boy. What, afraid of the competition?\u201d he teased.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re the competition, absolutely not. Come on, let\u2019s chow down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky pulled two plates from the cabinet while Hutch used the church key to open four beers. A minute later, they were deep into their first slices.<\/span><\/p>\n

Halfway through the pie, Hutch slowed down enough to start a conversation. \u201cI see you\u2019re reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn<\/em> again. Feeling homesick?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNah, my home is here,\u201d Starsky, gazing directly into Hutch\u2019s bright blue eyes, replied around the pizza cud. \u201cIt\u2019s more like people<\/em>-missin\u2019.\u201d He finished chewing and swallowed. \u201cPlaying with Lisa the other day reminded me of a kid who lived a couple doors down from us in New York.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d asked Hutch, seeming to be genuinely interested in the story.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Charlotte was, you know, special<\/em>, like Lisa. Real sweet kid. When I told her I could make her taller than anybody she knew, she begged me to show her.\u201d He sighed, smiling wanly at the memory. \u201cSo I taught her how to climb trees. When we were up in \u2018em, she thought she really was<\/em> that tall. She loved that. Wanted to do it even in the winter.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you go back to visit your mom, do you see her?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A flicker of melancholy crossed Starsky\u2019s face. He tried to hide it behind a long pull of alcohol, but knowing how observant Hutch was, he was pretty sure Hutch noticed it. \u201cNope. She died from the flu, about a month after my bar mitzvah.\u201d He inhaled deeply, trying to temper the sorrow he let show. \u201cShe gave me the best present.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch\u2019s eyes began to glisten. \u201cReally sorry, buddy. She sounds like she was special in more ways than one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe was. Like Lisa, ya know?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch nodded his agreement. \u201cWhat was the gift?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky felt his throat start to burn, so he went for his second bottle of beer and chugged a generous amount, even though he knew it was no remedy for what he was feeling. \u201cIt was\u2026 a leaf offa our favorite tree to climb. She put it between two pieces of plastic and taped the edges closed.\u201d He paused, trying to control the burn that now inflicted his eyes. When he finally spoke, his voice vibrated lightly. \u201cI loved it. Me, a smart-ass, tough, thirteen-year-old boy lovin\u2019 a leaf.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds\u2026 beautiful, Starsk. Will you show it to me one of these days?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t freakin\u2019 cry, you softie. Not in front of Hutch. At least not about this.<\/em> \u201cThe bag it was in when I moved out here that summer was stolen sometime during the bus trip.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

They fell back into silence for a few minutes until Starsky said, \u201cI\u2019m full. You want more?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch sighed. \u201cNo, I\u2019m good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOpen us a couple more beers? I\u2019ll put up the leftovers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It was impossible for Starsky to miss the contemplative look on Hutch\u2019s face. He knew Hutch was thinking, probably plotting some way to make him feel better. At the moment, he didn\u2019t care, though he appreciated Hutch\u2019s eternal caring. Instead, he had begun savoring his relationships with his two special ladies–warm memories of Charlotte and fun real time with Lisa.<\/span><\/p>\n

~~Tag to <\/span>Little Girl Lost<\/em><\/strong><\/span>~~<\/span><\/p>\n

After brunch with the Dobeys’, an early dinner at the Ramoses\u2019, and an open house at Huggy\u2019s apartment, Starsky and Hutch were ready for some downtime. They decided to finish the long holiday celebration at Hutch\u2019s with the intention of getting somewhat wasted on a traditional Scandinavian mulled wine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch sat at one end of his sofa with his feet propped on the coffee table, wedged there by Starsky whose back was slanted against Hutch\u2019s side, head in Hutch\u2019s armpit, and feet propped on the arm rest. The only light was coming from the television. They were watching It\u2019s a Wonderful Live<\/em> for the fourth time this season–to Hutch\u2019s dismay–with the sound off so Starsky could sing or hum along with the Christmas songs playing on a local radio station. Starsky knew he was well on his way to sauced when he couldn\u2019t recall the lyrics to Jingle Bells<\/em>. He smiled, thinking, Good thing I\u2019m stayin\u2019 over tonight<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Hutch,\u201d he said during a commercial break.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky smiled again; Hutch was obviously feeling pretty mellow. \u201cThis clogg –\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGlogg, Starsk. Guh-looogg-guh.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky tittered at Hutch\u2019s elongation of the spirit\u2019s name. It wasn\u2019t so much a correction as it was a display of his growing inebriation. \u201cOh, yeah, I knew that. Anyways, I was sayin\u2019, this glogg <\/em>is good stuff. How come we never had it before?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDunno. Don\u2019t care. Hey, are you still up for Chinese? Great Wall is delivering tonight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe in a little bit, when my eyes uncross.\u201d He scooted up a little so he could rest his head on Hutch\u2019s bicep. \u201cBeen wondering why you got me a tree. I mean, you had to know I wanted a caboose. I musta mentioned it a dozen times.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know. But I thought a tree would be a much better, more meaningful gift.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLike how? It ain\u2019t even planted in my yard.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch took a sip of the cooling glogg. \u201cIt\u2019s not your<\/em> yard. It\u2019s the landlord\u2019s. So I\u2019ll tell you why if you tell me why you got me an ant farm. An ant<\/em> farm, Starsk? Isn\u2019t that a bit\u2026 childish, even for you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat–you don\u2019t like it?\u201d Without meaning to, Starsky\u2019s hurt came through.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay, I guess. I am<\/em> glad you didn\u2019t give me a toilet bowl full of bugs. I just don\u2019t see the purpose.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen lemme \u2018splain it to ya.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll ears, buddy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky imagined Hutch as a bunch of ears and giggled. Shaking that image out of his head and forcing himself to tame his buzz, he said, \u201c\u2018Member when we were in that roach\u2019n\u2019rat motel hiding out from Drew? You were all nervous, wearing the carpet down, I called you antsy-pantsy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow could I forget? You were practicing for your Broadway debut as Count Chocula.\u201d Hutch snickered at his thin barb.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUmm. Got any here? Maybe we could eat that instead of egg fool young.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo<\/em>.\u201d Hutch took a gulp of his drink this time. That emphatic negative had the unexpected effect of sobering them up a little.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, okay.\u201d Starsky drained the rest of the spicy wine in his mug, which he put on the table, then smacked his lips. \u201cSo, you remember that I got you to think about being with your granddad on his farm? You got nice and sorta relaxed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It was several seconds before Hutch responded. \u201cYeah, I remember,\u201d he said fondly. \u201cThat did help, babe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky elbowed Hutch\u2019s ribcage. \u201cSmart-ass.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTakes one to know one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs that the best you can do?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn my current state, uh, yesssssss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Oh, yeah, he ain\u2019t feelin\u2019 much pain<\/em>. \u201cI got it for you to look at, like that fish tank at my dentist\u2019s office, when you\u2019re stressed. They scurry around while you do nothing but watch and be thankful you\u2019re not one of them. I didn\u2019t get you an aquarius \u2018cause you\u2019d probably go fishin\u2019 for supper in it.\u201d He chuckled at this new image of Hutch with his half-body fisherman condom on and that stupid hat and vest with all the fishing stuff stuck in them, dipping his baited line in the tank. \u201cThink of it as an ant farm<\/em>, not an ant<\/em> farm. So you\u2019ll think of the times with your granddad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch took in several short, stacked breaths and laid his head on Starsky\u2019s. \u201cThat\u2019s really\u2026 nice<\/em>, Starsk. I do like it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s more to it. This is gonna knock your socks off, babe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo I have time to take my shoes off?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky snorted a laugh, though he wasn\u2019t quite sure if Hutch was smarting off or if he was no longer aware he\u2019d removed his shoes a while ago. He checked his own feet to assure himself his rides were off. \u201cClam up and listen, willya? Remember when we helped out that rancher who got beat up and robbed when he was in town during the Bicentennial celebration?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThink so. Percy\u2026 Percy\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlbright,\u201d Starsky finished. \u201cGot in touch with him a couple weeks ago. Said you could come out to his place any time. You could help out with the chores if you want. He\u2019s got chickens, and goats, and cows, and a couple-a horses. Probably some dangerous farm implements, too. I\u2019d stay away from those if I were you when you go play Mr. Green Jeans.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For what seemed like a long time, Starsky thought Hutch had fallen asleep; he was so still and quiet. But when his friend sniffed a few times, he knew Hutch was deeply affected by the second half of his present.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s so\u2026 fantastic, Starsk. I\u2019m, well, I don\u2019t know what to say \u2018cept thanks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The heartfelt sincerity of Hutch\u2019s soft words filled Starsky with the satisfaction that he\u2019d given his friend something he so richly deserved and that he truly appreciated it. The warm glow he felt in his belly wasn\u2019t only due to the glogg.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky waited until he thought Hutch was ready for more talk before he asked, \u201cYour turn, schweetheart. Tell me about the tree.\u201d He moved his head side to side a few inches to rub his head against Hutch\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. After you told me about Charlotte, I got the inspiration for a tree. I called your mom and asked if she knew which tree was your and Charlotte\u2019s favorite. She was pretty sure it was an oak, so I called the Parks Department arborist and arranged for the planting of a smaller species of oak to be planted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch\u2019s gift was perfect. Only Hutch could think of something so perfect to touch his–Starsky\u2019s–heart and soul. Starsky tried to blame the burn in his throat, which seemed to be occurring way too often lately to suit him, on the wine but knew better.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love it, Hutch, and I ain\u2019t even seen it yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s more.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky didn\u2019t know if he could take any more. He was so full of emotion–joy, gratitude, love–and so aware of being loved. This scene was bordering on alarmingly soapy and his tears were too close to spilling. Against his better judgment, Starsky whispered, \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHope you don\u2019t mind, but I named your tree \u2018Charlotte.\u2019 I\u2019m getting that and \u2018Reborn 1976\u2019 engraved on a memorial brick. Maybe on the anniversary of your bar mitzvah, we could place it at the tree\u2019s base.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Now it was Starsky\u2019s turn to stay silent as he struggled to contain his overflowing heart. When he finally spoke, his voice practically pulsated with intense emotion. \u201cYeah, sounds terrific.\u201d Christ, Davey, you\u2019re such a sentimental schmuck.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch dropped his forearm off the back of the couch and patted Starsky\u2019s trunk. \u201cIt\u2019s a date then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Hutch. Merry Christmas.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRight back atcha,\u201d Hutch responded with a Minnesota colloquialism.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re the best, ya know. Love you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLove you, too, Starsk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky wiggled around until he was on his side, head on Hutch\u2019s lap, face toward the TV. He was emotionally drained and full at the same time, which had exhausted him. He felt certain Hutch was experiencing the same thing. He drew in a deep breath, and it smelled of wine, spices, sweat, and, best of all, Hutch.<\/span><\/p>\n

A second later, Starsky felt Hutch\u2019s hand lazily stroking his curls. His eyes began to droop but he managed to temporarily abort their closing when he saw Zuzu point to the ringing bell.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cClarence got his wings,\u201d Hutch said in a contented, sleepy, musical voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

They were asleep before George Bailey read the inscription in his new copy of Tom Sawyer<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Click on the image to view it larger.<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

~~Missing scene from The Specialist~~ \u201cHutch!\u201d \u201cWhat?\u201d Hutch snapped back at his partner. \u201cWill ya stop pacing already! You\u2019re wearing a path in the carpet and you sure ain\u2019t buildin\u2019 the yellow brick road. The feds won\u2019t be happy having … 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":[4,5,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fic","category-gen","category-sfw"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=378"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/378\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":526,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/378\/revisions\/526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}