{"id":82,"date":"2019-12-03T05:05:58","date_gmt":"2019-12-03T05:05:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/?p=82"},"modified":"2019-12-03T05:05:58","modified_gmt":"2019-12-03T05:05:58","slug":"december-3rd-the-christmas-garland-by-daisy-morgan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/?p=82","title":{"rendered":"December 3rd- The Christmas Garland by Daisy Morgan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #8f5a1e;\"><strong><span style=\"color: 8f5a1e;\">Garland<\/span><\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><em>noun<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A wreath or festoon of flowers, leaves, or other material, hung on something as a decoration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A collection of short literary pieces, as poems and ballads; literary miscellany.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><!--more--><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #83a5c0;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\">Monday, December 1, 1980<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #8f5a1e;\"><strong>6:09 am<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cRise and shine, buddy boy, it\u2019s the first day of Christmas!\u201d Starsky cooed, swatting at Hutch\u2019s shoulder in an effort to rouse him from his sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cUm, Starsk,\u201d said Hutch, rubbing his eyes sleepily. \u201cThe first day of Christmas is Christmas Day. You know, the 25<sup>th<\/sup>? And there are 12 days of Christmas, Einstein, not 25. They run from December 25<sup>th<\/sup> through January 5<sup>th<\/sup>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWell not in my book, blondie. No siree. There are 25 days of Christmas, startin\u2019 with today, numero uno. And besides, my cock has already risen and it\u2019s needin\u2019 a shine, if you get my drift.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cOh, well then, let\u2019s see what we can do about that,\u201d said Hutch, who was now fully awake and erect as well. He proceeded to rub Starsky\u2019s groin over his pajama pants while Starsky wriggled with pleasure on the bed. Then he pulled Starsky\u2019s pants down and took his cock in his mouth, savoring the sounds of Starsky\u2019s moans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Before Starsky got too close, Hutch took out the tube of lotion and spread it over Starsky\u2019s hard, throbbing cock, and then knelt on the bed so Starsky could enter him from behind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky reached around and stroked Hutch\u2019s cock while he thrust inside him. He waited until he heard Hutch\u2019s uncontrollable groans and then let himself come at the same time. Then they both collapsed in a heap &#8212; sweating, panting, hearts beating fast, contented smiles on their faces.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Then they kissed, got up, and got ready for work.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #8f5a1e;\"><strong>8:05 am<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch sat down at the desk while Starsky poured them both some coffee. Dobey stuck his head out of his office and bellowed, \u201cI need to see you two in here!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #8f5a1e;\"><strong>11:20 am<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch sat anxiously on the witness stand as he nervously testified. After all these years, he still got apprehensive up there, even with Starsky reassuring him from his seat in the front of the courtroom.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #8f5a1e;\"><strong>3:00 pm<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Driving around on their beat, they responded to a 211 at a neighborhood convenience store. Starsky chased one of the perps into a side alley while Hutch caught and cuffed the other one. When Starsky didn\u2019t come back right away, Hutch peered around the alley, saw that the guy Starsky was fighting off seemed to have gotten the upper hand, and rushed at him, taking him down with one hard punch to the side of the face. Then Hutch straddled the perp and held him down forcefully until Starsky tossed him his handcuffs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cYou okay?\u201d Hutch asked, out of breath, helping Starsky to his feet and examining Starsky\u2019s face for bruises.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cYeah. Thanks, partner,\u201d said Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #8f5a1e;\"><strong>4:40 pm<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They ate a late lunch and headed back to Metro. While walking into the squad room, Hutch suddenly felt fatigued, sat down at his desk, rested an arm on the hard surface, and proceeded to lay his head down on it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHutch, you okay?\u201d asked Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cFeel really tired all of a sudden,\u201d said Hutch, just before he started coughing. He pressed his free hand against his chest, as if he were feeling discomfort.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky noticed that Hutch was sweating. He reached across the desk and felt Hutch\u2019s forehead. \u201cJeez, you\u2019re burnin\u2019 up,\u201d he said, concerned. \u201cCome on, I\u2019m takin\u2019 you home.\u201d He helped Hutch to his feet and walked him down to the car.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When they got back to Venice Place, Starsky helped Hutch over to the bed. Hutch was still coughing and so weak he could barely stand up. Then Starsky took Hutch\u2019s temperature. \u201cIt\u2019s 102.3; I\u2019ll get some aspirin,\u201d said Starsky. He brought Hutch a glass of water and two aspirin and then tucked the blankets around Hutch who was now visibly shaking from chills.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cYou must have come down with the flu or somethin\u2019. Try to get some sleep, babe.\u201d He leaned over and kissed Hutch\u2019s hot forehead. Then he went over to the sink, wet a dishcloth with cold water, and placed it on Hutch\u2019s head.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 2, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch was still sleeping when Starsky woke up at 8:30 am. He gently placed his hand against Hutch\u2019s cheek and then rested it on his forehead. The fever seemed to have abated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Good, maybe it was one of those 24-hour things<\/em>, Starsky thought.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But when Hutch finally woke up around 10:30 am it was clear he was still very sick. When he got up to use the bathroom, every muscle in his body ached and he felt as weak as a kitten. Starsky had to stay with him to make sure he didn\u2019t collapse in a heap on the bathroom floor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch slept most of the day, but by late afternoon the fever had come back. Starsky followed the same routine as the day before: aspirin, water, cool compress on the head. He tried to get Hutch to eat something to no avail.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWhen I was a kid, my grandmother and my Aunt Rose would always give my mother advice on what to do when I was sick. My grandmother would say \u2018eat something, you\u2019ll feel better.\u2019 She told my mother to give me plain hot tea and toast with honey. And for me to get extra sleep. Do you have any idea how horrible plain black tea tastes to a child? And then I couldn\u2019t sleep because all that caffeine would keep me up. \u2018Course, now I drink so much black coffee every day I\u2019m immune to caffeine, so I can even drink it at night and still sleep like a baby. Now my Aunt Rose, she told my mother I should just take a shower and see if I felt better. Isn\u2019t that the craziest thing you ever heard? But you gotta eat somethin\u2019, Hutch.\u201d Starsky had been sitting on the bed next to where Hutch was resting, his hand on Hutch\u2019s arm.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch looked up at him and smiled weakly. \u201cNot hungry,\u201d he managed to say.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 3, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky was beginning to worry; Hutch didn\u2019t seem to be doing any better. \u201cHey, I wanna take you to the doctor today, okay?\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch weakly tried to be contrary but eventually complied and let Starsky do what he wanted; he was too fatigued to argue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-56\" src=\"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/divider01-300x70.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"70\" srcset=\"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/divider01-300x70.png 300w, http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/divider01.png 388w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHey Hug,\u201d Starsky said into the phone after calling Huggy at the Pits, \u201cthink you can bring over some chicken soup for my partner?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cIs he feeling any better?\u201d asked Huggy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cNo and I took him to the doctor today. Said Hutch definitely has the flu and that he\u2019ll probably be sick for a week or two.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHmm, I\u2019m sorry to hear that. I\u2019ll be over shortly with that soup. Anything I can bring for you, Starsky? I assume there\u2019s no one to make you a home-cooked meal at the moment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHow \u2018bout a hamburger and some fries?\u201d asked Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cYou got it, my man,\u201d said Huggy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 4, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky called Huggy and asked him to bring over a humidifier to see if that would help with Hutch\u2019s coughing and stuffiness.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 5, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky hated leaving Hutch home alone, but Dobey was pitching a fit and needed Starsky to make an appearance at work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Huggy promised Starsky that he would check in on Hutch during the day. He added that he would wear a face mask and latex gloves to avoid getting sick and wondered how Starsky had avoided it so far. Starsky didn\u2019t know the answer, but was grateful that he had. Who would take care of Hutch if Starsky got sick?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 6, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch\u2019s fever seemed to finally be going down. It was only 100.3 when Starsky took it that evening.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 7, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky was pleased to note that for the first time in a week, Hutch was fever-free. The cough was almost fully gone, too.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 8, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Despite starting to show improvement the previous couple of days, Hutch woke up coughing and feeling weak and soon developed a headache. Starsky gave him hot tea with honey, cough drops, and aspirin before leaving for work, but the cough and headache continued throughout the day.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 9, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch continued to feel weak. His headache remained, his cough persisted and his muscles ached terribly. It was as if he had gotten the flu all over again.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Huggy checked in on Hutch while Starsky was out on the streets alone.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 10, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch\u2019s cough got worse as the day wore on, and the fever, which had previously gone away, came back with a vengeance. It was 103.8 when Huggy took it in the late afternoon. He had stopped by around 5:30, saw that Hutch was sweating and weak, took his temperature, and called Starsky at Metro.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When he didn\u2019t answer, Huggy called Dobey, who contacted Starsky by radio.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cCome in, Zebra Three, stand by for Captain Dobey.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cGo ahead, Captain,\u201d said Starsky as he was driving the Torino south on Almeria St.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cStarsky, I\u2019ve got Huggy on the line. I\u2019m patching him through now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Huggy told Starsky about Hutch\u2019s symptoms. Alarmed, Starsky told Huggy to take Hutch to the emergency room and he would meet them there. By the time Starsky got to the hospital, Hutch was having difficulty breathing and was noticeably shaking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cIt\u2019s okay, babe, I\u2019m here,\u201d he said softly, putting his arm around Hutch while they waited for the ER doctor to examine him. Hutch leaned his head against Starsky\u2019s shoulder and continued coughing and shaking. Hutch was barely able to sit up, so Starsky pulled him close and held him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The doctor suspected it was pneumonia and said that Hutch would need to be admitted. Huggy left to tend to the restaurant but Starsky stayed at Hutch\u2019s bedside until midnight, and then went home to get some sleep before returning to the hospital the next morning.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 11, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The doctor explained to Starsky that while anyone could develop complications from influenza, it was more common in infants, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems, as well as people with lung conditions such as asthma.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While Hutch had seasonal allergies, he didn\u2019t have asthma. Then Starsky mentioned to the doctor that Hutch had the plague three years earlier and had suffered from severe respiratory distress. The doctor said that Hutch\u2019s lungs may have been damaged or weakened from that incident, making him more susceptible to developing flu complications such as pneumonia.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 12, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch lay in the hospital bed with an oxygen mask over his face and an IV line in his left arm, looking as feeble as he did when he was hospitalized with the plague. Aspirin was keeping the fever down, but he still had intermittent sweating and chills.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky could barely stand to see him like this. <em>But at least I can stay with you this time, babe, and touch you<\/em>, Starsky thought, as he placed his hand against Hutch\u2019s cheek and held it there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch looked up at him and smiled weakly.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 13, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For the next two days, Starsky sat by Hutch\u2019s beside while Hutch drifted in and out of sleep. He stroked Hutch\u2019s hair and soothed him whenever he awoke, and held his hand and listened to the sound of his labored breathing while he slept.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 14, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It was the middle of the night. Hutch lay in the hospital bed, drifting in and out of consciousness, unable to remember if Starsky had visited him that day.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 15, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI can\u2019t stay too long, babe, Dobey needs me back at the station, but I\u2019ll stop by again tonight. I love you,\u201d Starsky said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It took all of Hutch\u2019s strength to say, \u201cLove you, too,\u201d before he fell back to sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 16, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It was almost midnight when Starsky returned home from the hospital, exhausted. He got into bed, turned off the light, and then realized he hadn\u2019t watered the plants. He got up, turned on the star pendant light in the greenhouse, watered the plants, spoke soothingly to them, and climbed back into bed, alone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">After a few minutes, he got up again, took Ollie down from the top of the bureau and held him while he fell asleep.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 17, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch opened his eyes to see Captain Dobey sitting next to him and weakly raised his hand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHow are you feeling, Hutchinson?\u201d Dobey asked with fatherly concern.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch waved his hand back and forth but Dobey couldn\u2019t decide if that meant Hutch was feeling better or not.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI\u2019m sorry your partner isn\u2019t able to visit you today, but I\u2019ve got a lot of officers out this week and I needed Starsky to respond to a murder investigation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch looked at him intently and nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Then Dobey continued, \u201cRosie has been asking if she could visit you but I told her kids weren\u2019t allowed. She tried to argue that she\u2019s not a kid anymore now that she\u2019s ten.\u201d He laughed. \u201cShe thinks she\u2019s like Cal now. But she asked me to give you this.\u201d He handed Hutch a small stuffed dog.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch looked at Dobey and then motioned for him to place the dog on the bed, next to his chest.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 18, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky sat by Hutch\u2019s bedside all morning and gently stroked his partner\u2019s matted blond hair. He wondered where the stuffed dog that Hutch was clutching had come from.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 19, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It was late when Starsky returned home from the hospital and he realized he was quite hungry. He made himself a sandwich, grabbed a bottle of beer, and sat alone at the kitchen table. Then he looked at Hutch\u2019s empty chair, got up, brought his dinner over to the sofa, and turned on the TV.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He decided that tomorrow night he\u2019d eat at the Pits.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 20, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky sat on the edge of Hutch\u2019s bed and read the newspaper to him, yawning and trying not to fall asleep. He had gotten little sleep since Hutch had been hospitalized. He was grateful that Hutch was now able to breathe on his own and the oxygen mask had been removed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky closed his eyes and tried to imagine that they were sitting side-by-side on the bench in the greenhouse, sharing a bottle of beer. He wondered if they\u2019d be able to do that before Christmas.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 21, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky and Huggy were glad to see that Hutch was improving. Huggy and Hutch both noticed that Starsky yawned several times even though it was only early afternoon.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cStarsk, why don\u2019t you go home and get some sleep. Huggy can keep me company,\u201d said Hutch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cYou know, I think I\u2019ll do just that,\u201d said Starsky, much to Hutch\u2019s surprise.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Then Starsky held Hutch\u2019s hand, leaned over and kissed him, and said he\u2019d visit again in the morning.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 22, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The doctor said that Hutch was doing better than expected and could probably go home on Wednesday. Starsky breathed a sigh of relief.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>December 23, 1980<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky was busy wrapping gifts at 3:45 pm when he heard a knock. He quickly put the gifts and wrapping paper in the closet and opened the door.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHey, Starsky,\u201d said Kiko, who walked over to the kitchen table and dumped out the contents of a paper bag.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHey,\u201d said Molly, who walked over to the kitchen counter carrying a metal tin and a large Tupperware. \u201cI\u2019m putting this one in the fridge. It\u2019s for you and Hutch to eat tomorrow night for dinner. Our mom cooked it this morning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cGreat, I\u2019ll have to thank her when she picks you two up later.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cShe didn\u2019t drive us here, Kiko did. He has his license now!\u201d said Molly, obviously proud of her big brother.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHey, congratulations Kiko, that\u2019s terrific!\u201d said Starsky. Then he examined the craft supplies they had brought: white construction paper; stencils; string; red ribbon; three pairs of scissors; two bottles of Elmer\u2019s glue, and tubes of silver and gold glitter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cThis is perfect!\u201d said Starsky, beaming happily at the scattered supplies.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #83a5c0;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\">Wednesday, December 24, 1980<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #8f5a1e;\"><strong>Christmas Eve<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky headed over to the hospital in the morning to pick up Hutch. He was bursting with excitement and couldn\u2019t wait to bring his partner home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When they got to the top of the stairs, Starsky opened the door he had decorated with a festive wreath. Hutch had expected the wreath and tree, but when he walked into the apartment he was stunned, for it was fully decked out in resplendent glory.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The tree was festooned with great handfuls of silver tinsel and gold garland, and an angel that had belonged to Starsky\u2019s grandmother adorned the top. Sparkling glass balls in an array of colors \u2013 red, blue, green, and silver &#8212; were dotted around the tree.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">At the base of the tree were gaily wrapped packages, each carefully tied with red and green ribbon and topped off with a candy cane. Hutch walked over to have a closer look. The gifts were labeled <em>Kiko<\/em>, <em>Molly<\/em>, <em>Rosie<\/em>, <em>Cal<\/em>, and <em>Huggy<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cStarsk, when did you have time to get all these gifts and wrap them?\u201d asked Hutch incredulously.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWhenever I would have preferred to take a nap,\u201d said Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch looked around the room. The coffee table was adorned with boughs of fragrant spruce interspersed with bright red glass balls and red velvet ribbon. Despite Hanukkah ending on the 10<sup>th<\/sup>, Starsky had kept the menorah out and it proudly stood next to the Christmas display.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But the <em>pi<\/em><em>\u00e8<\/em><em>ce de resistance<\/em> was the sparkly gold and silver decorations hung from strings that were festooned all across the ceiling. As Hutch studied the gleaming shapes, he saw that they were crescent moons and stars. Gold glitter adorned the moons while the stars were bejeweled in silver glitter. The shapes sparkled in the lamplight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cStarsk, how did you manage to do all this?\u201d Hutch asked with genuine astonishment as he looked around the room.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI had help from Molly and Kiko. Huggy too,\u201d replied Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch spied a decorative tin on the kitchen counter next to the sink and walked over. Inside he found iced sugar cookies with red and green sprinkles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cThose are from Mrs. Ramos. There\u2019s also a roast in the fridge for dinner. Look up,\u201d said Starsky, and that\u2019s when Hutch spied the mistletoe that had been hung above the sink. Then Starsky took Hutch in his arms and kissed him deeply. \u201cWelcome home, partner.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They spent the rest of the day snuggled together on the couch, talking, laughing, eating the cookies, and drinking hot herbal tea with honey. For dinner, they feasted on the roast pork shoulder, <em>arroz con gandules<\/em>, and green beans that Mrs. Ramos had sent over. Then they watched \u201cRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer\u201d on the TV while drinking hot buttered rum and headed to bed early.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHey, what\u2019s this doing here?\u201d asked Hutch, pointing to Ollie as he climbed into bed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI needed somethin\u2019 to hold onto while you were gone; the bed felt too empty without you, babe,\u201d said Starsky solemnly, as he nestled close against Hutch and put his arms around him. The warmth from Hutch\u2019s body was so comforting that Starsky fell asleep instantly. It was the best sleep he got all month.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #83a5c0;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\">Thursday, December 25, 1980<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #8f5a1e;\"><strong>Christmas Day<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>9:00 am<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky woke up, sleepily reached over to touch his partner, and panicked when he realized Hutch wasn\u2019t in the bed. He jumped out of bed and ran into the living room, relieved to see Hutch standing near the tree. He had been bending down but quickly stood up when he saw Starsky walking towards him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHey, what\u2019s that?\u201d asked Starsky, pointing towards the object that encircled the gifts under the tree. It was a metal toy Christmas train, its bright green engine festooned with a big red bow, its red cars carrying small plastic spruce trees and gifts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cTurn it on; it plays Christmas music,\u201d said Hutch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky found a music box under the first car and wound it up. The tinny sounds of \u201cToyland\u201d began to play, much to Starsky\u2019s delight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cMerry Christmas, pal,\u201d said Hutch, smiling and putting his arm around Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cA train, I just don\u2019t believe it! How did you manage to get that while you were in the hospital?\u201d asked Starsky incredulously.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI had help from Santa\u2019s elves,\u201d Hutch said coyly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWho?\u201d asked Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cMolly, Kiko, and Huggy,\u201d said Hutch. \u201cHuggy gave them money to buy it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI don\u2019t know what to say, babe. You were so sick, I really wasn\u2019t expecting anything. I just wanted you to get better and come home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI know,\u201d said Hutch as he hugged Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As Hutch pulled away, he noticed small white cards hanging on the tree, affixed to a long strand of red ribbon. Alternating glittery gold crescent moons and silver stars, smaller than the ones hanging from the ceiling, covered the part where each card was glued onto the ribbon. The bedecked ribbon was festooned around the tree like a garland.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHey, Starsk, I don\u2019t remember seeing this garland on here yesterday.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cThat\u2019s because I put it on early this morning, when I got up to use the john,\u201d said Starsky, who proceeded to remove the garland from the tree. He motioned for Hutch to sit next to him on the sofa and handed it to him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch realized that the small white cards were business cards and that each card was hand labeled with a small number in the upper right corner, from 1-25.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d asked Hutch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cMerry Christmas, partner,\u201d said Starsky. \u201cTurn it over, there\u2019s something on the back of each card,\u201d Starsky instructed, his face beaming with anticipation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch turned over the garland. Written on the back of each card in Starsky\u2019s careful handwriting was a special sentiment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch read the first card aloud:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#1:<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>You are my partner, my lover, and my dearest friend in the world and I hate seeing you sick. I love you babe and I hope you get better soon.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cAw, that\u2019s nice,\u201d said Hutch, as he smiled at Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cGo on, read the next one,\u201d urged Starsky impatiently.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch read the next card:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#2:<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>I love the little game we play when you act superior and I act ignorant. We\u2019re so cute, aren\u2019t we?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWell, I\u2019m cute, but I don\u2019t know about you,\u201d Hutch teased, then he continued reading each of the cards slowly, one by one, as Starsky looked at him and smiled contentedly:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#3<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>There was a crescent moon above the greenhouse when I watered the plants tonight. It was surrounded by millions of twinkling stars.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#4<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>So I thought about how you are the moon, lighting up my life, and I\u2019m the star in your sky, always glowing for you.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#5<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>And how much I love you to the moon and back.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch leaned his head against Starsky\u2019s head briefly before he continued reading the rest of the cards:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#6<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>I love when you go on your rants about numbers and stuff. You\u2019re adorable when you\u2019re angry.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#7<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Do you have any idea how beautiful your eyes are, even when you\u2019re not angry?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#8<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Zebra Three, Me and Thee, put your big hard cock in me.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch burst out laughing at that one and then the next:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#9<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Roses are red<br \/>\nMy balls are blue;<br \/>\nMy cock needs some head<br \/>\nAnd I need you.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cAwww,\u201d said Hutch. \u201cI need you too, pal.\u201d Then he continued:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#10<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Knock Knock!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Who\u2019s there?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Tex.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Tex who?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Tex two to tango!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch smiled and rolled his eyes at that one, remembering the time when Starsky taught him how to dance in Dobey\u2019s office.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#11:<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Whenever you sing a song, no matter how many other people are in the room, it\u2019s like you\u2019re singing it just for me.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#12:<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Now I\u2019m going to sing a song just for you, with musical accompaniment.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWith musical what?\u201d asked Hutch, teasing Starsky. \u201cSince when do you know such big words, Hemingway?\u201d Hutch grinned.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky grinned back, picked up Hutch\u2019s guitar, and sang the song to Hutch in his best Elvis impression. He had practiced it every day while Hutch was in the hospital:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>I\u2019ll have a blue Christmas<br \/>\nWithout you<br \/>\nI\u2019ll be so blue, just thinking about you<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Decorations of red, on a green Christmas tree<br \/>\nWon&#8217;t be the same dear, if you&#8217;re not here with me<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>I\u2019ll have a blue Christmas<br \/>\nWithout you<br \/>\nMy balls are blue, just thinking about you<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Decorations of red, on a green Christmas tree<br \/>\nWon\u2019t be the same dear, without your cock in me<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cThat\u2019s as far as I got,\u201d said Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI love it; it\u2019s terrific, babe,\u201d said Hutch laughing, as he kissed Starsky and embraced him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cFinish reading them, blintz,\u201d urged Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cOkay, where was I? Oh yeah, #13. Hmm,\u201d said Hutch.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#13<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>You are my good luck charm.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cYou\u2019re pretty good at this, you know that?\u201d said Hutch, giving his partner a rare, sincere compliment. Then he continued:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#14<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Whenever our eyes meet, I want to melt into you.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cMe too, partner,\u201d said Hutch, as he looked into Starsky\u2019s eyes and held his gaze.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#15<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>I love the way you talk to yourself. I love the way you talk to the plants. I love your smile. I love you more than anything else in the whole world.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch paused a moment to wipe the tear that had suddenly fallen down his cheek. Then he continued:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#16<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>I love all the times you touch me when we\u2019re in public, because you want everyone to know I\u2019m yours. The tummy pats, the way you squeeze my upper arm, your hand on the back of my neck, your head leaning against mine whenever I\u2019m down. Even in the middle of the police station hallway.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This time, it was Starsky who brushed away the tear from Hutch\u2019s cheek. Then Hutch read the next card:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#17<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>I love the way you taste when I kiss you. I can even taste you now as I\u2019m writing this. You taste as sweet as an iced sugar cookie and as delightful as a frosted sugar plum. I miss you babe.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Then they kissed each other deeply and reveled in the taste. Hutch continued:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#18<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Knock, Knock! <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Who&#8217;s There? <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Anita! <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Anita who?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Anita Dick inside me!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHmm, maybe that\u2019s how we can celebrate New Year\u2019s Eve,\u201d said Hutch, smiling, and then read the next card:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#19<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>I know that you aren\u2019t able to shop for a Christmas gift for me and that\u2019s okay. So I won\u2019t ask you for a sweater or a train set. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch had to pause at this, because he was starting to tear up. Then he continued to read the rest of the sentiment on the card:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Besides, the only thing I really want is for you to get better and come home.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#20<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>But in case you come home before Christmas, maybe you could think about getting me a sweater?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch\u2019s tears gave way to a smile. He got up and walked towards the closet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHey, where ya goin\u2019? You got five more cards to read,\u201d Starsky called after him, bewildered. <em>What could Hutch possibly be getting from the closet?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch walked back to the couch, holding a wrapped gift that had been hidden on the top shelf.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d asked Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cOpen it,\u201d said Hutch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky tore off the wrapping paper and opened the plain cardboard box. Inside was a Christmas sweater, what some people called an \u201cugly\u201d sweater. It was red and green and decorated with reindeer and snowflakes. The reindeer had red pompom noses and googly eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI love it, babe, it\u2019s perfect! Did your elves pick this up too?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cThey sure did. I guess we both kept them busy this week,\u201d said Hutch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky kissed Hutch and they hugged. \u201cHey, finish reading your cards, babe,\u201d said Starsky eagerly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch continued:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#21<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>It\u2019s beginning to look a lot like Christmas<br \/>\nEverywhere I go<br \/>\nThere\u2019s some garland around my dick<br \/>\nAnd even though you\u2019re still sick<br \/>\nI want to lick and lick and lick<br \/>\nYou everywhere, ho ho ho!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch laughed, kissed Starsky, and read the next three cards:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#22<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>I\u2019ll be so relieved when you come home and I won\u2019t have to talk to the plants anymore. They are no fun.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#23<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>For example, I can\u2019t kiss their soft full lips, or run my fingers through their silky blond hair, or caress their smooth bare chest, or suck their hard cock.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#24<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>I\u2019m writing this just before I leave for the hospital to bring you home. I know you\u2019re not 100% yet, but when you are, I\u2019m going to do all those things to you, and more.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch smiled and then paused before reading the final card, suddenly feeling overwhelmed with emotion and fatigue. He leaned against Starsky who pulled him close while Hutch read the last card:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">#25<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Dear Hutch,<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>A tree has been planted in the park in your honor, near the horseshoe pitch. It\u2019s right next to my tree, so they can grow together side-by-side, roots entwining, just like me and thee.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Merry Christmas, ya big blond blintz.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Love, Starsk<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>P.S. When are you gonna take me to play horseshoes?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cOh, Starsk,\u201d said Hutch, for once being stunned into silence, as tears welled up in his eyes. But this time, he wasn\u2019t the only one with tears in his eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Then they kissed and held each other tightly, neither wanting to let go.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #8f5a1e;\"><strong>10:45am<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hutch held two of the gifts from under the tree while Starsky drove them to Kiko and Molly\u2019s house where Mrs. Ramos was serving Christmas brunch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHey big brother, glad to see you\u2019re doing better!\u201d said Kiko, shaking Hutch\u2019s hand, happily surprised when Hutch pulled him close and hugged him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Then Molly ran up to Hutch and gave him a big hug. \u201cHi, little brother!\u201d she said teasingly to Starsky and gave him a hug too.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #8f5a1e;\"><strong>1:20pm<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky and Hutch lay in bed together, holding each other, napping. They were both exhausted from the events of the past few weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #8f5a1e;\"><strong>5:40 pm<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Starsky pulled the Torino up to the Dobey house and he and Hutch walked together up to the front door carrying the rest of the gifts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The door was flung open by an excited Rosie, who hugged Hutch while she happily yelled \u201cUncle Ken!\u201d and then hugged Starsky with an \u201cUncle Dave! I love your sweater! It\u2019s so Christmasy! Come into the dining room, we\u2019re just about to eat dinner!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Seated at the dining table were Captain Dobey and Cal, who was home from college for the holidays. The table was formally dressed with poinsettias, candles, and Edith\u2019s finest lace tablecloth. In the center was a large festive bowl of wassail. Then Edith and Huggy came out of the kitchen carrying platters of turkey, ham, and all the trimmings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Everyone was so glad to see that Hutch was out of the hospital and doing well. They all happily exchanged \u201c<em>Merry Christmas!<\/em>\u201d and \u201c<em>Happy Holidays!<\/em>\u201d as \u201cHave a Holly Jolly Christmas\u201d sung by Burl Ives played on the radio.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And it was a very merry Christmas, indeed!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">=============================================<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #3c758a;\"><strong>A Holly Jolly Christmas<br \/>\nsung by Burl Ives<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Have a holly, jolly Christmas<br \/>\nIt&#8217;s the best time of the year<br \/>\nI don&#8217;t know if there&#8217;ll be snow<br \/>\nBut we\u2019ll <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">have a cup of cheer<\/span> share a flask of beer<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Have a holly, jolly Christmas<br \/>\nAnd when you walk down the street<br \/>\nSay hello to friends you know<br \/>\nAnd everyone you meet<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Oh, ho the mistletoe<br \/>\nHung <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">where you can see<\/span> over the sink<br \/>\nSomebody waits for you<br \/>\nKiss <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">her<\/span> him once for me<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Have a holly, jolly Christmas<br \/>\nAnd in case you didn&#8217;t hear<br \/>\nOh by golly have a holly jolly Christmas<br \/>\nThis year!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-83\" src=\"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Christmas-garland-image-300x265.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"353\" srcset=\"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Christmas-garland-image-300x265.png 300w, http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Christmas-garland-image.png 618w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Garland noun A wreath or festoon of flowers, leaves, or other material, hung on something as a decoration. A collection of short literary pieces, as poems and ballads; literary miscellany.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,10,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-82","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fic","category-nsfw","category-slash"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82","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=82"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":131,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82\/revisions\/131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=82"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=82"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2019\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=82"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}