This story came to me in response to the Me_and_Thee 100’s Challenge 353 – Dream.
The strangest reindeer Hutch had ever seen walked toward him out of the fog. Not that he’d ever seen one in real life, but PBS documentaries and Christmas specials couldn’t have been that wrong. Could they?
This animal had a coat of dark brown curls instead of tan fur, and its legs were all slightly bowed as if it had been riding something barrel shaped. It was the eyes though that mesmerized. They were a darker, deeper shade of midnight blue than Hutch thought possible. He knew eyes that color, only they didn’t belong on one of Santa’s Christmas Eve beasts of burden. Did they?
That’s when he noticed the rack of antlers. Where the usual spikes pointing in various upward directions should have been, there were nine vertical protrusions, lined up across the animal’s head, side to side, all sprouting from a central bony column. It looked like a menorah.
At the moment that thought occurred, the middle spike lit up with a small flame. Now, that’s just a little too weird, Hutch decided.
“What’s weird about it?” the reindeer asked in an amused masculine voice. One corner of his mouth swept up in a lop-sided grin that made Hutch shiver. He knew that expression, too.
“Starsky,” Hutch said, firmly, attempting to come to grips with this illusion, aberrant perception, hallucination. “What are you doing wearing a reindeer suit? You look ridiculous!”
“So would you if you’d drawn the short straw,” the animal retorted. “I have to stay in this silly outfit until you wake up.”
“Until I wake up?” Hutch asked, confused. “What about you?”
“I’m not the one havin’ the dream, Hutch,” the northern tundra critter replied patiently. “You said you could handle the combination but, when you slid off the couch, everybody drew straws to see who’d watch over you in Neverland.” Lifting a foreleg in a jaunty gesture, the creature snorted softly. “I admit I rigged it so that I’d win. Couldn’t have you wanderin’ around out here, all by your lonesome.”
Hutch glanced at the surroundings but all he could see was fog. “Where’s ‘here’?”
“I’m the wrong one to ask, pal,” his four legged companion replied, blue eyes sparkling mischievously.
“But a menorah-topped reindeer?” Hutch queried. “Is that the best you could do for a costume?”
“Like I said before, Hutch,” the reindeer replied, “it’s your delusion.”
“Okay,” Hutch muttered. “How many lighted antlers do I have to wait for? And how long is this going to take?”
A second pointed protrusion sprang to flame.
“No idea,” the sleigh-puller replied, good-naturedly, shrugging a muscular shoulder. “Wanna dance while we wait?” He began to move gracefully and energetically to the beat of disco music that suddenly filtered through the mist.
“Disco’s passé, Starsk,” Hutch muttered.
“Obviously not in your imagination,” the critter that spoke with Starsky’s voice said, smugly. He bumped against Hutch’s hip, suggestively. “Come on, help me out here, big boy.”
Hutch stepped back a pace and held his hands up. “By all means, enjoy yourself,” he muttered, wondering if getting pissed would speed things along.
“You can’t be mad right now, Hutch,” the reindeer said, gliding forward and rubbing his neck against Hutch’s arm, clearly being careful not to burn Hutch with the two lighted prongs of his antlers. “You’re much too happy. This is our first Christmas since Gunther and you and I are finally, as of this very evening, more than partners, friends, pals and buddies.” The animal rubbed itself more sensuously against Hutch’s body, eliciting feelings that were decidedly not of the angry variety.
Letting go of the dregs of his irritation, Hutch draped his arms around the warm neck and leaned his cheek against the soft curly hair. The compelling creature moved provocatively against him while a third and fourth tip took fire.
Swaying and moving to the progressively slower music, in sync with the unfamiliar configuration of the body he now knew intimately, Hutch was blissfully content. Eventually, all nine ‘candles’ were lit.
Hutch looked into the twinkling happiness of the single eye he could see. “I think I’m ready to wake up now, Starsk.”
The fog miraculously vanished and Hutch was staring up into the indigo eyes of his partner, his best friend, his brand new lover.
Glancing around, Hutch realized that he was lying on the floor of his apartment, between the couch and coffee table, his head nestled in Starsky’s lap. The curly hair-fringed face leaned over him, mouth quirked with humor and devotion.
“Edith? Dobey? Huggy? They all left you here alone to take care of me?” Hutch asked, wonderingly.
“I told ‘em I could handle it,” Starsky replied, shyly. His smile was kind with understanding. “Simmons, Babcock, and their wives offered to stay and help clean up but Minnie shooed them out. She and Huggy straightened up a little before he took her home.”
“I’ll bet they’ll never let me live it down, huh?” Hutch asked, contrite.
“None of them knew you’d polished off most of a magnum of champagne before they got here,” Starsky went on, softly. “After I explained that we’d been celebrating my reinstatement, and I showed them the empty bottle, they understood.”
“It did make a delicious accompaniment to the other pre-party festivities,” Hutch noted with satisfaction.
“I forgot to ask what everyone was bringing though,” Starsky said, apologetically. “If I had, I’d have suggested we both limit ourselves to one glass. You said that was all I should have but I didn’t realize you’d need to be careful, too.”
“I promise, babe,” Hutch said, picking up Starsky’s hand and kissing the knuckles, “no matter what wonderful moments we celebrate in the future, I will never combine spicy sausage and green pepper pizza, Huggy’s heavily spiked eggnog, and champagne, again.”
Starsky helped him to his unsteady feet, put a strong arm around his waist, and guided him toward the bedroom alcove.
“You looked good as a reindeer, Starsk,” Hutch said, sexily.
“Yeah?” Starsky asked, his interest piqued. “Tell me.”
“Maybe someday,” Hutch replied, enigmatically. “I have the picture in my head and, believe me, I’ll never forget it.”
“Merry Christmas, Hutch.”
“Merry Christmas, Dancer.”
The vision was strange
but joy, compassion and love
came through just fine, thanks
END
Oh Pat!! I LOVE THIS!! Funny and sweet. And even with Hutch snockered, He recognized the reindeer as Starsky!
And the Haiku was perfect, as always.
Thank you Pat!
THANK YOU, ks. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Hutch had the ‘dream,’ I simply wrote it down. It was a lot of fun to write and I thrilled that you liked reading it. Not by best Haiku, I don’t think, but appropriate, I guess. I really appreciate your reading and then taking the time to leave a comment. THX!
OMG I just love this. I want a reindeer like that looking over me!
Good grief, PP, I almost missed this! Somehow, it sandwiched itself between a comment and a reply. Thank you so much for reading my little ‘dream.’ Wouldn’t we all like such a critter keeping us company in Neverland? Merci, ma cher, so glad you enjoyed it.
Ha! A wonderfully, warm and funny story. Starsky makes a great reindeer/menorah!!! Thanks so much for brightening my morning.
You’re more than welcome, marianrose! I’ll cherish your ‘wonderfully, warm and funny’. Thanks for reading, and then for writing.
Flamingo,
You’ve outdone yourself this time, m’ dear! I imagined a blue-eyed, menorah-topped reindeer, and you realized him! WOW. I’m (nearly) speechless. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING MY LITTLE STORY TO LIFE!!!!! I love you!
Starsky as a blue eyed, menorah antlered reindeer?? Who knew Hutch could visualize such a thing? Thank you Pat and Flamingo. What a fun story!
Thanks, littlestar, I’m really glad you enjoyed our collaborative effort. I think Flamingo’s DANCING blue-eyed, menorah-topped reindeer is just perfect. I greatly appreciate your reading, and then leaving your kind words!
I’m still smiling. This was delightful and imaginative. All wrapped up with big Christmas S&H are finally together bow. Thank you!
Thank you, mvernet, I’m so glad to be able to give you a smile. Much appreciation for your “All wrapped up with big Christmas S&H are finally together bow.” THX!
Thank you Pat for this sweet and funny story – love it – thanks !!!
Oh, you are more than welcome! So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks very much for writing and letting me know!
Love Hutch´s dream with Starsky in a reindeer suit. Cute idea! Thank you Pat! 🙂
You’re extremely welcome, Hutcherie! When the ‘dream’ challenge came up on Me_and_Thee 100 this scenario appeared to me but it was way more than 100 words, so I hoped it would give a little Christmas Cheer on the Calendar. Thanks for reading, and for letting me know you found it enjoyable.
Lovely, Pat. So cute, funny and sweet. The pic is perfect for Hutch’s dream. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
You’re very welcome, WF; so good to hear from you! I’m really glad you enjoyed my little dreamscape and Flamingo’s fabulous illustration. He’s even dancing!!! I forgot to thank her for that; hope she reads these responses. Thanks, again, F.! And thank you, again, WF, for reading and then leaving your kind words.
That was so darned cute, Pat! Really fun and different. I liked it muchly. *bg* Thank you!
I’m really glad you liked it, Kat. *gbg* (that would be great big grin, right?) Thanks so much for reading and then for leaving your kind words. They are muchly appreciated
Very cute and fun. Love the final line. Very creative story.
Thank you, Denise! I’m glad you enjoyed it and picked up on my favorite line, too. I was thrilled when I saw the Christmas ornament Flamingo found to illustrate the piece: it actually looks as if he’s dancing. I knew I’d picked the right last line. I really appreciate your reading and then, even more, your leaving kind words.
Ha! Love this! What a great imagination. I guess if the guys are in MY dreams it’s only fair that they be in each other’s. 😀
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Spence; thanks so much for letting me know. Yep, we dream about them so, you’re right, it’s only fair that they dream about each other. But here I thought I was being so inventive, thinking up a menorah-topped reindeer, when it turns out Google has an entire page full of them! Flamingo told me about them this morning and I was crushed!!! Oh well, thanks, again, for your lovely comment. It’s greatly appreciated!
What fun! Love the Starsky reindeer. And so did Hutch 😉
Thank you, Jennifer. I’m really glad you enjoyed my little ‘dream.’ I appreciate your reading and then, leaving your kind words. THX!
Clever and cute, Pat! And of course Starsky rigged the straw-drawing. He couldn’t leave his Hutch with anyone else.
Of course he did , Choc! Thanks so much for reading my little effort, and then, even more, for your lovely words. I’m grateful.
Oh my gosh, Pat, that was so cute and silly, and lovely, and christmassy, all in one nice little post SR, first time, package!! Just awesome!
Wow, Susan, I’m thrilled that you thought this was all those lovely things. I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to read it, and then leave such kind words. You’ve made my entire week!!!
Who can sew? I want a menoraindeer plushie!
Oh, what a good idea, matsir! I hope someone ‘out there’ makes you one! The ornament is real, you can find it on Google; why not a plushie? And “menoraindeer” is a wonderful name. Thanks very much for reading and then for making your request. Hope Santa brings you one for Christmas. Happy Holidays!
This is so much fun, and it definitely captures the quality of dreams (weird as hell, but often trying to tell us something).
I’m glad it was fun for you, exbex! I keep checking back to make sure I thank everyone who is kind enough to let me know they enjoyed my story. Hope you check back to find my reply of appreciation. THANK YOU and Happy Holidays!
Too funny. I liked the line “It’s your delusion.”
Thanks very much, Dawn. I kinda liked that one, too.
Aw, absurd in that way dreams can be, and adorably sweet in that way you always write them, Pat 🙂 Hutch really should have known better… but under the circumstances, who can blame him? Enjoyed this very much, thank you!
Awwwww, thanks Baby. I know it’s been a crazy-busy time for you and I’m grateful that you had time to read my little champagne-induced ‘dream.’ Thanks so much for your kind words; I’ll cherish them. Merry and Happy!!!
I always check back to make sure I thank everyone who comments; hope you check back, too, and see my THANK YOU.
Pat, what a sweet, charming story, perfect for the holiday season! So glad I finally had the time to read it.
It’s Seasons Dreamings
Warped reality abounds
But true love shines through
Ahhhhhhhhhh, Laura, you made my entire New Year’s Eve! Thank you so much for your lovely comment and SUPER Haiku! Thanks for finding time to read, and then for finding even more time to compose, and write. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you, too, Pat! You added much joy to my 2016! Thanks for your friendship and support.
Right back atcha, babe! I’ll treasure our ‘Haiku wars’ on the 100 site. Looking forward to more of your wonderful drabbles in this new year! Have a Happy!!!