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Kathy had blown into town on an overnight, talking about making up for that last time when she and Starsky had arrived to find spaghetti all over Hutch’s floor and a high-strung nurse who had gone all wrong — and who was he to say no? He’d thought more than once about the lost possibilities of that particular evening, hoped maybe Kathy would drag Starsky to his door another night, and though she’d turned up alone it was better than nothing.

Which is how he came to be stumbling into the squad room on this sunny Tuesday morning, somewhat late and slightly hungover and a whole lot sleep-deprived and ready to bask in some comradely innuendo with a bright-eyed, fresh-pressed Starsky, which frankly had been the point of it all in the first place. Continue reading “December 11th- Of Movies and Moustaches by ACL”

“‘Feliz Navidad.'”

“Okay.”

“Oh, ‘Snoopy’s Christmas!'”

“Sure.”

“‘Merry Christmas, Darling’ next.”

“Yeah, nice.”

“How about ‘All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth’?”

Hutch rolled his eyes but complied.

“Geez, never realized you had so many Christmas albums, Hutch.”

Hutch just smiled ruefully. The music and songs of the season had always somehow felt less tainted by the commercialism that marked the rest of the holiday, or so he had wanted to believe. It was the only part of Christmas that he’d truly enjoyed celebrating.

Well, it used to be the only part. Looking at Starsky, sitting cross-legged next to him with a garland of tinsel draped over his shoulders, he felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. There was so much more to celebrate now.

Starsky started to offer him yet another record, but Hutch held up his hand.

“My turn.”

He flipped through the box until he found what he wanted, drew the vinyl out of its sleeve, and set it on the turntable. Bing Crosby’s golden voice filled the room:

“Silent night, holy night…”

When the song ended, Starsky, whose head had found its way to Hutch’s shoulder, looked up at him and nodded approvingly.

“Can’t go wrong with a classic like that.” He began crooning, “All is calm, all is bright…”

Hutch hummed along as he put the record away.

“Calm and bright. Like us, huh? You’re calm, and I’m bright.”

Hutch knew by Starsky’s teasing tone that he was supposed to rise to the bait, argue about which of them was the bright one in their partnership. But seeing Starsky there, caught in the festive glow of the tree lights and lit up from within with love and happiness, Hutch could only nod. It was true, after all.

“Just like us. Merry Christmas, babe.”

A preview of a new novel

Chapter 1, Scene 1

“You’re not listening to me,” Starsky whined.

Hutch disagreed. “I’ve heard every word you’ve said.”

“How can you dig holes and hear me at the same time, hm?”

“I’m a magical being.”

“You’re definitely a bean, but I’m not sure of the magic.” Continue reading “December 18th- Unconditional by Dandelion”

She was beautiful: shy and sweet with a gleeful joy sparkling in her blue eyes. Terry Roberts had introduced them, back when she ran the special needs sports program at the Marshall Center. Terry and Starsky had insisted Hutch meet her, if only because of their shared last name. After all, how many Hutchinsons were there in the world?

More than you’d think, Hutch had wanted to say back then.

He’d been charmed by the softspoken Kristen. Now, long after Terry’s untimely death, he and Starsky still went over to the Marshall Center monthly, to hang out with the students there. They always brought a few games and treats to share. Kristen wasn’t one for basketball or soccer, but whenever Hutch banged out some tunes on the battered upright piano, she was right there at his elbow, singing along.

Maybe it was the season, maybe it was some cosmic fate that destined that this was the time. He’d never know.

Kristen had a clear soprano, with perfect pitch. When Hutch closed his eyes, playing O Little Town of Bethlehem from memory, he could hear his mother. Opening his eyes, he looked over at Kristen in her red velvet Christmas dress, and could almost see his mother.

But how could that be? Continue reading “December 22nd- Relative Harmony by Dawnwind”