Month: November 2022

December 6th: Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues by Monica Rose Kiesel

This story is dedicated to Nancy Roots for inspiring it.

Starsky had seemed his usual self when Hutch walked into the squad room that morning. He’d told Hutch three bad jokes — two of them he’d told him just the week before; he’d told Minnie she looked smokin’; he assured Dobey that his new diet was working because he looked like he’d lost at least five pounds (he didn’t); and he paid Hutch the ten dollars he owed him without even being asked.

Hutch hadn’t asked why he was in such a good mood; one thing he’d learned being a cop was that while good things — good luck, good times, good weather, good moods — never lasted, questioning them could kill any of them on the spot.

Still, his partner was naturally upbeat, so Hutch didn’t think he’d been unreasonable to expect his cheeriness to make it through to lunch. Continue reading “December 6th: Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues by Monica Rose Kiesel”

December 11th The ChrisYearValenRickBirthday Sweater by babs

August

Starsky stared in dismay at the Hawaiian Punch now staining Hutch’s white cable knit sweater. “Damn it.”

“Hey. It was an accident,” Hutch said. He grabbed a napkin and dabbed ineffectually at the blotch of reddish pink.

“Stupid arm.” He looked at his trembling left hand with disgust. “Some birthday, huh?”

Hutch tossed the napkin onto the picnic table and took Starsky’s hand in his. “It’s the best birthday, Starsk. You’re here to celebrate it with me.” He cleared his throat and blinked, looked up at the twilight sky.

Rosey Dobey came running full tilt towards them. Starsky braced himself for impact but there was no need. Hutch stepped in front of him, on high alert, still unable, Starsky knew, to let go of the need to protect. He intercepted her before she could careen into Starsky.

“Your cake, Uncle Ken. Mom’s lighting the candles. Hurry.” She peeked around Hutch, took Starsky’s hand. “C’mon, Uncle Dave. You’re gonna sit with me.”

Starsky pasted one of his ‘no, no, I’m getting better all the time’ smiles on and followed. Hutch isn’t angry, he reminded himself. But even the chocolate cake couldn’t quite take away the feeling that he was more than useless. Continue reading “December 11th The ChrisYearValenRickBirthday Sweater by babs”

December 15th: Please Don’t Feed the Polar Bears by SHybaby

Starsky peered out his window as the plane accelerated down the runway, his heart beating with anticipation. He patted Hutch’s knee while still focused on the view.

“Hey Hutch, how long until we get there again?”

“We have two connections through Vancouver and Winnipeg, then a charter flight to Churchill, so with layovers and such included, we’ll be there in about nine hours from now.” Hutch looked up from his reading material and joined in looking out the window.

Starsky swiveled to look at Hutch and said, “You excited?”

“I’m over the moon.” Hutch’s face filled with emotion. “I’ve always wanted to go on an animal safari, but never in a million years did I imagine that you would give me a gift to see polar bears… in northern Canada… on the tundra, no less.” Continue reading “December 15th: Please Don’t Feed the Polar Bears by SHybaby”