A
Season of Miracles
By
Cherokeegirl
Hutch’s
Hanukkah Miracle
Hutch
usually hated everything to do with the Holidays. The lights, the noise, the crowds and the commercialism all
seemed to contradict the true meaning of Christmas. So much so that Hutch felt
like he had forgotten what the true meaning really was. No, that wasn’t quite true. The Christmases of his childhood before his
Grandfather died, were what Christmas was all about. Hutch would go to his grandfather’s farm every year during his
school break. He and his grandfather
would cut a tree and bring it indoors to decorate with cranberries and candy
canes. There would be sleigh rides and
neighbors would come to visit. His
parents would come for Christmas Day and there would be a large turkey with all
the trimmings. But mostly he remembered
the love and sense of real family in his Grandfather’s home. After his grandfather died he spent the
Holiday in the city with his parents.
Each year as they made the rounds of parties and charity dinners, Hutch
grew to hate the holiday and everything that it had come to mean to him. But this year was different. This year his
partner was alive to celebrate with him.
It had
been a long year for Hutch. After
Starsky had been shot, Hutch stayed at the hospital day and night. Starsky had grown so tired and sore from the
endless pain and examinations from the doctors and nurses that Hutch was the
only one who seemed to be able to sooth him.
His hands the only ones able to care for him without causing him
discomfort. Starsky came to depend on
him for everything. And Hutch was there
for him to help in any way that he could. When Starsky was finally released
Hutch had moved in with him to continue his care. Even though the insurance would have paid for a nurse, Hutch
wouldn’t hear of it. Starsky needed him and he intended to be there for him. It
had been months since the shooting but Starsky was still far from
recovered. He was in a lot of pain and
tired easily.
In
addition to the physical pain, the months of illness had also taken a toll on
him mentally. Starsky was usually like
a little kid when the holidays rolled around.
The Christmas and Hanukkah season were his favorite time of the
year. He decorated everything, even the
Torino. Though he was Jewish, he walked
around in a Santa hat and sang Christmas carols. Hutch had always been irritated at his partner’s wide-eyed
enthusiasm for the season. But now,
Hutch thought I would give anything if Starsky would show just a little of
that holiday cheer. The closer
Hanukkah and Christmas came, the more depressed Starsky became. But last night was the worse Hutch had seen.
Starsky
had gotten well enough in the last few weeks for Hutch to go back to work. Dobey had put Hutch on desk duty so that if
Starsky needed anything he could get hold of Hutch easily; that and the fact
that Hutch had refused to be assigned another partner. Last night in order to surprise his partner
Hutch brought home a small Christmas tree and decorations and set it up in the
living room. When Starsky came out of
the bedroom and saw the tree he didn’t say anything. He just walked over, sat on the couch and turned on the TV.
Nothing
Hutch could say or do would bring any kind of response; he just sat and watched
TV as Hutch decorated the tree. When
asked how the tree looked Starsky only shrugged and said, “I thought you didn’t
believe in celebrating.”
“Well,
that was before. I realized this year
how much there is to celebrate. So tell
me, Buddy, what do you want Santa to bring you this year?”
“You
know what I want, Hutch,” he shouted. “I want my life back! I want to be like I was before all this happened! Can Santa give me that? Can anybody give me
that? You think I have cause to
celebrate? What, Hutch? What am I celebrating, being a
vegetable?” And with that he went into
the bedroom and closed the door. The
next day Hutch was sitting at his desk trying to find some way to bring Starsky
out of his depression. Suddenly, he had an idea and made a phone call.
Hutch
left work early that afternoon to do some shopping. When he got in that evening
he found Starsky asleep on his bed, so he sat about making his surprise.
Tonight being the first night of Hanukkah, Hutch had called Starsky’s mom to
find out more about the traditions of the season. She had told him that there really weren’t any special foods that
must be served as long as the dishes were kosher. She went on to explain that traditionally
people ate anything cooked in oil in order to commemorate the oil in the lamps
lasting for eight days, and that one of Starsky’s favorites was latkes, a
pancake like food made of shredded or mashed potatoes. After Hutch had put on the large beef roast,
he made a salad. After three tries, the first two baring more resemblance to
burnt offerings than anything else, he had a plate of latkes sitting on the
stove to keep warm. By sunset he had polished the silver menorah that Starsky
kept on the desk by the window and dinner was almost ready. It was time to wake
Starsky so they could get ready to light the Menorah after dark. He went into
the bedroom and gently shook Starsky awake.
“Hey, Buddy, time to wake up. Dinner’s ready.”
Starsky
woke and slowly started to get up.
Hutch helped him to his feet and Starsky made his way to the bathroom to
wash up for dinner. When he got into
the living room Hutch had the table set and the wine poured. Starsky came over,
sat at the table and looked down at his plate. He started to speak just as
Hutch did.
“Hutch…”
“Starsk…”
“Hutch,
please let me say this. I wanted to
apologize for the way I acted last night.
You didn’t do anything that would cause me to blow up at you like
that. I know I’ve been a real pain in
the ass lately, it’s just that it’s so hard. There is still so much pain. It’s
been so long and I still don’t know if I’ll ever be 100% again. I know this hasn’t been easy on you
either. I don’t know why you put up
with me. You need to get on with your
life instead of sitting here being my nursemaid.”
“I’m
here for you no matter what. Starsk, I want you to understand something. If anyone has the right to blow up, it’s
you. As for me getting out of here and
getting on with my life. I’m right
where I want to be. Starsk, don’t you
understand how much you mean to me. I still have nightmares about that
day. I keep going over in my head what
I should have done, what I should have said that would have prevented what
happened. I’m your partner; I’m supposed to watch your back, but I just stood there
while you were gunned down! If I could, I would trade places with you in a
heartbeat. I love you that much.”
“Hutch,
don’t say that. None of this is your fault. You aren’t to blame for Günther
shooting me. You warned me to get down.”
“Look,
if it had been me, how would you feel right now? Where would you be if it had
been me that got shot?
“Hutch,
you’re staying here out of guilt?
“No,
I’m staying here out of love. Think about it. Now come on it’s time to light
the menorah, isn’t it?” Hutch said as he got up and walked over to the desk
where the Menorah was sitting. “I’m not real sure how to go about this, Hutch
said as he got the box of candles and gave them to Starsky. “You’re going to
have to show me what to do. You know, I always thought of Hanukkah as the
Jewish equivalent of Christmas, but it’s totally different isn’t it?”
“Chanukah
is celebrated in memory of the victory of the Jewish rebellion against the
Greek suppression of Judaism. Did you know that a Menorah was the original
seven-candle lamp that burned in the Temple? This,” Starsky said picking up the
candleholder, is a Chanukah. It has nine candles and is specifically for this
holiday."
“I
didn’t know that. I do remember
something I learned in school. In the second century BC, Emperor Antiochus
began a systematic suppression of the Jewish religion. Numerous decrees were
made forbidding, on pain of torture and death, important practices of Judaism,
such as circumcision, and compelling the Jews to worship the Greek idols. In
addition, the Greek forces massacred and enslaved thousands of Jews and
plundered and defiled the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.”
“Yes,
The Jewish rebellion against this oppression began as a small revolt led by the
Hasmonean family, the priest Mattisyahu and his five sons. When Mattisyahu died
he was succeeded by his son, Yehudah HaMakabee (the Maccabee). Yehuda led the
Jews to victory, driving the Greeks out of Jerusalem. The Jews were then able
to clean the Temple and to resume the Temple service. This took place on the
25th of Kislev.
At this
point the famous "miracle of the lights" took place. Part of the
Temple service is the lighting of the menorah. This requires ritually pure
olive oil. Due to the Greek desecration of the Temple no such oil could be
found except for one small container which contained only enough oil to last
for one day. Since it would take eight days to get more oil this was a serious
problem. The Jews used this oil for the first day and it miraculously lasted
for the full eight days till new oil was available.
The
most well known law of Chanukah is the requirement to light the menorah,”
Starsky said as he took one of the candles and put it in place. “The time for
lighting the menorah is at nightfall, called tzeis hakochavim -when the stars
come out. This is approximately an hour after sunset.”
“If
‘the festival of lights’ lasts eight days, why are there nine candles?” Hutch
asked. “And, the one in the center is higher.”
“Tradition
prohibits us from using the Chanukah lights for any other purpose. We cannot
use them to read by or to light another fire. It is for this reason that it is
customary to light an additional candle, called a Shamash, so that if we use
the light in the area of the menorah we will be using it's light and not the
light of the Chanukah candles. The Shamash should be placed somewhat higher
than the rest of the menorah to distinguish it from the other candles. Traditionally the candles are lit from right
to left. One, on the first day, two, on the second, and so on until all of the
candles are lit. Before lighting we recite two blessings.” Starsky lit the
candle and began to recite:
“Blessed
are You, HaShem, King of the world, Who made us holy with His commandments, and
commanded us to light the candle of Chanukah.
Blessed
are You, HaShem, King of the world, Who did miracles for our fathers in those
days, at this time.”
The
first time we light the candles we add: “Blessed are You, HaShem, King of the
world, Who has kept us alive, and has sustained us, and brought us to this
time.”
“There
is a tradition for children to play with a dreidel on Chanukah.” Starsky said
as he picked up the small wooden top that was lying next to the Menorah. “A
dreidel is a four-sided top with Hebrew letters distributed one to each side. Traditionally, these letters stand
for the sentence: A ‘great miracle happened there’.”
Hutch
sat and thought, Oh, yes. Thank you, HaShem, for keeping him alive and
sustaining him, and bringing him here to this time. For a great miracle has indeed happened here!
*~*~*~*~*~*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Starsky’s
Christmas Miracle
Hutch
sat at his desk trying to finish up his paperwork. All he could think about was
getting home to his partner. Hutch
always volunteered to work Christmas Eve so that the married officers could
have the time off. Usually he didn't
mind. But this year all he could think
about was getting home to Starsky.
Home, that's what it was to him.
He hadn't felt like this about anyplace since his Grandfather had died.
But since Starsky had been shot, Hutch had come to realize what his partner
meant to him. After he had moved in with Starsky to take care of him, Starsky's
apartment had become home. A real home, the one he had always dreamed of, not
just a place to eat and sleep. All
because of Starsky.
Starsky
was not only his friend, he was the brother he had never had. It’s so odd,
Hutch thought, to come so far from home to find his real family.
Family, Hutch thought. I haven’t had a
real sense of family since Grandpa died. Starsky thought that Hutch was
only there to help him out in his recovery.
What Starsky didn't realize was that helping Starsky to get well again
was what gave Hutch's life meaning. Starsky was Hutch's guiding light in
the darkness. Starsky lit up the room with his joy and zest for life. They had
spent other Christmases together, but this one was different. This year Christmas meant so much more.
More than it ever had in his life. He came so close to losing his best friend
that he still had nightmares about it. But, Starsky made it!
I
should tell him,
he thought. I shouldn't let another day go by without telling him how I feel
about him. I have seen so much death since I became a cop, both officers and
civilians, and the first thing I hear from those left behind is “I never
got the chance to tell them I love them.” Starsky almost died and I never
told him. I still haven’t told him. No,
time is too short and life too unexpected to pass up the chance to tell the
people you love how you feel. I need to tell my friend, no my brother, that I
care.
Hutch
looked at his watch. It was nine o'clock he had two more hours to go on his
shift. If the traffic wasn't too heavy he should get home before midnight. I'm
going to tell him tonight, Hutch thought.
I'm not going to waste anymore time.
~*~
Starsky
stood in the living room and looked at the decorations and smiled. The little tree that Hutch had brought home
was lit. The candles of the Menorah had already been lit and put out one-half
hour later as per custom, so Starsky had lit some bayberry candles and
scattered them around the apartment. He had the radio on and Christmas carols
played softly in the background. There were a few packages under the tree for
Hutch. Starsky had asked Huggy to take him shopping while Hutch was at work. He
had also made a special dinner of roast chicken, mashed potatoes and green
beans. He had turned on the oven timer so that the chicken would be done by the
time Hutch got home. Starsky had been so depressed and in such a bad mood
lately that he was trying to make it up to his partner.
Starsky
went to the couch and sat down. He had done more this afternoon than usual with
the shopping and dinner and he was tired, so he thought he would rest before
Hutch got home. He smiled again at that thought, Hutch and home. The two seemed
like the same word to him. Because Hutch was here, his apartment had a real
sense of home now, something Starsky hadn't felt since his childhood. When he
came to California to live with his Aunt and Uncle they tried to make him feel
welcome and loved. But nothing had ever quite been the same, until now. Now,
after all these years he had finally come home.
Hutch
was strong and supportive yet kind and gentle. Hutch was so confident in his
own strength that he could reach out to Starsky with that loving heart and show
him how much he cared. If it hadn't been for Hutch, Starsky didn't think he
could have held on through all those weeks in the hospital and months of
recuperation.
I've
got to tell him,
Starsky thought. I shouldn't let another day go by without telling him what
he means to me, how much I need him, how much I love him. Life's too precious
to take for granted. I’ve finally found a brother, a real one! Sure I have
Nicky but we have grown apart, our lives have taken different roads. Nicky has
turned his back on me and Dad and everything we have always believed in. But
Hutch will never turn his back on me. In the deepest part of my soul I know
that Hutch would never leave me. We are
family in the truest sense of the word.
Starsky
lay down and watched the blinking lights of the Christmas tree. As the day
started to take its toll on him he drifted off to sleep thinking of Hutch and
home.
~*~
Hutch
opened the door at eleven twenty, the traffic had been surprisingly light and
he had made the drive from the precinct in good time. He smiled as he looked
around the apartment. The blinking lights of the Christmas tree, the soft
flickering of the candles, the softly playing carols, all seemed to be saying
‘welcome home’. He saw Starsky lying on the couch asleep.
He was
curled on one side with his head nestled in the crook of his elbow. Hutch sat
down on the coffee table and watched him sleep. His lashes were dark against
his still pale cheeks. His curly hair that had grown too long during his
convalescence framed his face and reflected the light of the flickering
candles. He was wearing an old, ratty looking sweater and faded jeans. He
still looks so thin and so frail, Hutch thought. But he’s getting
stronger every day. He’s going to make, he’s going to be okay!
Hutch
just sat and looked at Starsky drinking in the sight. Starsky was tough and
streetwise. He was handsome, strong and masculine. But as he slept there seemed
to be a softness there; a vulnerability. A child-like ability to find beauty
and joy in everything! He might nag him about it, but the truth was he envied
him for it. As Hutch reached out and stroked Starsky's hair his eyelids
fluttered open.
"Hutch."
Starsky started to sit up.
"Hey,
Buddy, I didn't mean to wake you. Just lie still."
"What
time is it? I meant to have dinner ready when you got home."
“It's
okay, just relax. You must be tired after all you've done today. The place looks great. I see you've been
shopping. How in the world did you manage that?"
"Huggy.
I wanted to surprise you. I kind of wanted to make up to you for the way I've
been acting lately." He looked down unable to meet Hutch's gaze. "I'm
sorry I've been such a jerk."
"Well,
I’m certainly surprised. But, you are not a jerk. You don't have to make up to
me for anything, you've had a right to be depressed after all you've been
through."
“Hutch,
I’m glad you’re here.”
“So am
I, Buddy.” Hutch reached out a hand and caressed Starsky’s cheek, then carded
his fingers through his hair. Starsky leaned into Hutch’s hand and relished his
touch.
“Starsk,
there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you for a long time but I never
could get up the nerve.”
“Hutch,
there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you too.”
“No
please, let me say this while I’ve worked up my courage. I love you, you’re my
family; my real family. That’s something I never had before, not really, not
since my Grandfather died. I don’t think, no I know, I couldn’t have gone on if
you hadn’t made it. After the shooting you were going through so much I wanted
to do anything I could to help, anything to take the pain away. Every time you
made a mile stone in your recovery I felt that we had made that mile
stone, we had scored another victory. I’ve realized after everything
that’s happened, you can’t take anything for granted. I just want you to know
that we’ll always be friends. I’ll
always be here for you no matter what.”
Starsky reached out
and took Hutch’s hands and pulled him toward him.
“Blondie, I was
just thinking the same thing. With Dad being gone and Mom back in New York,
Christmas has always been a pretty lonely time for me. I missed the Christmases
when I was a kid and my whole family was together. I covered it up, acted like
the clown, but the truth is, I was just homesick for the past, thinking that
was family, and home. It seemed worse this year than before. But I realized this is family Hutch, Me and
Thee, partners, best friends, brothers in the truest sense of the word,” with
that Starsky tried to suppress a yawn. “I’m sorry, I guess I over did it a
little. I wanted us to have a nice dinner and celebrate. But I’m so tired.”
“Don’t worry about
it Buddy we’ve got the rest of our lives. I’m not going anywhere.”
“You know what,
Hutch? It seems like a miracle that we made it through this year.”
“Well, Starsk, this
is the season of miracles. Merry
Christmas, Buddy, I love you.
“I love you too,
Hutch, Me and Thee.”
“Me and Thee,
Starsk.”
~*~*~*~*~
Happy Chanukah
&