HUTCH'S HEART ACHES #10...A CELEBRATION OF LIFE...
It was taking all I had not to tell my partner about the
surprise party that I was planning for him.
I almost gave in yesterday evening........
After washing our dinner dishes I walked over to the couch
where Starsky was stretched out watching TV.
His eyes were on the TV screen but I could tell his mind was
somewhere else.
"Boy that casserole dish Mrs. Dobey sent over for us
was sure good."
Starsky didn't even look away from the TV screen.
"Yea it was good, that was really nice of her."
That was all the response that I got from my partner and the
words lacked any kind of enthusiasm.
I looked over at Starsky.
"Starsk, you feeling all right?"
''I'm doing okay Hutch, it's just that.........never mind,
I'm fine really."
He had wanted to say something more but stopped himself.
I stood in front of the couch so I could see his face.
"Somethings bothering you, Starsk, what is it?"
"You hardly said two words during dinner."
"Hey, buddy what is it?" I sat down on the edge of
the coffee table facing Starsky.
"It's silly Hutch..........I.......Okay, it's just that
the last few days no ones come over to see me or even called, I feel like I've
been written off by most people."
He sighed, then continued.
He was still staring at the TV screen and would not look up
at me.
"Dumb, Haa?"
"No it's not dumb."
I almost told him then and there about the party that I had
planned for him tomorrow evening.
That sad, dejected look in his eyes was slicing right into
my heart.
Starsky had been through so much these last few months that
I hated seeing him look as unhappy as he did right now.
"Babe, it's only been a few days and it is the middle
of the week."
"I'm sure someone will come by or call anytime now,
you'll see."
Another sigh from the couch.
"Well at least you haven't forgotten me."
"Starsk I hate seeing you like this, there is no way
that with as many friends as you have that anyone's forgotten you, but things
come up."
"You have an awful lot of people who care about you and
who aren't about to 'write you off'."
"Yea, I know that Hutch, I guess I'm just tired, tired
of feeling so bad."
"Gets to me sometimes."
"I know buddy, I know."
"Hey I'd be surprised if you didn't feel this way
sometimes."
I reached over him and squeezed his shoulder and ran my hand
through his wild array of too long curls.
(Boy do you ever need a haircut, babe, wish I had that much
hair)
"Tell you what, you could probably use a nap right
about now, why don't you close your eyes for a while."
"Get a little sleep, and when you wake up I'll make us
both the most sinfully decadent ice cream sundaes and we'll watch the 'Creature
Feature', think it's about that Rodan thing you like so much."
"What do you think about that?"
This got Starsky's attention.
"Man my hearing must be going along with everything
else."
"I thought I just heard you say that you are gonna
actually eat an ice cream sundae, a real one......not one of those god awful
gross concoctions that you whip up in the blender."
"That's right, nothing wrong with your hearing partner,
tonight I'll live dangerously...........might even break out the double stuff
oreo cookies."
Starsky looked at me and smiled, "Well Blondie, I knew
if you stayed around me long enough you'd come around."
"Damn but you are a slow learner."
The smile that he gave me lit up the room and warmed my
heart at the same time.
"Don't go thinking you're gonna turn me into a junk
food junkie like you; my stomach would fall out in less than a month if I ate
the way you do."
"Now that's enough talk for now."
I eased one of the pillows out from under Starsky's
shoulders so he could lay all the way down on the couch.
I covered him up with the every present afghan off of the
back of the couch.
"Thanks Hutch, a nap does sound kinda good right about
now."
He handed me the TV's remote control.
His eyes were already closed by the time I turned the volume
on the TV down and changed the channel.
I winked at 'Tom and Jerry' on the TV screen and changed the
channel to the local news broadcast.
"There was only a few minutes left of 'Tom and Jerry',
you could have waited till it was over you know."
"Sometimes you are not nice Hutchinson."
Starsky's eyes were shut but he was smiling that crooked smile
of his.
"You are supposed to be resting,
go....to....sleep....Starsk,"
..........
..........
When I was certain Starsky was asleep I took the phone out
unto the patio and started to make the necessary phone calls to pull off this
surprise party.
I sat in a deck chair where I could look back into the
living room and see my partner on the couch.
I didn't want him overhearing my phone conversations and
spoiling the surprise party.
I dialed Sam Jacobson, Starsky's barber.......I needed him
to come out to the house and give my partner a haircut.
Sam had been here a few times already to trim Starsky's hair
for him.
Starsky could not lean back in a barber's chair yet without
pulling on his many stitches so Sam had come out here and together with my help
he had given my partner his needed haircuts.
Everyone that I had invited to come tomorrow night had
jumped at the chance to welcome my partner home.
The list included The Dobey's.
Maria, who is Kiko's mom and Kiko's adopted sister
Molly/Pete.
Maryanne, Starsky's favorite nurse from his hospital stay
was also looking forward to surprising her former charge.
Dr. Kellerman, the doctor instrumental in saving Starsky's
life said he would not miss this for the world.
(What I owed this man I could never in a million years
repay)
Of course Huggy would be here, he was bringing along Angie
his bartender.....I think she still had a crush on my partner.
'Merl the Earl, 'The Customizing Pearl' would be here too.
Merl wouldn't take my money when I tried to pay him for the
repairs to 'The Tomato'.
"I love the Starsker" is all he would say to me,
but don't you tell him I said that, he told me.
Vinnie from the Gym was coming and with him an offer of free
gym facilities as soon as Starsky was able to begin rehab, he extended the
offer to me as well knowing full well that I intended to be with Starsky;
helping him all the way.
As for the ladies, I only invited Minnie, from the traffic
division because she considered herself a big sister to my partner.
I really think Minnie would have liked to be more to Starsk
but he truly only saw her as a big sister.
I thought about inviting some of my partner's lady friends
but then I got to thinking, I didn't know who knew who and maybe it would be
better if I left well enough alone and let him take up where he left off when
he was a whole lot better.
I glanced through the patio doors at my partner.
He was still out like a light.
I called Huggy checking with him to make sure that he was
bringing the food and drinks and would also be picking up the special cake that
I had ordered for the party.
After all the phone calls had been made I sat back in the
deck chair and relaxed.
I smiled at myself at the present that I had gotten for my
partner.
As much as Starsk loved a party he loved getting presents
more.
I had told everyone invited that I did not want them
bringing presents but that I had intended to give my partner something special
just from me.
Really wanting to get him something extra special to
officially welcome him home I laid in bed at night trying to figure out just
what that should be.
What the hell could I get him that would be really special.
Then it hit me.
Shortly before the shooting we had been walking down the
sidewalk in the Galleria one afternoon on a rare off duty day when Starsky
grabbed me by the arm and pulled me into a fancy antique store.
He dragged me over to the window display and pointed at the
object of his dreams.
"Look at the clipper ship Hutch, it's just
beautiful."
The clipper ship he was looking at was indeed beautiful.
It had been handmade out of teak wood.
Every detail was painstakingly done, you could see the
handcarved details had taken someone a long time to do.
I saw the price tag at the same time Starsky did.
He sighed.
"Damn, I couldn't afford that if I gave up food for the
next year."
"Maybe if they can't sell it for that much they might
lower the price."
"Think they might Hutch?"
My partner looked like a little boy who did not have enough
money for an ice cream cone.
He was looking at me hopefully.
"Don't know Starsk, maybe."
"Oh well", he sighed.
I put my arm around his shoulder and we walked out of the
antique shop; Starsky taking one more look over his shoulder at the ship.
"Come on partner, I'll buy you a beer."
He talked about the clipper ship a couple of times after
that but the owner of the shop was not coming down on the price.
Starsky had tried to figure out a way he could still get the
damn thing.
Then one day the 'Tomato' decided for him.
The car needed four new tires and a new alternator....bye
bye..clipper ship....
......
......
I smiled to myself, I couldn't wait to see my partner's face
when he opened up the box and saw the ship.
(You had better really LOVE this ship partner because it put
a sizable dent in my already depleted savings account)
But if this made Starsky happy I would have paid ten times
more for it.
............
............
twenty four hours later.........
I looked over at my partner sitting on the couch with his
feet on the coffee table, pillows behind his back and shoulders and a pillow
under his feet.
He was surrounded by his guests.
The party was winding down and so was Starsky, his eyes were
beginning to droop.
Minnie came over and sat down next to Starsky and handed him
a package.
"Starsky Honey, this is from the guys back at
Metro."
"Just a little something to let you know how they all
feel."
Starsky took the tee shirt out of the box it was in and held
it up for all to see.
The shirt was bright red with white lettering........
It said..........The Pride of the B.C.P.D.
David Starsky
"Hey look Hutch, look what it says."
Starsky gave Minnie a kiss and I saw his adam's apple begin
to shake.
"They didn't forget me."
"Told you they didn't partner."
"Babe this one's from me."
I brought the package over to the coffee table and helped
Starsky sit up straighter so he could open the package.
I sat a little bit behind him so he could lean into my
shoulder for support.
"This for me?"
"Who else do you think it's for Dirtball?"
He ripped open the box and pulled the tissue paper out of
the box.
Starsky just stared at the clipper ship, mouth wide open.
"You got me the ship Hutch."
Is it really mine?"
"Better be for what I had to pay for it."
I saw Starsky swallow a few times and swipe at his eyes.
"You did this for me."
"Hutch this is just so beautiful, I love you
partner."
He leaned into me a little more.
"Hey everyone, I love this big Blonde beauty sitting
next to me."
........
........
Starsky had enjoyed the welcome home party and so had I.
We still had a long, and hard road ahead of us but the 'Me
and Thee' would make it, I had no doubt about that.
As I watched my partner sleep I couldn't help but smile, he
made me put the clipper ship on the bedside table so he could see it when he
woke up in the morning and instead of his usual blue pajama top he was wearing
his new tee shirt.
The End