CHAPTER 20…FINAL

Hutch walked back in just in time to see Cassie as she snatched the magazine from Huggy’s hand. Breakfast was ready and she didn’t like the look on Starsky’s face as he studied the centerfold.

“That’s enough drooling for one day.” Cassie said as she threw it onto the kitchen counter. “Breakfast is ready and besides it’s Christmas.”

“Hey…man.” Huggy said as he looked at Starsky. “Wouldn’t you like to find that under your Christmas tree?”

Starsky gave him a devilish grin but it soon dissipated as he noticed the look she was giving him. He cleared his throat and decided to change the subject quickly.

“Why don’t you fix Huggy a plate.” Starsky told her as he gave his old friend a pat on the back.

“No…man…” Huggy replied. “I told you I can’t stay.”

“It’s too late.” Cassie told him as she began to bring the food to the table. “I already made him one.”

“C’mon Hug…” Hutch said as he motioned for him to have a seat. “You can stay for a few minutes.”

“Ok…I guess since you went to the trouble…” Huggy agreed as he pulled out a chair and sat down.

“Besides you have to open your gifts.” Cassie said as she brought them all a glass of orange juice and proceeded to have a seat herself.

“Hey…I thought you were out of this stuff.” Hutch asked puzzled.  “You didn’t really think I was going to serve tomato juice with eggs did you?” She told him as she took a sip from her glass.

The four of them finished their breakfast as they enjoyed a little light hearted conversation and then one by one they made their way into the living room. Cassie was the last one to enter as she cleared the dishes in a hurry and joined them by the Christmas tree. Starsky began to sort through the gifts as he handed them out among his friends. Then they all began the task of pulling the paper off and admiring what they had received. Hutch had gotten Starsky a couple of real nice dress shirts and pair of Dingo boots…and a book on parenting entitled ‘How to Survive Raising a Teen.’ The book was filled more with amusing anecdotes and stories than actual useful advice but Hutch had thought the title would get a laugh out of his partner. Starsky did laugh at first but after studying the table of contents decided to put it away to read later. After all…he was new at this and there were a few topics listed that interested him. ‘The Book’ as it would soon be known…would prove to be a little more trouble than it was worth.

Starsky had gotten Hutch a model ship kit like the ones he liked to put together. Hutch had been admiring his collection and so he thought he would appreciate one of his own. He also picked him up some of that expensive cologne that Hutch liked so much. The largest bottle he could find…it was pricey…but he knew Hutch would like it. His last present to Hutch was a
nice thick robe to take the place of the old ratty one that he always wore around the house. It was red with a white stripe going down the seams on both sides……go figure.

Cassie had turned on the stereo and brought out a few glasses of eggnog as they opened their gifts. Christmas music echoed softly throughout the apartment as the Holiday spirit settled into the room. Hutch opened the present Cassie had gotten him as she sipped her eggnog and watched him with a warm smile on her face. It was wrapped awkwardly due to the shape of the
plant inside and Cassie had put off wrapping it until the last minute so that it wouldn’t have to be smothered for too long. After all it was a living thing. As he pulled the last of the paper free he held it up in front of him. It was large and heavy with a beautiful green and yellow fern billowing out from its center. The glass was thick with many different colorful shells hardened on the inside and on the bottom…a coating of brightly tinted sand arranged carefully to form a beautiful spectrum of soft
warm color. He smiled as he studied it and she was so happy to see the approval in his face.

“It’s beautiful Cas…where did you get it?” Hutch asked as he held it up higher into the light.

“A new shop in the mall…” Cassie said. “I knew you’d like it.”

“Well…I really love it….” He told her. “Hey…you should open yours now.”

Huggy had his presents opened receiving a nice dress shirt from Cassie…a new electric razor from Hutch and a nice watch from Stsrsky…the kind that tells time in three time zones.

He got Starsky a new leather wallet and Hutch a set of handkerchiefs with the letter H embroidered in the corner of each one. Cassie hadn’t opened her present yet.

Cassie sat her glass of eggnog down on the end table as she knelt beside the tree and Starsky handed her the remaining gifts. Huggy had gotten her a necklace with a heart and a stone in the middle. Hutch got her a bottle of expensive perfume, which she sprayed into the air, causing Starsky to gasp for a fresh breath as he choked on the heavy aroma.

“It smells Great!” Cassie said as she leaned forward into the mist to take a deep breath. “I love it!”

“Just do me a favor…and keep that in your room.” Starsky told her as he coughed a little more.

“Here open this one…” Hutch said as he handed another one of his gifts to her.

It was in a tiny box…and as she opened it she realized that it had to be some kind of jewelry. A small black box with a spring loaded top. She opened it slowly and inside…a pair of small diamond earrings. Her eyes grew wide as she stared at them and then back at Hutch.

“Oh…Hutch…they’re beautiful!” she said with a smile as she crawled over to give him a hug and a kiss on his cheek.

“Two more Cas…” Starsky told her as he handed her two remaining packages from under the tree. “Merry Christmas.”

Cassie opened the first one…a new Denim Jacket…like the one her friend Stacey has. Starsky had been listening when she had told her how much she liked it. The next present was a large wrapped box…but as she unwrapped it she found a smaller wrapped box inside….and another and then another and they all watched as the boxes became smaller and smaller. Finally down to what she knew had to be the smallest box of all she carefully peeled off the paper to find a small black  box…apparently another piece of jewelry she thought as she opened it slowly. Inside was something very special indeed.

“Oh my God!…Is it real?” Cassie asked as she pulled the ring from the slot it had been resting in.

“It better be…” Starsky told her with a smile as he felt her throw her weight on him to hug him tightly.

“I never owned a real diamond before…That is until today.” She told them. “Diamond earrings and a diamond ring…I guess I’m gonna have to buy a safe.” She said as she teased them. “I really love you guys…”

“Oh…but Christmas isn’t over just yet.” Hutch said as he stood up and grabbed one of the handkerchiefs from the box that Huggy had given him. Then he motioned for her to stand up as he grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around. “Close your eyes.”

“Don’t tell me there’s more?” Cassie said with a smile as she closed her eyes and allowed Hutch to tie the blindfold around them tightly.

Starsky opened the door and he and Huggy stepped out as Hutch led her slowly outside…guiding her with his voice to watch for the steps and turn to the left. As he guided her to the end of the driveway Starsky leaned on her surprise with folded arms and his legs crossed below the knee. Huggy stood on the other side and waited to catch the look on her face when Hutch
finally removed the cloth from her eyes…..

“Ok…are you ready?” Hutch whispered in her ear as he grabbed hold of the handkerchief to pull it away.

“I guess so…” Cassie said hesitantly as she waited to see just what they were up to. But nothing could have prepared her for what she was about to see.

Hutch gave his partner the signal; and at the silent count of three…he ripped the blindfold from her eyes as Starsky waited for her reaction with a large grin on his face.

“TA DA!” Hutch said as he allowed her to see.

Cassie’s eyes grew large as saucers as she stared at the object in front of her.

Starsky grew a bit concerned as he watched her blank expression and she felt herself on the verge of going into shock. Hutch had also noticed the fact that for about a half a minute…she hadn’t taken a breath.

It was painted a light, pale blue with a mural that ran around all four sides of it. The mural, done in pastels, showed a beautiful sunset, in various shades of oranges and purples, setting in the horizon on a beach. Waves lapping over the sand, and seagulls flying off into the sunset. The roll bar was Starsky’s idea.

“Well…what do you think?” Starsky asked in an attempt to bring her back to reality.

“It’s…It’s for me?” She managed as she looked over at Starsky and then back up at Hutch. “You bought me a Jeep?”

“It’s a Rodeo.” Starsky told her. “Wanna’ go for a drive?”

“I can’t believe it…I must be dreaming.”  Cassie said as she slowly began to walk around it taking a close look at every small detail. It was a few years old but it was in good shape. The paint job was what really set it off. It was probably what drew Starsky to it in the first place.  Then something else caught her eye as she rounded the back.

“Hey…is that for real?” She asked as she stepped closer and knelt down to touch it.

“It’s Legal…” Starsky told her as he watched her reaction to the personalized license plate that read ‘LA BRAT’

“I love it!” She said as she stood back up and released a laugh. “How’d you come up with the name?”

“Two hours in the DMV going through names that were already taken until Hutch came along and made the suggestion.” He told her. “It was his idea.”

She walked around to the driver’s door admiring the mural as she stepped inside and then she saw it…the shifter in the center…and the third pedal on the floor.

“I can’t drive this…” She told them with a little disappointment.

“Sure you can…” Hutch said as he opened the passenger door and motioned to Starsky and Huggy to get in the back. It was a tight fit but they both managed to squeeze inside. Then he climbed into the front with her as she shut the driver’s door.

“Ok…I know I have to have the clutch in before I start it.” She told him.

She cranked it up and began to let off the clutch slowly as she pressed the gas and headed out slowly…a few jerky movements brought a choked curse from behind her as Starsky hit his head on the roll bar.

“Sorry….” She said as she looked back at him “Better keep your head down.”

END

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
  Back to Pebbles Page
Back to Gallery