Party Time

Twenty-five years later, Starsky and Hutch throw a party.

Starsky came bouncing out of the computer store all pent up energy and glee. Anyone seeing him could easily see the little boy he really was.

The last thread for the party was in place, now all he had to do was contain his excitement for another five hours.

Gary guaranteed that the DVD was so much better than VHS, and hinted that he’d added some surprises of his own to the tape he had converted for them, but refused to tell him anything about it. He had also promised to be there early to start taking digital memories of the reunion/anniversary party.

Twenty-five years since the first party. Who would have believed it? The years had simply vanished, lost in memories of a life finally filled with love, contentment, friendship and new beginnings.

Each year on the anniversary of the party that had signalled the end of their old life as cops and their new life as committed partners, they had watched the old movie and laughed and reminisced, safe and warm in their own home. Necessity had driven him to safeguard the memories by transferring them to VHS, and now to the new technology of DVD. It hadn’t taken much to get Hutch to agree to buy a DVD player after he and Gary had ganged up on him and forced him to watch a movie and then another family project that Gary had done. Of course, the fact that he himself had another toy to play with had no influence on Hutch at all!

They had spent three months planning this get together, trying to round up all the original participants. It had been both a joyous and a sad chore, as some old contacts where hard to find, having vanished off the face of the earth, or had died. Old memories where relived, old sorrows revisited, but balanced against that was the joy of renewing friendships they had let slip. Time and promises where not always honest companions, and good intentions where easily ignored.

It had taken nothing but money to convince the new owner of the old Pits to allow them to take over the place for the night. It wasn’t the same old place, which was kind of sad, but at least it was still a restaurant, of a sort, with a new name (Pit Stop) and a new image. It retained the old layout and had kept a modicum of the atmosphere, but now there were small groupings of comfy chairs around coffee tables, shiny machines that spewed out all sorts of weird concoctions that Hutch was prone to try, and, he had to admit, their selection of gooey goodies wasn’t bad. And, more importantly, the clientele was allowed to linger and talk which kept the ‘neighborliness’ of the place. It didn’t hurt that the owner was a new friend, and had consented to provide the caterer.

Getting permission for beer and wine to be served had sorely tried their patience with bureaucracy, but Huggy had stepped right in and with his usual finesse had it all arranged in two days, even down to delivery of the goods and a bartender (female, and well-endowed, of course).

The guest list had started with the original 25, but had soon expanded to include new friends, and family of old friends. They hadn’t seen Cal and his twin sons, or Rosey Dobey, for almost two years, and Minnie’s son for longer than that. Kiko and Molly would drop by for short visits on occasion as they pursued their various business interests.

It was one of the sad notes that Dobey himself had passed away just this year after long years of contented retirement with Edith. It sometimes seemed as if their past was being buried along with their friends and old comrades.

The whole party had taken on a life of its own, word spreading faster than bad news. Quite a few had turned it into a vacation trip: Hutch’s sister, Chris, her two kids with their spouses and her one granddaughter where also bringing his mother and planning a two-week visit. Starsky’s own mother was now in a nursing home and unable to travel, but Nick and his daughter Marla (another “long time, no see” family member) had been shamed into coming by his mother, who could still wield the old guilt trip thing with the best of them.

He arrived home to find Hutch lazily stretched out on the sofa, a coffee and the day’s newspaper scattered around him.

“Get everything done?” Hutch asked, not even looking up.

“Yeah, I did lazy bones. You could have helped you know.”

Hutch raised sparkling, teasing eyes. “Why? I’ve got you.”

“You trying to start my motor?”

“Is it working?

“No way, buddy. Come on, get your lazy ass up and get in the shower. We have to get ready.”

“Starsk, we’ve got four hours yet. Slow down, babe.”

“Hutch,” Starsky wheedled as he pulled out his slowly diminishing list, “we don’t have four hours, we have one.”

“One! Come on Starsk, the party doesn’t start ’til seven and it’s just after three now.”

“I know that dummy. Did you forget we promised to pick up Edith at four and drive her out to the airport to meet Cal, Jeannie and the boys? And then…” there was a slight pause while he consulted his list.

“…and then, while I’m doing that, you will be driving your old rust bucket out to Huggy’s to pick him up, then whip around to get Minnie and Jason, and then hightail it to the restaurant to supervise the set up. Can’t have anything going wrong there.”

Starsky smiled at Hutch’s ‘when did I agree to do all this’ look.

“But, I am willing to share the shower with you, if you can beat me there.”

He had to admit that Hutch could still move pretty well for an old man. With a lot of friendly pushing, shoving, tickling, and tripping, the race to the shower, as usual, could be called a tie. The accompanying delay of a shared shower still had them ready and out the door within the hour.

When Starsky finally escorted Edith into the Pit Stop just after seven, most of the party guests where already there. If the volume of chattering, happy voices were anything to go by, the reunion was a huge success. He proceeded to gallantly seat Edith at the table of honor where she was immediately swamped with friends eager to share the latest news in all their lives. After being assured that Edith was well looked after, Starsky started making the rounds, proud as a peacock and twice as arrogant.

It was well after nine o’clock before the bedlam resolved itself into small groups seated comfortably around the room, with only the occasional conversation or laughter interrupting their meal. Starsky and Hutch finally had a moment to sit quietly with Nicky, Marla, Chris, and Hutch’s mom, Charlotte, to share family news.

They hadn’t planned on any elaborate after-dinner ceremony, just a word of thanks to everyone for coming, etc. and to then continue the party. However, Huggy and Gary took over the minute the after-dinner wine and/or coffee were served, rolling out a table upon which sat a large screen TV. Starsky and Hutch exchanged suspicious, ‘Oh no’ looks.

When Starsky attempted to rise, Nick’s hand held him down the same time as Huggy’s amplified voice demanded, “Sit down Starsky, the fun’s just beginning.”

Starsky sat.

“Ladies, gentlemen, ” said the self-appointed Master of Ceremonies. “We have now reached the point in the evening where we can forget the niceties and start telling the truth about our past.”

A few moans and snickers could be heard.

“Our hosts brought us together to celebrate twenty-five years of a shared history, and their twenty-five years of shared partnership, friendship and life commitment. So, I propose the first toast of the evening — to Starsky and Hutch and another twenty-five years!”

Starsky and Hutch endured the thunderous ovation as glasses were raised and cheers, catcalls and wolf whistles descended on them. As the uproar diminished, Starsky grabbed Hutch’s right hand with his left, raising them both in a winner’s salute and then bringing them both to their feet to perform a very formal bow of thanks.

Huggy continued. “Now we’re not going to talk you death, we’ve all been there as these guys suffered, played and danced through our lives. But Edith discovered a few treasures while cleaning house a few months ago that the Captain had saved and she thought ‘her boys’ might like to have them.”

While Huggy was speaking, Cal and Rosey approached Starsky and Hutch’s table. After a moment of astonishment and disbelief, they both broke into uproarious laughter and quite literally fell off their chairs as Cal placed on the table in front of them one beribboned, sparkling white toilet. Their merriment was contagious and soon the whole room joined them, those in the know quickly telling the story through their laughter.

When order had been restored (although Starsky kept on giggling for ages), Rosey started pulling items out of the box she carried: out came a collection of calling cards for various services, all carrying Dobey’s office extension number, including the stamp pad and ink used in their making (we’ll get even with you looks were directed at Kiko who only grinned in return); then came a simple wiring mechanism which Rosey explained worked as an alarm when her father went to the candy machine; this was followed by an astrology book which she said had been used to convince her father to go off his diet; she then quietly placed an official paper on the table which sobered Starsky and Hutch for a moment as the memories came–it was the warrant for Hutch’s arrest for the murder of one Vanessa Hutchinson, and that Starsky had served; the mood was brightened immediately when out popped a rather worn looking plastic piggy bank in the shape of, of course, a piggy, which Starsky fondly cradled then shook. ‘It’s empty,’ he wailed and promptly dug in his pants pocket for a coin, which Hutch duplicated and suddenly the little fellow was making the rounds; they would make sure he ended up back at the precinct, his contents to be used by the police charity fund.

When the box was empty, Starsky nodded to Hutch who promptly rose, approached Huggy and removed his red rose boutoniere and then returned to Edith’s table, kissing her cheek and pinning the rose on her. He said a few quiet words to her, kissing her cheek again before returning to his seat.

“Now for the piece de resistance,” boomed Huggy.

But he was interrupted, as the front door of the restaurant was thrown open and two rather large uniformed policemen stomped their way in, guns drawn, and loudly demanded that ‘everyone freeze’. Silence suddenly reigned.

“Just a minute officers,” said a cold Hutchinson voice, “this is a private party. What do you want?”

“We want Starsky and Hutchinson, NOW.”

“What do you want us for?” said a slightly suspicious Starsky.

A voice from behind the officers stated in an officious, read-’em-their-rights tone: “For having the unmitigated gall to throw a party without us.” And out popped Simmons and Babcock.

Both Starsky and Hutch rushed their two old comrades, uttering totally false threats of bodily harm for scaring the hell out of them and their guests.

“Took one from your book, Starsky,” said Babcock recovering from the body tackle and hug Starsky had locked on him.

“You guys were supposed to be in Frisco at that conference. What happened?”

“It was boring beyond belief,” said Simmons, “So we decided to bug out, and hopped a plane. We in time for the fun and beer?”

“Find a seat fellas, and thanks for coming,” said a delighted Starsky.

Simmons and Babcock dismissed their officers with promises of extra time off for good behaviour and joined the fun.

“Well, now that that’s over, can we go on?” said a disgruntled Huggy.

“Go for it Hug-a-rino,” said a merry Starsky.

“O.K. The highlight of our evening will be a movie presentation put together by our good friend Gary Porter over at “The Dummies Computer Store” where Starsky hangs out.”

Gary stepped forward. “Thanks Hug. When Dave asked me to transfer their original movie from twenty-five years ago onto DVD, I talked him into letting me have carte blanche when putting it together. Dave, Ken your families and friends rounded up a lot of material for me once the word spread, and it’s all here. I hope you enjoy it. Oh, and by the way, all of tonight’s festivities, as you may have noticed, are being recorded for the next party in twenty-five years. So everyone refresh your drinks and get ready to watch.”

While they waited, Starsky turned his chair just enough so that he could snuggle up to Hutch as they watched. Hutch’s arm came around his shoulders to hold him close.

Once the movie started they found themselves lost in memories, drowned in tears or laughter, embarrassed beyond belief, and stunned speechless at the depth of love and friendship that was freely theirs.

Gary had incorporated disgusting baby pictures, proudly arrogant raw recruits, too many Torino’s and LTDs, old girl friends, drunken slobs, and those just plain fun things like basketball and picnics. There was a special tribute to Captain Dobey that everyone honored with silent approval; there was Kiko and Molly and Cal and Rosey and Junior and even Sweet Alice, but the highlight of it all came at the end.

Starsky gasped and sat straight up as his mother appeared on the screen.

“David, Ken. I’m sorry these silly doctors won’t let me come celebrate with you. I would have come, you know that Davey, but even Nicky refused to be bribed.

I love you both. Ken, I know you have made my boy happy, and for that I thank you. I could wish a lot of things for you, but I know you already have what you most desire.

Be well and look after each other.

O.K. Nicky, shut that thing off. I’m tired.”

Hutch held tightly to Starsky as he watched, knowing that the tears would start any minute. His own were already threatening as he watched that dear old woman who had become his friend and second mother. It was painful to see how much she had deteriorated since they had last seen her six months ago. He knew it wasn’t going to be long before they would have to make that final trip. When the lights came on, he locked eyes with Nick and silently thanked him.

“Starsk? You O.K. babe?” The room was silent around them.

Starsky sat frozen for a moment, and then turned to look at his love.

“Isn’t she the greatest Hutch? She loves you so much, you know that, right?”

“Yeah, I know that Starsk and I love her too.”

Starsky got up and pulled Hutch behind him to pick up the microphone.

“This has been the greatest day of my life,” he said to his friends, “all because of you, and our families. Nick, thank you little brother, I’m going to treasure that for the rest of my life. Edith, Cal, Rosey, no one holds a place in my heart, or had my respect, more than my old friend and Captain. Chris and Charlotte you are as important to me as my own family and I love you because you belong to Hutch.

Hutch, you want to say anything? No. Okay then, let’s get this party rolling.

Oh, wait, before I forget. If anyone would like a copy of this award winning film, let me know, and it’s yours, with all the embarrassing bits edited out.”

Starsky thought is was at least 4 a.m. when the cab dropped them off at home. Neither one could do more than stumble their way into the bedroom, remove jackets, shoes, belts and ties then tumble onto the bed. Nothing more was heard from the room until a stray sunbeam disturbed Starsky and wouldn’t let up.

Eventually he acknowledged defeat and grumbled his way to the bathroom, barely recognizing himself in the mirror.

“Coffee. I need coffee.”

Ten minutes later he stood propped up against the kitchen counter sipping the black elixir as life slowly returned. His coffee cup was rudely removed from his hand and greedily gulped by his partner. He just reached around behind him, selected another cup and started again. Neither said a word until two cups had been consumed.

“Some party, Starsk,” breathed Hutch.

“Yep,” replied Starsky.

“Think we’ll survive the next one?” inquired Hutch.

“Well, I figure twenty-five years should give us enough time to get over these hangovers in time to start another one,” reasoned Starsky.

Together they turned and shuffled their way back to bed, this time cuddling around each other like puppies in a basket.

The party’s never over.