Passages Five: My Two Uncles

“Starsky” he said into the phone.

“This is Principal Linda Clark at Thousand Oaks Middle School. I need you and Mr. Hutchinson to come by the school this afternoon for a meeting. If you could.”

“Sure, what time?”

“About three?”

“I’ll call my partner,” Starsky said. “Is there some problem?”

“I think we should wait until the meeting.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The two men walked into the school office to see Adam sitting on the bench, swinging his feet, shirt slightly torn and his pants dirty.

“Adam?”

The boy looked up, at first happy to see them, then hung his head.

“Hi Uncle Ken. Hi Starsky.”

The men glanced at each other in surprise. He had obviously been in a fight. The principal came out and brought the two men in her office.

“We had an incident here this afternoon that I needed to discuss with you both. Adam was apparently fighting with another boy. He’s not hurt,” she hastened to assure them. “As a matter of fact, he was able to subdue the boy without ever returning a punch.”

Hutch looked concerned. “Ms. Clark, when I was in school, thirteen year old boys got in fights all the time. If no one was hurt, why the important meeting?”

“It was the reason for the fight that persuaded me to call this meeting. Adam wouldn’t tell me what it was about, but the other boys who were in the area did. The other boy called you and Mr. Starsky some rather inappropriate names.”

“Don’t beat around the bush, here, Ms. Clark,” Starsky interrupted impatiently. “What names?”

“Faggot and queer were the two I heard about,” she replied apologetically.

“Damn, we’ve been afraid of this,” Hutch said quietly, meeting his partner’s eyes.

“We don’t condone fighting here, no matter what the reason, but it sounds as if Adam was provoked,” the principal explained. “I’m now hearing that the taunting has been going on for a couple of weeks. Finally Billy Matthews started pushing Adam, and he fought back, putting the other boy on the ground and holding him there.”

“We taught him to defend himself, but not exchange blows unless he had to,” Starsky’s voice trailed off.

“I don’t think he needs to be punished, but I did think you should know what was happening.”

The men stood, and Hutch spoke first. “Thank you for your sensitivity, Ms. Clark. We appreciate that.”

They left the office, to find Hannah sitting beside Adam on the bench. “C’mon kids, time to go home.”

After a silent ride in the car, the foursome reached the house, and headed for the back porch, their family meeting spot.

“I’m not sure what to say,” Hutch began.

“I’m not sorry,” Adam interrupted. “Billy Matthews deserved it.”

“We’re not going to punish you, Adam,” Hutch replied. “From what Ms. Clark said, it sounds like you handled the situation as best you could.” Adam looked up, surprised. “I thought we should talk about what Billy was saying.”

“Billy is a jerk, Uncle Ken,” Hannah said. “He keeps saying stupid things about you and Starsky around the school. He’s just ignorant.”

“Do many of the kids talk about our relationship?” Starsky asked.

“They have for years, Starsky,” Hannah replied calmly. “We just explain that you’re our uncles and you love each other and if they don’t like it, they can stuff it.”

Starsky couldn’t help it, and laughed out loud. “Oh, Hannah Banana, you are a piece of work.”

Hutch looked at Adam, who wasn’t meeting his eyes. “And you, Adam?”

“It’s harder for him,” Hannah answered for her twin. “Some of the boys say he must be gay too.”

“It’s OK, really Uncle Ken,” Adam looked up. “It’s only the stupid ones, like Billy. My friends know you guys and know you’re cool. It’s only a problem sometimes. Please don’t feel bad.”

“We’re not ashamed of our relationship and we’re glad neither of you are either,” Hutch explained. “I’m just sorry the world has to be so intolerant. We hate to think you get any extra grief because of us.”

Hannah ran over and hugged Hutch. “Don’t feel bad, Uncle Ken. We love you and Starsky both. You’re both great parents.” Her smile sparkled. “Besides, who else can brag about having not one but two handsome, good-looking, generous uncles?”

“Hutch, quick, hide your wallet.”