The Gifts

35

Originally published in the 2024 Starsky & Hutch Advent Calendar.

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Starsky and Huggy Bear clambered up the steps at Venice Place, Starsky trying to balance two boxes while Huggy half carried, half dragged a Christmas tree that only just fit through the doorway. Once at the top of the stairway, Huggy was barely able to hold on to the tree.

“Hurry up, Starsky! This tree’s getting heavy.”

Starsky shushed him while reaching for the key in Hutch’s less-than-secret hiding place. “Will you keep it down! He’s going to hear us. Dammit! The key’s not here.” One of the boxes fell to the landing with a loud clatter as he tried to extract his own keys from his pants pocket.

Huggy rolled his eyes. “And you’re telling me to be quiet. Man, why are we doing this anyway? I thought ol’ Ebenezer hated Christmas.”

“He does, but I keep trying to convert him. We had a shit week and didn’t leave work until after midnight last night. I thought I’d surprise him with a little early decorating. He won’t admit it, but he really loves it.”

Huggy shook his head. “Right. Sure he does. He’s always telling me how much he loves the whole Christmas season.”

Starsky finally got the door unlocked, and after reaching down for the dropped box bumped the door open with his hip. But after he took one step into the room, he froze. Huggy, who had been looking down to try to gather the tree in his arms, ran into his back with the tree trunk. The simultaneous collision and Starsky’s shout of—“Oh my God! Not again!”—left Huggy peering over Starsky’s shoulder with wide eyes.

Hutch’s living room looked like a tornado had touched down. Empty boxes, paper, and trash covered the floor and couch. A card table set up next to the coffee table was also piled with debris. And with a quick glance into the kitchen, Starsky saw a couple of cabinet doors open and what looked like every pan and dish Hutch owned on the counter. Most horrifying of all was a thin layer of white powder covering the counters, table, and floor.

Still standing just inside the doorframe, Starsky shouted, “Hutch? HUTCH! Huggy, where is he?”

Huggy dropped the tree again and squeezed past Starsky so he could get a better view of the now-too-familiar destruction while he answered, “How should I know, man? You’re the one connected to his hip. Maybe you need to keep him on a leash.” He let out a long whistle. “And while you’re at it, maybe you should start interviewing his potential lady friends. Clearly, he ain’t thinking with his head.”

“Or maybe he’s only thinkin’ with his other head,” Starsky mumbled.

Huggy snorted and walked further into the room.

Starsky did the same and bent down near the couch to examine the scene more carefully. He picked up a piece of the colorful paper and could just make out what appeared to be a Santa Claus. He looked up at Huggy, who was standing next to the card table, fingering what looked like red and green ribbon.

“Huggy, this all looks like wrapping paper. And is that ribbon?”

“And bows.”

“It looks like he was wrapping Christmas presents!”

“Man, Starsky, you oughta been a dee-tec-tiiivvvveee.”

Still confused, Starsky moved to the kitchen, where he stood mouth agape. Huggy walked over to join him.

“Man, oh man. I thought I’d seen it all with the back of his car. Mr. Clean he ain’t!” Huggy stuck out a finger and ran it along the counter. “Starsky, what’s this white stuff? And do you smell something?”

Starsky ran a finger through the powder, then touched it to his tongue. “It tastes like… flour? And what is that smell? It’s all vanilla-ie.” He peered into the sink, then reached in and picked up a piece of something hard and tan. After smelling it, he popped it in his mouth, then his eyes opened wide.

Huggy stared at him. “Man, that’s gross! What is wrong with you? Eating stuff outta that sink!”

“Huggy, it’s delicious! I think it’s cookie. But what the hell is Hutch doing makin’ cookies? At Christmas? Or any time for that matter? He doesn’t even eat cookies.”

Huggy suddenly stopped lifting pans and stood ramrod straight, with wide eyes. “Uh-oh! Starsky, what’s today?”

“Saturday.”

“No, the date, man, the date?”

“Ummm, the thirteenth, I think.”

“So that makes this the second Saturday of the month?”

Starsky was becoming exasperated with his friend, and increasingly more worried about his other friend. “Huggy, when did you become such a chronologist? Will you quit worrying about the calendar and help me figure out what happened here?”

Huggy held up his hands, trying to defuse Starsky’s worry. “I think I may know where he is.”

Starsky stared Huggy into telling him more.

“Remind me never to be in an interrogation room with you. I think he’s down at the special education school on 4th and Sunset.”

“What? Why would he be there?”

“Each year he helps them with their Christmas party. It’s always the second Saturday in December.”

“Huggy, are you trying to tell me that Hutch, my partner, the blond one, suddenly likes Christmas so much that he’s baking cookies, wrapping presents, and givin’ ‘em to kids?”

Huggy rolled his eyes and let out a deep sigh. “Come on, Starsky. You know Hutch better than anyone. So you, of all people, should know that Hutch’s Christmas doesn’t come from a store. For him, maybe, it means a little bit more.”

Starsky was tired of Huggy’s riddles and wanted real answers. “Okay, Doctor Suess, I get that Hutch can be the Grinch, but are you trying to tell me his heart grew three sizes last night?”

“Not just last night, and that’s not at all what I’m telling you. You two cats are as different as night and day, and how you’re such good friends is one of life’s biggest mysteries. But for whatever reason, you two go together like bread and butter, Bogey and McCall, Lucy and Ethel, Bert and–”

Starsky cut him off. “Okay! Okay! I get your point, but get to the real point.”

“The point is, Hutch’s Christmas is different from your Christmas, and that’s cool. Let him do it his way and you do it your way. And why are you even doing Christmas, man? What happened to Hanukkah?”

There was too much rattling around in Starsky’s brain to answer Huggy. But he knew he needed more information. “Come on, Hug. Help me drag the tree the rest of the way in, then we’re going down to that school. I need to see this for myself.”

As they made a bigger mess in Hutch’s living room, Starsky had one last question, for now, for Huggy. “How’d you know about all of this?”

“How did you not?”

~~~

Starsky and Huggy stood in the hallway looking through the windows of the doors to the gym. It looked like a winter wonderland. There was fake snow on the floor, Christmas lights hanging from the stage and along the walls. A huge decorated tree was in one corner, with piles and piles of presents underneath it. A very authentic Santa Claus was sitting in a chair next to the tree. On the far side of the gym were folding tables and chairs, the tables covered in food.

But what took Starsky’s breath away was the sight in the middle of the gym. At least forty kids of all ages were sitting on the floor in a half circle, some in wheelchairs. There were just as many adults, if not more, sitting in chairs behind the kids. And in front of all of them was Hutch with his guitar.

“Damn, Starsky! It looks like one of those Andy Williams Christmas specials I watch on the TV. And look at Blondie all up in the middle of it.”

“I can’t believe it, Hug. He’s singing in front of people. And smiling. And it looks like he’s having a good time. Hutch! Having a good time! At a Christmas party!” Starsky’s voice went up in pitch with every sentence.

Huggy snorted at Starsky’s disbelief.

The sound caused Starsky to look away from the unbelievable scene and glance at Huggy who seemed to be as mesmerized as he was. When he looked back, he noticed a short brunette standing next to Hutch. She was wearing a festive red sweater, and her hand was resting on Hutch’s shoulder. As they sang “White Christmas” together, they kept looking into each other’s eyes as if no one else was around. “Who’s that cozying up to him?” Starsky asked Huggy.

“Oh, that’s Terry; she works here at the school.”

“They look pretty friendly. You think they have something going on?”

“How should I know, Starsky? Why do you keep asking me all these questions? But they haven’t been in The Pits together, and if you haven’t seen them out together, I’m guessing the answer is no.”

Starsky reached out to open the door. Huggy quickly grabbed his arm to stop him. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going in. I need to know what’s going on and why he’s doing this.”

Huggy still had a firm grip on Starsky’s arm; he knew he couldn’t let Starsky go into the gym. “Starsky, wait. If he’d wanted you to know, he’d have told you. Let him have this.”

Starsky let go of the door. “You know more than you’re telling me. How long’s he been doin’ this?”

Huggy sighed as he stared into Starsky’s questioning face. Several long seconds passed before he reluctantly said, “As long as I’ve known him.”

“What? You’ve known him almost as long as I have!”

“Listen man, I think he started doing it when things went south with Vanessa. He told me once it helped make up for all the bad Christmases at home. He didn’t elaborate and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what that really meant.”

“Yeah.” Starsky let out a long breath, and looked back into the gym. Hutch and Terry were now leading the audience in “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” The kids’ off-key singing made Starsky smile.

Huggy knew he needed to get Starsky out of there before they were spotted. “You wanna go shoot some pool?”

They turned and walked down the hallway to the parking lot together. “Nah. While he’s playing elf, I think I’ll do the same. I’m gonna go clean up his place.”

“Just don’t get caught. If he knows I’ve told you we’re both dead.”

“I won’t.”

As they reached the car, Starsky grabbed Huggy’s elbow to stop him from getting in. “Hey, Hug, one last question. What other secrets you been keeping for him?”

Huggy smiled his signature crooked grin. “Well, you know that bar tab you take turns paying?”

“Yeah?”

“When it’s your turn, by the time you pay, he’s already paid half of it.”

~~~

Starsky had worked fast and hard to clean up the mess in Hutch’s apartment, but he left the tree for them to decorate together for another day. While he worked, he had time to think back on what Huggy had said. And as was often the case, Huggy had been right. Hutch’s Christmas was so much more than boxes and bows. As he opened the door to The Pits, the entire day’s events culminated in an epiphany in his mind. The cleaning he’d done at Hutch’s was the perfect gift for his best friend who never wanted anything.

While he sat at the bar waiting for Anita to get his beer, his mind was a million miles away. When a large hand clamped down on his shoulder, he was so startled he nearly fell off the stool. The hand shifted and kept him from falling on the floor.

“Hey. I didn’t think I’d see you today,” Hutch said. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

Starsky turned and looked up at Hutch, who looked just as happy as he had when Starsky had seen him at the school. “Hey yourself. I didn’t even see you.”

“I know, I was waving you over. You look beat. What’d you do all day?”

“Oh, just a little Christmas stuff. Got some gifts taken care of. How about you?”

Hutch glanced over his shoulder at their booth in the back before answering just as vaguely, “Um, a little bit of the same. Hey, come sit with me. There’s someone I’ve been wanting you to meet.”

Starsky looked around Hutch at their booth but didn’t see anyone. But since Hutch was already walking that way, he had no choice but to grab his beer and follow him. As they got closer, Starsky could see someone sitting in the corner of the booth. It was the woman from the school who he’d been singing with.

“Terry, I’d like you to meet my partner, Dave Starsky. Starsk, this is Terry Roberts.” As Hutch made the introductions, he guided Starsky into the booth opposite Terry, then sat down next to him.

Several thoughts went through Starsky’s mind all at once. So Huggy’s intel is wrong for once. They must be seeing each other. She’s really cute. But she’s not really Hutch’s type. Look at that smile. Why is Hutch sitting next to me and not her? 

Terry smiled at Starsky. “I can’t believe it. I’m finally getting to meet the elusive and mysterious Dave Starsky. I was beginning to think you were Hutch’s very own Mr. Snuffleupagus. It’s nice to finally meet you.” She picked up her wine glass and took a sip.

Starsky glanced at Hutch, who had a goofy grin on his face, before turning back to Terry. “And you as well. But you’ll have to forgive me. My aloof partner here has failed to mention you at all to me.”

~~~

Hutch felt Starsky’s knee rammed into his thigh, a clear sign that his partner was perturbed with being put on the spot. “Ow! I, uh, mean, uh, well, we’re all here now. No time like the present to get to know one another,” he stammered.

He watched as Starsky rolled his eyes and mumbled, “Moron.” Terry choked back a giggle. Starsky smiled, then asked, “So Terry, how do you and the big lug here know each other?”

“We’ve known each other for years. He helps me–”

Hutch interrupted her before she could finish. “Terry’s a teacher! I help her a few times a year in her class. Oh look, there’s Anita. Starsky’s starving. Let’s order food. Anita!”

Both Starsky and Terry looked at Hutch like he’d lost his mind. They then looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Luckily for Hutch, Anita arrived to take their orders, so he didn’t have to try to explain his odd behavior.

“I know you want the Starsky special,” Anita said impatiently. “But what about your lady friend?”

Terry looked down and blushed a little, before looking back up straight into Starsky’s eyes. “A Starsky special, huh? Sounds intriguing. I’ll have that, too.”

“What about you, Blondie?”

“Nothing for me, Anita. I’m not that hungry.”

Anita left to put in their orders. Hutch watched as Starsky spoke to him, while never taking his eyes away from Terry. “Well, don’t think you’re getting any of my fries. I am starving and I’m not sharing.”

Terry laughed again. “He does it to you, too? I can’t stand it when he steals my fries.”

They were both laughing when they turned to look at Hutch, then laughed even more. Hutch was aware of the goofy grin pasted on his face once again.

Hutch tried to compose himself. He wiped his hand down his face and forced a yawn. “I didn’t realize how tired I am. I’m gonna split. You two enjoy your fries.” He started to get up when Terry reached for his hand.

“But Hutch, I drove us here.”

The concern he saw in her eyes was identical to Starsky’s own. They were so alike. They both cared for him. Warts and all.

He wondered, not for the first time, why he’d waited so long to introduce them. But deep down he knew it was his own reluctance to admit, especially to Starsky, that there were some parts of Christmas he enjoyed. Helping Terry with the kids at the school was one of his favorite things to do all year. He’d always known his secret would be out as soon as they met. His only hope now was that Starsky would be so twitterpated with Terry that he wouldn’t question her anymore about what exactly Hutch did to help at the school.

Hutch realized they were both still looking at him and knew he’d taken too long to respond. “Uh, right. Um, it’s okay. I’ll walk.”

Starsky rolled his eyes again. “Are you feeling all right? You’re acting weirder than usual.”

“I’m fine, Starsk. I just didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Yeah, I know,” Starsky mumbled.

“What?”

“Nothing. But it’s over five miles to your apartment from here.”

Hutch stammered one last time before thinking fast. “Uh, right. I’ll…I’ll call a cab. You two kids have fun.”

Hutch got up and walked to the pay phone at the end of the bar. After calling a cab, he went outside to wait without ever looking back. Merry Christmas, Starsk.