Starsky knows Hutch pretty well by now and realises that the birthday coming up might be a difficult day for Hutch so he plans something special. Set 1974.
Written in 2020. Includes the Walters family because I wish we’d seen more of them.
Starsky knew Hutch pretty well by now.
He knew when Hutch frowned at the homeless guy – who’d taken the opportunity to clean his windscreen while he was stopped at a red light – that it wasn’t because he was cross; it was because he was wishing he could do more as he handed over the dollar the guy had asked for. He knew when Hutch called him names, it wasn’t because he meant them; it was because something was going on that had overloaded his partner to the point of lashing out at whoever was nearest to him. He knew when Hutch went quiet he was trapped in memories recalling past failures.
So he knew that this second birthday after Vanessa was going to be painful for Hutch.
It shouldn’t be – Hutch should be glad he was free of that bloodsucking harpy but the day itself was inevitably going to conjure up memories of two years ago. That was the year Vanessa refused to let him celebrate with his friends and had insisted on going out to some fancy restaurant that she liked; the year she managed to wait until after the meal before she started the usual inevitable argument with Hutch; the year, on the morning after his birthday, that Hutch had turned up at Starsky’s door nearly in tears at yet another cruel comment Vanessa had made during their argument; the year, a few days after his birthday, that Hutch finally gave up and walked out on a marriage that was long since over.
There were no memories of last year’s birthday.
Hutch had drunk himself into oblivion on what should have been his 30th birthday – Tuesday 28th August 1973. Starsky had planned a celebration for the following Saturday as they would both be working on the day itself but had cancelled it when he’d realised just how low Hutch was feeling. Carrying a bottle of wine, a cake and card with tickets for a baseball game, he’d turned up on the morning of Hutch’s birthday to pick his partner up for work and found his partner passed out on the couch surrounded by bottles.
Starsky had covered for him – ringing the office and telling them Hutch had stomach flu. He’d cleared all the empty bottles away; put out a large glass of water on the coffee table for when Hutch woke up; left a note telling Hutch to rest up and he would see him after his shift; and taken away the card, wine and cake knowing that it wouldn’t make his partner happy, it would just reinforce his misery. By the time, Starsky had come back, Hutch was up and about and wearing dark glasses. He’d quietly thanked Starsky for covering for him and they’d said no more about it or the fact it was his birthday. Starsky had given the tickets away to someone he owed a favour to – he couldn’t give them to Hutch and he couldn’t bear to go to the game without him so it had been best to forget the whole thing and let the present go.
This year, Starsky was determined Hutch was going to celebrate his birthday in a way he would enjoy. He’d been thinking for weeks about what his partner would like and failing to come up with an idea. It was as he was sat at the Walters’ table, having dinner before Jackson went on shift at the bus company, that he came up with an idea he thought Hutch would like. He set the plan in motion and thought cheerfully that he would be able to give Hutch a good birthday memory, at last.
On Tuesday 27th as their shift ended, Starsky finally mentioned the plan that had been burning away in his mind all day.
“Hutch. As it’s your birthday tomorrow, I’d thought I’d take you out for dinner after we get off work. Okay?”
Hutch looked at him and grimaced. “Don’t know if I’ll be in the mood for going out, Starsk.”
“Sure you will. You gotta do something to mark the day.”
“Why?”
Starsky frowned. “’Cause it’s what people do. Celebrate the day they were born with people who care.”
Hutch shrugged. “I’m not bothered about it. Let’s just forget it this year.”
Starsky sighed. “How about I pick you up and bring you to my place? We’ll get a pizza or something.”
“All right, if you want.”
Starsky smiled at his partner. “Yeah, that’s what I want. See you tomorrow partner.”
He watched Hutch as he got out of the car and disappeared into the cottage. At least he’d got Hutch to agree to do something. Hopefully, he could get him to come out with him tomorrow after work.
*****
The next day, as Starsky dropped Hutch at home after their shift, Hutch was still wavering. He’d been quiet all day, only speaking when he had to. Starsky chose to ignore the warning signs and hoped that his partner would let him take him out. He went home and showered, changed into a fresh pair of jeans and red t-shirt and went back to collect his morose friend.
He walked into the cottage and knew he’d lost the battle – Hutch had already started on the beer. Several bottles were lined up on the coffee table. At least only one was open at this point.
“Hey buddy. Thought we were going to celebrate at my place?”
Hutch shrugged. “I’m not going out. You want to join me, I don’t mind, but I don’t feel like celebrating with other people.”
Starsky sighed and sat down next to his friend.
“Hutch…Please come out with me and celebrate your birthday.”
Hutch frowned at him and shook his head.
“Please…I kinda made some plans.”
Hutch stared at him and took another sip of beer. “If you’ve arranged something stupid like a party, I’m sorry, but that’s not me. You should know that…otherwise you know me just as little as everyone else.”
Starsky felt his eyes prickle with tears. Hutch could be a jerk when he was really hurting. Usually Starsky didn’t mind but after last year’s failed attempt and the fact that he had always been there to pick up the pieces and knew his partner inside out, Hutch’s acid comment was too much. Let Hutch wallow in self-pity if that was what he wanted. He’d tried – it wasn’t his fault if he’d failed.
He stood up and started to walk out of the door.
Then he took a few calming breaths – just ‘cause he thought Hutch was ready to move on, didn’t mean he was. It was Hutch’s birthday after all – if he wanted to stay home and drink…Well, maybe he should join him? Then at least he could try and get Hutch to eat something as well as drink and maybe even make sure his partner didn’t repeat last year’s excesses. He turned around.
“Hutch, can I use your phone? I’ll just make a call and then I’ll order pizza for both of us.”
Hutch was looking at him as if he was sorry, as if he knew he’d hurt his partner’s feelings and almost pushed his best friend too far. He tried to smile and make amends.
“Sure.” He waved in the direction of the phone. “Pizza sounds good buddy.”
Making a supreme effort, Starsky tried to hide his disappointment and smile back. He walked over to the phone and picked up the handset, dialling the number quickly and then waited for someone to answer. He heard Hutch get up and walk towards the kitchen.
Mrs Walters answered.
“Oh hi Mrs Walters, it’s David…I’m really sorry but Hutch isn’t feeling all that well so we’ll have to cancel…Yes, I know it’s a shame…Yes, I’m sorry…Tell Junior he can have my slice of cake…I’ll try to call round tomorrow and play hoops with him.”
He felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Starsk.”
“Hold on a minute,” Starsky said into the phone. He turned to face Hutch.
Hutch twisted his lip and then asked, “The party was at Jackson’s?”
“Yeah…Well, no…Not a party. Just you, me, Jackson and Junior. Thought we could play hoops and I asked Mrs Walters to make a coffee cake ‘cause it’s your favourite. Just thought you might like to have a quiet celebration with a few friends. Nothing fancy…but it’s okay Hutch, we can do it next year.”
Hutch shook his head. “Sorry for being such a jerk.”
Starsky grinned. “Hey, you can’t call my best friend a jerk on his birthday that’s my job!”
For the first time that day, Hutch grinned back at him. “Go on then.”
“You’re a jerk Hutch.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay…So do you want to have coffee cake and play hoops to celebrate your birthday?”
“Yes. I’ll go get changed.”
As he hurried away, Starsky grinned happily and took his hand off the phone receiver.
“Hey Mrs Walters, tell Junior he can’t have my slice of cake after all. Hutch is feeling better and we’ll be over in a few minutes…Yes, thanks…Bye.”
Hutch was ready in just a few minutes and the two of them set off to the Walters’ house. As Starsky drove, Hutch placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Thanks partner. I’m sorry I don’t handle birthdays very well…too many bad memories.”
Starsky nodded. “I know, buddy…I know…but that’s why I wanted to try to give you a good memory to hold onto.”
Hutch looked out of the window but squeezed Starsky’s shoulder.
When they arrived at Jackson’s house, Junior ran out and grabbed Hutch’s hand and dragged him inside. There was a homemade banner saying Happy Birthday strung across the kitchen and the table was laid with sandwiches, chicken drumsticks, salad and other delicious looking nibbles. In the middle of the table was a magnificent looking coffee cake covered with candles.
Mrs Walters gave Hutch a warm hug and Jackson shook hands with him then handed him a present. Hutch thanked them all as he untied the ribbons and opened the tin. He smiled when he saw the homemade cookies inside.
“I helped make ‘em,” Junior told him.
Hutch ruffled the boy’s hair as he said, “Thank you.”
Starsky reached behind the door leading to the living room and pulled out a large square box wrapped with red wrapping paper. He handed it to Hutch, who looked at him curiously. Hutch pulled the paper off and opened the box. He laughed.
“Too hard to wrap I take it,” he commented as he pulled a new basketball out.
“That and I wanted it to be a surprise for a few more seconds,” Starsky confirmed with a grin.
Hutch slapped his back. “I love it. Thanks.”
Mrs Walters clapped her hands and told everyone to sit down and start eating. After a little while, Jackson lit the candles on the cake and everyone sang Happy Birthday. Hutch blew out the candles and looked round at the little group; Mrs Walters – so caring and adept at making anyone feel like part of the family; Junior – a sweet natured boy that Hutch was glad that he and Starsky were allowed to help bring up; Jackson – a hardworking, loving family man doing his best to bring up his son and keep his family together; and Starsky – more than a partner, more than a best friend and more than a brother.
Hutch realised that this was the best birthday he had had in many years because he was surrounded by people who simply cared about him and wanted the best for him. He looked at Starsky to find his best friend watching him with a relieved smile.
Junior jumped up. “Can we play hoops now?”
“Sure,” Starsky said.
Hutch passed the ball to Junior who raced off and the three men followed him outside. As they walked across the yard, Hutch wrapped one arm around Starsky.
“Thanks, Starsk, and I’m sorry for what I said…I don’t know where the horrible words come from. I don’t mean them and I wish I didn’t say them.”
“I know that,” Starsky said.
Hutch nodded and looked at his friend. “Yes you do…‘cause you are the person who knows me better than anyone…even better than I know myself maybe.”
Starsky’s smile was filled with pure joy – all hurts forgotten at Hutch’s genuinely affectionate words.
“Happy Birthday Hutch.”
“Thanks, Starsk. Thanks for the coffee cake and the hoops and for caring.”
Starsky’s smile grew even brighter. “You’re welcome. Now prepare for a legendary basketball defeat, buddy. Me and Junior gonna whip your hide! Ain’t that right, Junior?”
The little boy grinned and bounced the ball to Starsky. “Yeah, we’re gonna win!”
Starsky watched as his friend pretended to block Junior from receiving the ball from Starsky and faked frustration when Junior grabbed the ball out of the air. He knew that Hutch was going to have a good memory to look back on when tonight was over and was glad and relieved that he’d finally managed to break Hutch out of the cycle of misery. No doubt Hutch would moan about birthdays in the future but Starsky knew as long as he lived he would make sure that Hutch got to celebrate every birthday with people who cared about him – after all, that was what partners and best friends and brothers did for each other.
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