Hobbies

Hanging out together and chatting. Attempt at humour!

Starsky had his nose buried in a book titled: “Great questions for magical dates.” Hutch had been watering the plants and then reading the paper and had only just that moment noticed his friend’s choice of reading material. He snorted.

Starsky looked up, eyebrows raised in enquiry. “What?”

“What are you reading, Gordo? Dates going that badly, huh?”

Starsky rolled his eyes. “On the contrary. I have great dates! Women love me ’cause I know how to appear interested in their minds as well as you know what.”

Hutch snorted again. “How about instead of just acting interested in their minds, you were actually interested? Wouldn’t that be better?”

“I am interested, Blintz! It’s just questions like these make it clear that I am. That’s what I meant.”

Hutch looked unconvinced. “So tell me what sort of questions does that book think are good?”

“Well, there are all kinds…How about this one? If you could take up a new hobby, but had to stop one hobby you’re already doing, would you? And what would it be? See. That’s a great question.”

“Hmm. I guess that might lead to an interesting conversation. Not that I need help on my dates, of course!”

“Yeah right, Blintz…Well?”

“Well what?”

“Well, why aren’t you going to answer the question I asked?”

“No!”

“Why not?”

“For starters, we’re not on a date!” Hutch retorted, barely suppressing his mirth.

Starsky hit him with his book.

“Ouch!”

Starsky returned to reading. Hutch went back to reading the newspaper.

“Origami,” Starsky said suddenly.

Hutch looked at him in amazement. “Origami? Why origami?”

Starsky shrugged. “Don’t know. It just looks like fun and it’s clever. What about you?”

Hutch thought for a moment and then said, “The art of Bonsai.”

Starsky blinked. “Another plant based hobby?”

“So?”

“You’ll turn into a plant!”

“What does that even mean?” Hutch demanded.

Starsky opened his mouth to try to explain and then gave up. A second later, he started laughing.

Hutch shook his head as he said, “Well, at least I know what to get you next birthday, Gordo…a pile of paper.”

“And I’ll get you a tiny pair of scissors, Blintz!” Starsky said, as he tried to stop laughing and failed.

Hutch pretended he wasn’t amused but his lips twitched. He grabbed Starsky’s wrist and checked the time.

“Time to head out to The Pits?”

Starsky closed his book. “Yeah, there’s a burger waiting for me that’s got my name all over it.”

As Hutch went to get his jacket, he said, “You know the Starsky Special is just a gimmick. I bet Huggy calls it Joe’s Special for Joe and Benny’s Special for Benny.”

Starsky looked shocked. “What?”

He looked so crestfallen, Hutch relented. He slapped Starsky’s shoulder.

“I’m just teasing. Of course, the Starsky Special is just for you.”

Starsky sighed with relief. “You had me worried there, Blintz. Don’t do that to me.”

Hutch rolled his eyes behind Starsky’s back but said nothing. He followed his partner out of the apartment, locked the door and headed down the stairs. Sometimes his partner was just a big kid but he wouldn’t change him for the world.