It’s Not That Easy Being Green

Starsky brings some green light into Hutch’s life.

It wasn’t easy to carry on like normal while lying flat on your back in a hospital bed. Especially now.

Despite his continued pleas for a moment’s peace, Starsky wouldn’t, or couldn’t, stay still. Every small move on Hutch’s part brought him rushing over to fluff a pillow, straighten the sheets or pass him his glass or book.

There was no doubt about it; he was in training for his Nurse Nightingale badge. Come to think of it, Hutch hadn’t seen a nurse in his room for it seemed like days.

Fortunately for Starsky, Hutch was only a little put out, for every small duty performed was accompanied by a caress and tender smile that were more comforting and curative than any pill or sedative.

They spent long hours in silence, hands clasped and eyes speaking volumes. At the moment neither needed more. By unspoken accord they spoke nothing about the newly found rapture between them. It was not the place or time. Their contentment, understanding and faith in each other let them absorb the strength and depth of their feelings on a level that carried them beyond the bounds of restrictive language.

It was really weird in a way, because Starsky was normally a very passionate, intense person who responded to his emotions in a very physical way. It was a side of him that Hutch had never seen, and yet it was very natural too. It was almost as if Starsky had received the one thing in the whole wide world he really wanted and was now content to sit back and cherish it. It was profoundly moving to Hutch, and he had to admit that it came very close to his own feelings.

Come the day he was released from his white medical prison, he was gently and regally chauffeured with every care. He returned to a scrupulously neat, clean apartment that was suddenly imbued with a warmth and purity it had never had before. The closest he could come to expressing the change was to call it home—it felt like home! He simply stood; eyes closed, and let it all wash over him.

Gentle, warm fingers stroked his face.

“This is our home Hutch, for now.” Once again Starsky was in tune with his thoughts.

While Hutch healed, their love making consisted of sweet nights spent nestled in each others arms, kisses and soft touches being the physical expression of their hearts desire.

With his ever-present doubting Thomas mind, Hutch subjected his partner to long discussions of the real world they had to live in. Starsky listened with patience, and then would sweep them all aside with his rock stolid belief in Me and Thee.

One night, after Hutch’s return to work, his tirade seemed endless and Starsky stunned him into silence with one comment:

“It’s not that easy being green.”

“Wha…?”, his mind distracted, trying to come up with the relevance of this off-the-wall remark.

“Think about it Hutch,” was all he said as he left to take a shower.

For a few moments he sputtered and fumed as he attempted to deal with Starsky’s logic. And then it hit him, and he had to laugh, laugh so hard he collapsed back on the sofa, tears streaming down his face. Only Starsky could come up with such a comparison, make it embody both the good and the bad. He went to join him in the shower.

And then the fun started: a furry green frog dangled from the Torino’s mirror; he was served green mashed potatoes once; a vivid green shirt appeared in his dresser drawer (which he actually wore one day); the song was rewritten; books, comic pictures and clippings showed up on his desk not to mention any National Geographic magazines dealing with frogs.

The song was hummed, strummed and sung on any occasion Starsky felt he needed re-assurance; and let’s not forget the green beer he conned Huggy into presenting him with, and the cards for any occasion (he never knew frogs where so prolific). He’d even roped in an unsuspecting Dobey when his request for time off came back on green paper. And did you know that Coca-Cola had once been green? He could go on and on.

It was pure Starsky. The seriousness behind the fun helped to alleviate Hutch’s moments of doubt and concern when “gay” issues hit the headlines or where topics of conversation.

He became very fond of the colour green.

The Green End.

Chapter End Notes:
For those who care, here are the original words to It’s Not That Easy Being Green, and Starsky’s rewrite.

It’s Not That Easy Being Green
‘Green’ is ©1970 Jonico Music, Inc.

It’s not that easy being green;
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves.
When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow or gold…
Or something much more colourful like that.

It’s not easy being green.
It seems you blend in with so many other ord’nary things.
And people tend to pass you over ’cause you’re
Not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water
Or stars in the sky.

But green’s the color of Spring.
And green can be cool and friendly-like.
And green can be big like an ocean, or important like a mountain,
Or tall like a tree.

When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why?
Wonder, I am green and it’ll do fine, it’s beautiful!
And I think it’s what I want to be.

It’s Not That Easy Being Green
Re-written by David Michael Starsky

It’s not that easy being gay cops;
Having to spend each day hiding in the leaves.
When I think it could be nicer being straight, or bi or normal
Or something much more ordinary like that.

It’s not easy being gay.
It seems you battle with so many other ord’nary things.
And people tend to pass you over ’cause you’re
Standing out like flashy sparkles in the water
Or stars in the sky.

But gay’s the color of Love.
And gay can be cool and friendly-like.
And gay can be big like an ocean, or important like a mountain,
Or tall like a tree.

When gay is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why?
Wonder, I am gay and it’ll do fine, it’s beautiful!
And I think it’s what I want to be.