Kids and Giraffes

When a series of tough cases get Hutch down, Starsky comes up with his own unique brand of ‘therapy’ in the form of a diversion.

First published in 2023.

It had been a tough couple of weeks. They’d had three cases in a fortnight that had all been truly grim (one of them including a child) and Starsky could see his partner was feeling the full weight of dealing with other people’s despair.

“He’s lost his bounce,” Starsky thought to himself as he watched Hutch pour himself yet another cup of coffee and drag himself back to his desk. “He’s looking more like Eeyore than Tigger. Looks like I’m gonna have to think of something to try and lift his spirits, before he gets stuck in a real deep funk that he can’t be snapped out of.”

Starsky tried to think of some ideas even as he put the finishing touches to his report. He recalled activities that they’d done before to try to forget about work for a while. There were always the usual things: bowling, mini golf, picnic on the beach, just a night at Huggy’s, taking a couple of girls out dancing. Starsky wasn’t sure either of them was ready for company yet. Maybe a day out somewhere? They’d done that a few times. Couldn’t be anywhere too far because it would have to be a day trip. Where had they been that Hutch had particularly liked? Starsky frowned as he thought hard and turned over various options in his mind. It needed to be something special to counteract some of the sadness that was still lingering from last week.

Finally, their reports were dotted and crossed; Dobey was satisfied; and they had reached the end of the shift and more importantly the end of the week. It was Friday, at last.

As they gathered up their jackets and wearily made their way out to Starsky’s car, Hutch decided he just wanted to go home and sleep. Starsky tried to persuade him to have one drink at Huggy’s, but Hutch was adamant.

Starsky didn’t fight too hard against his partner’s decision because he realised it actually suited him too. It would give him time to get something in motion for an idea he’d just had. He grabbed some pizza, filled up with fuel and then hurried home. After making another phone call, Starsky also called Hutch.

After a few rings, Hutch answered. Before he could say more than “Hello,” Starsky said, “Hey Blintz, we’re getting out of the city for the day tomorrow. Be ready at eight.”

Before Hutch could grumble, ask too many questions or try to put Starsky off, his partner wished him good night and placed the phone back on the receiver. He waited a few minutes, in case his partner rang back but he didn’t so Starsky headed off to bed, smiling in anticipation of the next day.

*****

Hutch was up and dressed well before eight. He didn’t know what Starsky had planned but a trip out of the city sounded good, even if it was just for the day. Hutch couldn’t remember the last time he’d got away from it all. It had been too long. The last couple of weeks had been tough. The desperation in the air at one of the homes they had visited last week had been palpable. He knew Starsky had felt it too.

Hutch had noticed that his partner had got that pinched look around his eyes that occasionally appeared. “We both needed this weekend off, that’s for sure,” Hutch thought, “but Starsky obviously feels we both need something more. I wonder what he’s got planned. Maybe I should have called him back and asked, but I was too tired to do it last night. And anyway, whatever he’s decided that we need will be just the right thing. It always is.”

Just then, Hutch heard the horn blasting on the Torino and hurried to grab his jacket, lock the apartment door and jog down the stairs. It was only as he bent to get in the car that he realised that they were two occupants already sitting in the back. Kiko and Molly.

“Hey, you two!”

“Hi Hutch,” was chorused back at him.

Hutch settled in the front seat and looked at his partner with interested eyes. “Where are we headed?”

Starsky pulled out and started driving towards the end of the street that would eventually lead to the freeway and Santa Barbara.

“I figured it’s been a long time since we went to see your old friends, the giraffes, at the Santa Barbara Zoo. And Kiko and Pete have never seen a giraffe up close so it seemed like a perfect day to introduce them…Okay?”

Starsky glanced at his partner just to check his reaction and saw Hutch was smiling brightly.

“I think that sounds like a great idea. Thanks partner.”

Starsky nodded and grinned.

Soon Hutch was being peppered with questions from both kids about why he liked giraffes so much and everything he knew about them. The journey passed very quickly and work was soon completely forgotten.

Once they’d got their tickets and entered the zoo, Starsky, Hutch and the kids decided to plan their visit a little differently from the last time the two adults had visited. They would take the train around the site first, while it was still early and quite quiet. The teens wouldn’t normally want to be seen dead on a miniature train but right now, while there was nobody around of their own age to make them feel awkward, they were secretly enjoying it. Starsky could see Hutch’s whole demeanour lighten as he saw the giraffes in the distance.

“We’ll head straight to the giraffe enclosure after this,” he promised Hutch, “and you can stay as long as you like. I know you’d watch them all day if you could. I can always take the kids off and come back for ya later.”

“No, that’s okay, we’ll stick together. I don’t want to bore everyone,” Hutch said. “Tell me when you’ve had enough, I won’t mind.”

By the time the train had done its circuit around the park and returned to the station, there were noticeably more people around.

“Come on.” Starsky ushered them all towards the far side of the zoo and the savannah area.

At the giraffe enclosure, the huge doors had been opened but there were no sign of the animals themselves yet. The four of them picked a good spot and peered into the giraffe house, which looked dark as their eyes squinted against the bright June sky. Suddenly, there was movement and the first tall, gangly, silent creature made its way outside, quickly followed by another and then a calf. Kiko and Molly had been talking but fell silent, awestruck by the grace and beauty of the animals in front of them.

The group of two adults and two teens watched, fascinated, as the giraffes reached for leaves that had been left for them high up on a pole. They saw the mother grab leaves for her child and then herself. A moment later, she leant down and gently licked her little one with her long prehensile tongue. Starsky was reminded of the effect a similar scene had had on his partner last year. His face had shone with happiness on that visit. Starsky turned to look at Hutch and was upset to see a tear rolling down his friend’s cheek.

“Hutch,” he breathed with dismay, as he wrapped an arm around Hutch’s shoulder and gave him a squeeze.

Hutch quickly grabbed tissue from his pocket and wiped his face.

“I’m okay,” Hutch said softly.

“You sure?” Starsky asked quietly.

“Yeah.”

Both kids were still watching the giraffes as Hutch stepped forward and wrapped an arm around each of them. “Pretty great, huh?”

“Yeah, they’re so cool,” Molly said and Kiko nodded.

“Hey, you three, turn around,” Starsky ordered. “I’ll take a picture of ya in front of the giraffes.”

The three of them posed for Starsky to take a couple of shots. Hutch spotted a family coming towards them and hailed the woman, asking if she’d mind taking a photo of the four of them together. Starsky gave her quick instructions and then joined the others for the group photo.

Hutch was smiling happily now, Starsky noted. Whatever the moment was, it had passed and when the kids said they’d like to see something else, Hutch readily agreed. The four of them spent several hours looking at all the different animals, only pausing to eat a meal together at the café. Starsky got to see his favourite Scarlet Macaws. Kiko and Molly quickly fell in love with the Meerkats.

As they were heading back towards the shop at the entrance, Hutch said, “Thanks for this, Starsk. It was a great idea. Just what I needed.”

“Yeah, thanks Starsky,” Kiko said and offered him a handshake.

Molly surprised him by giving him a quick hug.

“You’re all really welcome. Glad it was such a terrific day. Before we go though, I think there are two things Hutch needs to make his day complete.”

“What are those then?” his partner asked.

“Well, number one is an ice cream.”

“That sounds more like a thing you need,” Hutch teased. “But if Kiko and Molly want them too, we can get them before we go. Do you?”

The question was addressed to the children, who both nodded and said, “Yes, please!”

“What’s the second thing?” Hutch asked.

“A group hug.”

Hutch looked bemused as Molly and Kiko looked at each other and shrugged their confusion. But suddenly, both of them were wrapping their arms around Hutch’s middle and he responded immediately. He looked over at Starsky.

“You said ‘group hug.’ You’d better get in here quick.”

Starsky grinned and wrapped his arms around the kids and as much of Hutch as he could reach and squeezed until there were loud protests from all quarters.

He broke away as the hug dissolved and said, “Now, it’s definitely time for ice cream. Last one there is paying.”

The kids set off at a run and Starsky loped after them, turning to jog backwards as he kept an eye on his partner, who strolled along quite happily behind him. For once, there was no element of competition.

He waved at Starsky and yelled, “The ice creams are on me. Go ahead.”

Hutch had decided that paying for ice creams was the least he could do after the great day his partner had planned and made happen. He was glad to see his partner had lost that pinched look from his face and he knew that he himself felt like a weight, that he hadn’t even known was there, had been lifted from him. His partner always knew just the right way to help him.

Spending time with kids and giraffes. Was there anything better for healing the heart and the soul? At this moment, he couldn’t think of a single thing.