Paper Bags and Jello

88

Starsky’s recovering in hospital from a bullet wound and is bored.

 

Writing prompt: National Days for the 11^th July – Eat Your Jello Day, Different Coloured Eyes Day, Pecan Pie Day, Simplicity Day and Paper Bag Day. First published 2022.

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Hutch knew Starsky would be bored. Actually, bored was an understatement for what Starsky would be.

His partner was itching to be out of the hospital but a bullet wound was no laughing matter and the doctors had insisted that he should stay under their care for at least two more days. Hutch had already experienced Starsky being cranky. After another night of hospital food, suffering itchy hospital gown syndrome and no access to his favourite foods or television, Starsky was going to be as irritable as a grizzly bear woken from a deep sleep. Knowing this, Hutch had decided to get well prepared before he went visiting his friend.

As he arrived, carrying multiple brown paper bags, he saw a red-headed nurse leaving Starsky’s room and giggling to herself. Hutch rolled his eyes. The old Starsky charm clearly didn’t have a dent in it. He pushed open the door and found Starsky sitting up in bed, looking pleased with himself.

“Hey, pal. You’re looking happier. Had a good night’s sleep?” Hutch enquired.

“No, but I’ve got a hot date lined up for the weekend, which has made up for the sad lack of entertainment in this place!”

Hutch placed his bags carefully on the floor under Starsky’s bed and then pulled the green plastic chair back to where he had sat in it last night – right next to Starsky’s side.

“So? The date? With a pretty red-headed nurse by any chance?”

“How did you –oh, you saw her as you were coming in. Yes, that’s Susie. Red hair and the most beautiful green eyes.”

“Funny how green eyes seem to go with red hair. Why is that?”

“Hmm. I don’t know. Why do people have different eye colours? Why don’t we all just have blue? Or brown even?”

“Well, makes people look more individual and interesting, I suppose. If you didn’t have blue eyes, what colour would you like to have?”

As Starsky sat up a little higher in bed, he said, “Hey Blintz, see if there’s a movable mirror in the bathroom, would ya? I want to look at my eyes so I can make an informed decision.”

Hutch would have protested that what was the point as Starsky couldn’t very well change his eye colour but so far he was just glad he was able to keep his partner entertained. He rose obligingly and tracked down a small mirror that was hanging loosely from a hook. He brought it back to the room and handed it to Starsky.

“There you go, Gordo.”

“Thanks.”

Starsky held the mirror this way and that and examined his eyes.

“Well?”

“Hazel. I think hazel would work if I couldn’t have blue eyes.”

Hutch nodded, giving the matter some thought. He reached over and took the mirror out of Starsky’s hands.

“What about me? Think hazel would suit me? Or green?”

Starsky shook his head. “Nah, can’t imagine you with anything but blue eyes, Blondie.”

There was a knock at the door and a catering trolley appeared. The lady pushed Starsky’s table into place and placed a plate of sandwiches, an apple and a pot of jello.

Starsky thanked her politely but as soon as she’d gone, he groaned, “Jello again.”

“You like jello!” Hutch said with surprise.

“Not four days in a row, I don’t. Hutch, I gotta get out of here. The monotony is killing me.”

“You have to stay in and get fully fit,” Hutch pointed out.

“’S nothing wrong with me now. I could be back at work.”

Hutch rolled his eyes. “Sorry to disillusion you but no you couldn’t. You’re not exactly firing on all cylinders. You haven’t even asked me what I brought in with me in these bags here.”

“Figured it was your lunch,” Starsky muttered grumpily.

Hutch smiled and grabbed one of the bags. As he handed it to Starsky, he said, “Actually it’s your lunch.”

Starsky eased the package open and sniffed the contents. “Pecan pie!”

“Eat your jello and then you can have some!” Hutch teased.

“You eat my jello! I’m going to eat this right now. Thanks, pal.”

“You’re welcome. Hey, aren’t you going to eat your sandwiches first?”

“Nope,” Starsky answered through a mouthful of pie.

“Hopeless!”

Hutch couldn’t help smiling at his happy partner though. It didn’t take much to make him happy, at least for a while.

Starsky paused for a moment and asked, “What’s in the other bags then?”

“Well, one does, in fact, contain my lunch,” Hutch informed as he retrieved a sandwich. “The other two have a pile of magazines and puzzle books for us to look through later and in the last one…”

Hutch handed the bag to Starsky, who opened it and pulled a board game from inside. It was called Conquest. Starsky had seen it advertised a couple of Christmases ago but he’d never played it.

“I borrowed that from Kiko so I’ll have to take it back later. It’s a two player strategy game. Should be simplicity itself to beat you at that!”

“Wanna bet?”

“All right. What’s the wager?”

“Winner gets to eat pecan pie for a week, paid for by the loser,” Starsky suggested.

“And the loser has to eat green jello all week,” Hutch added.

Starsky thought about it for a moment. “High stakes but I accept.”

They shook hands and then cleared the table so they could set up the board and start the first of many games.

“How’s your leg?”

“It’s fine.”

They looked at each other briefly. Neither of them had said out loud since the arrest-gone-haywire had happened that Starsky had been very, very lucky. Half an inch over and he might have bled out before the ambulance got there. Now, Starsky acknowledged Hutch’s concern. Hutch let his partner know how relieved he was that Starsky was still here. Not a word was spoken but the silent conversation made them both feel better.

“Okay, Blintz, read me the rules!”

“I will. Just make sure you stick to them, Gordo!”

“I don’t need to cheat to beat you. I have my ways.”

Hutch rolled his eyes. Then before he started reading he said, “That pecan pie is going to taste soooo good.”