Ruby Slippers

723

Christmas calls.

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“When I think of home,
think of a place where
there’s love overflowing.
wish I was home,
wish I was back there,
with the things
‘ve been knowing.”
  –“Home” from “The Wiz”

 

Christmas Day 1977, 12:02 PM EST

“Hello?”

“Mrs. Hutchinson?

“Yes?”

“Hi, it’s Dave. Dave Starsky.”

“Oh, David. How are you, dear? (Muffled) Kenny, it’s David.”

“Good. I’m real good, thanks. Are you having a nice Christmas?”

“Oh, yes, sweetheart. We are. We’re so glad that Ken decided to join us in Vale this year.”

“Yeah. He’s behaving himself?”

“Oh, you know Ken. He never changes. Are you enjoying your stay in New York?”

“Mm, it’s nice to be home. Hadn’t been in a while. It’s different somehow, yet the same, you know?”

“I know what you mean, sweetie. I’m glad you’re having fun.”

“Thanks, ma’am. Is Hutch—I mean, Ken—is he right there?”

“Yes, honey. Hutch is right here. I’ll let you talk to him. You take care of yourself, David, and enjoy the rest of your Christmas.”

“Thanks, Mrs. H. Same to you.”

“Thank you, honey. Here’s Kenny.”

“Hey.”

“Hello, Kenny.”

“Shut up.”

“Whatcha doin?”

“Nothing. Just watching my sister’s kids play with the boxes all their expensive toys came in. We just finished opening our presents. What are you doing?”

“Oh, Ma and Nick and me are getting ready to eat Christmas dinner.”

“Kind of early, isn’t it?”

“It’s afternoon here, dummy.”

“Oh, right. Did you get anything good?”

“The usual. Socks, underwear, some new shirts and pants. Nick got me these really cool seat covers for the Torino. Good enough for even you to sit your fancy kiester on.”

“Expensive?”

“I think so. They look it anyway.”

“Well, that’s good, Starsk.”

“What’d you get?”

“The usual. Socks, underwear, new shirts, pants…”

“And?”

“And some weirdo got me this thing called a Chia Pet. Apparently you spread seeds on it and this plant grows out of its back.”

“Hey, sounds nice.”

“Yeah, it is, I think. Starsky, where did you ever find something like that?”

“Well, it’s something new. They had all kinds of ’em at Woolworth’s. I thought it would be really cool to go with your other plants.”

“Well, it’s certainly different, I’ll give you that. I’ll cherish it forever, buddy.”

“Yeah, yeah. Hey, thanks for my, uh, gift.”

“You like it? I thought it was nice.”

“Mm, yeah, it is. First a tree planted in my honor and now this. What’s next?”

“Well, you’ll just have to wait until next year to find out. I thought you’d love having a star named after you.”

“I do! I said it was nice.”

“Well, it wasn’t easy, pal. You don’t exactly have a star-friendly name, you know. The Starsky Star doesn’t sound right. Star of David was already taken.”

“It’s a terrific name. Partner Star is terrific.”

“Yeah. Well, we’ll go to the planetarium sometime so you can see it.”

“I got the map of it right here and my telescope is still set up in my old room. I’m gonna try to see it tonight.”

“Good. I’m glad you like it.”

“I really do!”

“OK. I believe you. How’s New York?”

“Cold.”

“How’s your mom and Nick?”

“Ma’s good. Nick is still spoiled. You wouldn’t believe all the stuff he got.”

“More than you?”

“Mm-hmm, as usual. But he got Ma some nice things, too. I don’t know where he’s getting all the money. He’s only working as a delivery man for some stereo shop.”

“Well, maybe he gets good tips.”

“Maybe. You’d think cops would get good tips.”

“You’d think.”

“How’s Colorado?”

“Cold.”

“How’s your family?”

“Cold.”

“Hutch…”

“Just kidding. They’re fine. Usual Christmastime at the Hutchinson Winter Hideaway.”

“Well, there are worse things than being rich, you know.”

“I know. I’m just kidding. It’s nice to be here.”

“But?”

“But—I don’t know.”

“You’ll be glad to get back to LA?”

“You, too, huh?”

“Yep. (Silence) Well, I guess I should go now. Don’t want to run up Ma’s phone bill too high.”

“OK, Starsk. I’m glad you called.”

“Yeah, me, too. You’re gonna be home in three days?”

“No, Starsk, I’m going to be home in two days. You’re going to be home—well, LA—in three days. I’m picking you up at the airport, remember?”

“Oh, right. Who’s gonna pick you up?”

“Huggy.”

“Right. Well, I guess I’ll see you then, huh?”

“Yeah. Starsk?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you OK?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“I don’t know. You sound funny.”

“I’m all right.”

“You said that.”

“Well, I’m saying it again.”

“OK. Just checking.”

(Silence)

“It’s just–things are different, you know?”

“I know.”

“I’m all right.”

“OK.”

“Are you all right?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“OK. Well, I’m gonna go. Call me when you get back home—to LA, I mean. So I know you made it OK.”

“I will, buddy. And I’ll see you in three days.”

“Yeah. OK. We’ll go out to dinner or something, huh?”

“Sounds good. Starsk?”

“Hmm?”

“Merry Christmas, Partner.”

“Merry Christmas, Blintz.”

 

Christmas Night 1977, 7:18 PM MT

“Hello?”

“Mrs. Starsky? It’s Ken—Ken Hutchinson.”

“Oh, Hutch! Hi, sweetheart. How are you?”

“I’m fine, ma’am. Thank you. How are you?”

“I’m just terrific. Having a good Christmas with your family?”

“Yes, ma’am, I certainly am.”

“Doing some skiing?”

“Not yet. Maybe tomorrow.”

“Oh, that sounds like fun. I’m glad to have Davy home. I miss him, you know.”

“I know, ma’am. He misses you, too.”

“I know. He’s such a good boy. Just like his papa.”

“I know. Is he there?”

“Oh, he’s right here, honey. I’ll get him for you. Merry Christmas.”

“Thank you. Merry Christmas to you, too.”

(Muffled) “Davy….”

“Hello?”

“Hello, Davy.”

“Shut up.”

“What are you doing?”

“Looking at my star through my telescope. I think I’ve figured out which one it is.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. What are you doing? Everything OK? You didn’t break your leg, did you?”

“No, no. Everything’s fine. Just wanted to make sure you were OK.”

“I told you, Hutch, I’m fine.”

“I know you told me you were fine. I just wanted to make sure.”

“I am.”

“I know.”

“Hey, was that a doorbell? What’s all that noise in the background?”

“Oh, it’s the annual Hutchinson Christmas gathering. Every year my parents have a bunch of people over for cocktails on Christmas night.”

“Sounds like fun. Isn’t it kind of late for people to be showing up?”

“It’s still early here, dummy.”

“Oh, right.”

“What’d you do all day?”

“Nothing. Nick left earlier. Ma and me just kinda hung around the apartment together. Couple of aunts and uncles dropped by. Just family stuff. Nothing as exciting as the annual Hutchinson Christmas gathering.”

“I’m hiding in the kitchen.”

“You’re what?”

“Hiding in the kitchen.”

“Why?”

“Because…”

“Cause why?”

“Because these people drive me crazy. All they want to know is when I’m gonna get married, when I’m gonna have kids, live a normal life. Why didn’t I become a lawyer like my dad? I can’t stand it.”

“Yeah, well, don’t think I didn’t get my hair tousled and my cheeks pinched a few times today myself and asked the same sort of questions. Man, I’ll be glad when…”

“You’ll be glad when what?”

“I don’t know.”

“Are you OK?”

“Yes, I’m OK. Jeez, will you stop asking me that.”

“All right. Sorry.”

“Jeez.”

“Starsk?”

“What?”

“It must be hard, huh?”

“What?”

“Being there for Christmas. I mean, I know your dad’s been gone a long time, but…”

“Stop that.”

“What?”

“I hate it when you do that.”

“What’d I do?”

“You’re in my head again. I hate that.”

“You don’t either.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Forget I mentioned it, then.”

“Jeez. (Silence) You’re right, you know.”

“I know.”

“Hey, guess what?”

“What?”

“Me and Ma are going to drive into Manhattan tomorrow. I’m gonna go to FAO Schwarz.”

“What’s that?”

“Are you kidding?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“It’s a toy store.”

“Oh. Like Uncle Elmo’s?”

“No, not like Uncle Elmo’s. FAO Schwarz happens to be the biggest toy store in the world.”

“Oh. What are you going there for?”

“Are you kidding?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“They have got to have the biggest selection of train sets ever! And since I didn’t get that caboose again this year…”

“You’re going to buy it for yourself?”

“No, just gonna look.”

“OK. Why not buy it yourself?”

“Because I keep hoping.”

“Hoping what?”

“That someone will get the hint and buy it for me some year.”

“I see.”

“Hey, did I tell you I found my star?”

“Yes, you did.”

“It’s nice.”

“Yeah. I think I can see it from here.”

“Really?”

“Well, yeah, Starsk. It’s the same sky, you know.”

“I know, but how do you know where it is?”

“Because I picked it out, dummy.”

“Oh, yeah. Are you looking at it now?”

“I’m looking in its direction.”

“Me, too.”

(Silence)

“Well, I suppose…”

“Got to get back to the annual Hutchinson Christmas gathering, huh?”

“Yeah. I’d rather eat a whole can of warm Spam, jelly and all.”

“I love Spam.”

“I know you do.”

“Three days?”

“Two days.”

“Oh, right. Two days. But I’ll see you in three.”

“Right.”

“OK. Hutch?”

“Hmm?”

“Thanks.”

“Sure.”

“Hutch?”

“Yeah?”

“Talk to you tomorrow night?”

“More than likely.”

“Goodnight, Blintz.”

“Goodnight, Partner.”

The End