Thanks, I Think

Hutch survives Thanksgiving in New York.

Why did he let himself be talked into these things? Would he ever learn?

Time off was a precious commodity, especially on a national holiday that promised home, hearth, family, food, and love in huge quantities. He wanted that, expected it, yearned for it, would die for it. And what did he have instead?

Instead of a warm bright sky, he had dull clouds that obscured even the tallest building.

Instead of a soft scented breeze, he had almost gale force winds that were pelting him with damp cold icicles.

Instead of a quiet, family celebration with just the two of them, he had a crowd of inconsiderate, rude, almost hysterical people.

Instead of beach clothes, he was swathed head to foot in heavy socks, boots, inadequate jacket and gloves, scarf and some sort of headgear that Starsky had rummaged from a closet.

Instead of his own peaceful, romantic music he had the loud raucous noise of the crowd screaming to be overhead above the inadequately tuned bands that continually strolled by attempting to persuade everyone that this was music they were playing.

Instead of a warm hand to hold and body to snuggle against, he had an equally gloved and encumbered partner who was enthusiastically participating in this ritual spectacle that drew the nuts into the streets.

Instead of a choice of after dinner treat with his own delectable turkey, he would have to work hard to project happiness and comfort surrounded by sundry members of the Starsky family, not even able to escape at a reasonable hour as they were staying with Starsky’s mother.

And all of this for a parade that was more about Christmas than it was about Thanksgiving!

He stamped his cold feet in an effort to stoke the fires of survival, and in so doing jostled his partner. Starsky looked up at him with complete happiness and joy in those impossibly honest blue eyes. A child looked at him, a child who had everything he ever wished for; the contented smile that broke over his face melted the ice in Hutch’s frozen veins and surrounded him with luxurious bubble bath-like intoxicating warmth and scents.

He could never doubt what he had to be thankful for, even if he had to endure reliving one of Starsky’s childhood memories. His partner was his family to protect, love, honour, provide and be thankful for.

And geography did not interfere with those responsibilities, nothing could.