Yiddish 101

Early in their Academy days.

Many thanks to April Valentine, RedLongJohns and Astrid B Caine!

Stripping off his sweaty gym clothes, Hutchinson heard Sgt. Arbit’s bellow from his office. “Listen up! The use of water, soap and deodorant is not optional! If I have to hear one more complaint about smelly cadets coming to Borensen’s class, I’m going to turn the fire hose on the lot of you!”

Colby muttered about the logistics of 30 men divided by 10 shower heads, grabbed a towel and bolted to the communal showers. Hutch turned to follow when he noticed one of his classmates studying him, eyes obviously not on his face. “What are you staring at?”

Starsky shrugged “Sorry. Never seen a pupik like yours.”

Hutch grabbed for a towel and slapped it over his groin. “Keep your eyes on your own pu-pac!” he growled. And blushed. He just knew he was blushing, dammit.

“Pupik,” Sapphire eyes twinkled at him in amusement. Because of the verbal mangling or blush, he wasn’t sure. Starsky pointed at Hutch’s navel. “Pupik is Yiddish for a belly button.” Then he added, “And here’s another one for ya’ — Goy — that means you’re not Jewish.” The finger pointed lower down Hutch’s body. He gave the blond a lopsided grin, “Which I can tell ’cause that towel isn’t nearly long enough!”

Hutch studiously ignored the laughter from their audience. Projecting as much self-confidence as possible, he shook out his towel with a snap that made this class clown jump back, then draped it over his shoulders.

He appraised Starsky’s naked not-blushing body for a long moment, pausing halfway up to arch an eyebrow and ask “Jealous?” before brushing past to step under the tepid spray of water.

The roar of water on concrete must have distorted Starsky’s reply. Because Hutch knew he couldn’t have heard what he thought he’d heard.

“Intrigued.”

Chapter End Notes:

Inspired by a discussion on the Starsky/Hutch the Original bRomance FB group.