Day 7: Sometimes, You Have to See for Yourself by Shell007

It’s my last day off recovering from an injury, and I’ve planned a nice meal for when Starsky comes in after his day at work. Just as I close the fridge, the phone starts to ring. It’s probably Starsky checking up on me, yet again.

“Hutch?” Noises from the hospital scream out over Dobey’s voice.

“Is he okay?”

“His… he’ll be okay.” Dobey’s hesitation caught my attention. “We couldn’t contact you, but he’s better now.” Continue reading “Day 7: Sometimes, You Have to See for Yourself by Shell007”

Day 7: Reasons by Elizabeth Lowry

 

Colby enlisted, which is a crazy to me, but he says he can make more money in the military and get more action quicker and that’s okay, it’s his life.

The Academy isn’t easy, but it’s no worse than Basic. It’s all based on breaking you down then building you back up again, or at least that’s the plan. Some guys break easy and are gone in half a minute. Others break like they want you to and swallow everything they’re given and become good little recruits. Then there are a few who act like they’ve been broken, but really have such a strong core they just absorb the abuse and learn the regulations and come out as people who know when to follow the rules and when not.

Me, I got called Jew Boy so often growing up and so often in the Army that by the time I got to the Academy you might as well have called me Sue Boy. (I always liked that song.) Continue reading “Day 7: Reasons by Elizabeth Lowry”

Day 7: A Privileged Friendship, Part 1 by Amber Raine (aka Laura Moretti)

I was fortunate enough to share my fan videos with one of my utmost closest friends (who just happened to remarkably resemble Ken Hutchinson) and to be graced by his feedback. I have thousands of email exchanges with him over 14 years, and hours of recordings, so I didn’t have time to research all of my threads about fan videos for this Countdown (many of those conversations took place over the phone or Skype), but herewith a couple of email exchanges.

RE: KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR

Laura: I may have shared this with you already:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMsBDFgAWFY

David: Never seen it before. The best fan video I’ve ever seen.

Laura: If you’re serious, then I’ll admit to having done it. Cuz I did. If you’re not serious, you’re being sarcastic, then I’ll hide my head under the pillow.

David: I’m not being sarcastic and you know I’m not. It’s great! You did a brilliant job. Real classy… understated and it means something.

DREAMS THAT NEVER CAME TRUE

RE: WE’LL MAKE IT THROUGH

By Amber Raine (aka Laura Moretti)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20zkvdVPBzk

[January 3, 2023]

David’s review:

Subject: Written at 3 a.m.

Hi there,

Tried to Skype, but I’m a little rusty and don’t know if you got my msg and I didn’t want to disappear another day. I even took a shower this morning because I was going to call. Temp is still up. 101 and still coughing and weak, but can see a light down the road.

Quick thought/note re: the S&H vid. I think we can include fewer hugs and holding moments. Try to build a sense that underneath the moments lies a deep friendship, but not obvious. Use day-to-day pieces—work, action, small moments of connection and humor, etc. We can discuss. And then, at the end, the pay-off: ONE big hug… just ONE.

Re: the music… is there any one of my tunes that might work? Or can we find a straight instrumental piece? I’m probably making no sense. I really can’t think clearly or creatively right now. The above was a reaction to what I saw. Point is, ‘they’ (meaning the fans) already know that we are BFFs. Now give them something a bit different. Friendship is built on trust. More later.

Lots of love,

Dxx

[In a Skype call, after I informed him that the video was already finished and posted to the Internet, he suggested we create a Starsky & Hutch fan video together (from scratch) sometime.]

Starsky & Hutch were always on his mind; herewith just one instance:

Hiya,

About to call, but wanted to send this. Who do these guys remind you of? Cary Grant & Randolph Scott (roommates in a beach house in Malibu).

BTW, if you have a copy [this makes me laugh because he KNOWS I do], would you send me the HUSKY & STARCH on the beach photo? I want to send it to [someone] who, rather than celebrating FREEDOM, was celebrating ‘Straight Pride.’ He just doesn’t get it! I want to make a point.

See you in a minute.

DxxxClick on the image to view it larger.

[What David did with that HUSKY & STARCH beach photo; i.e., the point he was making, he never said—except that I know he definitely appreciated Gay Pride as well as gay rights.]

Click on the image to view it larger.

Beach photoshoot image that David referenced with “Who do these guys remind you of?”

Click on the image to view it larger.

Day 8: Reddit Post [AITAH]* For Taking Money and Leaving Without Saying Anything? by Nicoltyler

An S/H Present Tense story that brings Bay City characters into the present.

Posted by ShadowWriter28. Found on reddit by Nicoltyler

* Am I the Ass Hole

Hey, I’ll try to keep this short, because I don’t have a lot of time, but here you go.

I’m (F28) in a bit of a complicated situation and could use some outside perspective.

So here’s the deal: I work as a journalist, but that’s just a cover. I’m actually a high-end escort. My boyfriend, let’s call him “Blondie” (M32), is a cop and has a partner, “Curly” (M32), who he’s really, really close to. I think they might be sleeping together, but don’t take my word for it.

The problem started when Curly found out about my real job. I have no idea how he found out since I’ve been super careful, but these days, anything can be discovered online. Curly sent me a long email saying he knew, and I was terrified he was going to tell Blondie.

Instead, Curly showed up at my house with $28,253.15, his life savings, and told me to take it and start a boutique somewhere.

1: How did he know where I live and 2: I’m not sure where he got the idea I wanted to open my own shop—maybe Blondie told him that, who knows.

The truth is, I want to be a famous journalist, not open a boutique. But $28,253.15 is a lot of money, so I took it. Now I feel guilty for lying to Blondie about my job, for taking Curly’s money, and for planning to leave without saying anything. I don’t plan on telling Blondie the truth, and I leave tomorrow after I tell my boss to stuff it.

Am I the asshole for taking the money and leaving without saying anything?

Thanks for any advice.

– ShadowWriter28

Day 8: I Look in the Mirror and I See Scars by Kath Moonshine

Monday, October 31, 1977

For two weeks I’d been expecting it. Was surprised it took so long.

It started as a sniffle. Starsk took a sharp right and fishtailed into a closed self-serve carwash, pulling into the dark bay so that no one would see him lose his shit over a man he loved like a father. A gay man so deep in the closet Starsky never knew it until it was too late to ask questions. To understand.

The storm hits. Starsky clutches me tight. Tears soak my collar as he gasps John’s name. After what feels like forever, a hiccup signals the end is near, and I shift enough to snag a stack of napkins from the glove box, leftover from our lunch at Red’s Hot Dogs. He dries his face, blows his nose, wads up the napkins, and throws them out the window.

“You ever been with a man, Hutch?” Starsky asks, his voice husky with tears.

It didn’t even occur to me to lie.

“Yeah.” Continue reading “Day 8: I Look in the Mirror and I See Scars by Kath Moonshine”