Three big burritos
Huggy was polishing glasses. He had a cigarette hanging from his mouth and he was squinting at his work through the blue spiral of smoke that rose in front of his face.
The table in the middle of the bar was ready. Huggy placed a clean glass on the table and straightened the place settings. Starsky was semi-hysterical when he rang ahead to ask Huggy to prepare the scene; he was snorting back the laughter.
“That's right Hug. Lay the table for one – Hutch lost the bet.”
Huggy thought he could hear Hutch protesting in the background but he wasn't sure – truth was that Starsky was laughing so much he was having trouble hearing anything.
Hutch came down the stairs from the street entrance of The Pits. He looked grim. Like the condemned man about to eat his last meal – without getting his choice of menu. He walked across to the bar, giving the neatly prepared table a sour look.
“Starky's not here yet then?”
“No.”
“Give me a beer Huggy – and a bourbon chaser. I'm going to need it.”
Huggy rolled his almond-shaped eyes and smiled flashing perfect white teeth. “Are you sure you about the chaser?”
Hutch gave him an icy stare. “Sure!”
Huggy shrugged and pulled the lever to fill a glass of beer then turned to fill a shot glass with Jack Daniels. He pushed both of them towards the sullen blond and watched as the whisky went down in one. Hutch took the beer a little slower.
“Fa la la la la lala la” They heard Starsky singing as he came down the stairs . He appeared looking like a malevolent pixie. He was wearing a dark sweater and one of his more presentable pairs of jeans. A long red bonnet with a white fur border was perched precariously on his curly hair and he held a tray balanced on his left hand.
He winked at Huggy as he walked across the room and placed the tray on the bar.
He shook out a big white serviette and bowed to Hutch.
“Your table awaits, oh Prince.”
Hutch glowered at him and finished his beer…slowly…while standing at the bar.
Starsky sniffed at the package on the tray. “Mmmmmmmm smells great.”
Hutch curled the edge of one nostril and sighed.
Huggy took a wine glass down from the shelf. “What do you recommend Starsk – red or white?”
Hutch snapped “Beer!”
Starsky grinned. “Oh no, the thing to drink with this is Dr. Pepper.”
Hutch sagged visibly; His fate was sealed. He'd lost a bet with Starsky and yet again the stakes were a meal of the other man's choice. Only this time the winner chose the loser's meal and the venue.
He took his place at the table and Starsky tied the serviette around his neck.
Hutch sighed and shot one last pleading glance at his partner.
Starsky shook his head. “I won remember!”
Hutch held up his hands in surrender. “Ok let's get this over with.”
Starsky opened the box.
Huggy laughed.
Hutch prepared himself to eat three big burritos under their vigilant gaze.