Watering Plants the Natural Way

The clouds were gathering for a summer rain. Hutch moved all his plants outdoors. He rubbed a few leaves and smiled. Then he went indoors and got himself something to eat, mixing up a stir-fry of what Starsky would affectionately call "butterfly bones."

Hutch had tried to explain that butterflies, being insects, didn't have bones, but Starsky had just given him a 'look' and said, "I know that, bozo. It's just a saying."

"Yeah? I never heard it before you said it, Starsk."

Starsky had given him a roguish grin and a slap on the shoulder. "That just proves you've had a limited education."

Now, eating stir-fry in his apartment, Hutch smiled at the recollection. Outside, the clouds finally released rain. It pattered down, sounding pleasant on the roof. Hutch peered out the front door and smiled at his plants, getting watered the natural way. He went back to eating.

A few minutes later, Starsky's Torino pulled up. The door slammed, and sneakered feet pounded up to the door. There was a brief hesitation, then Starsky continued into the house.

"Hey partner," said Hutch around a mouthful of stir-fry, without even turning around.

"Hey Hutch," said Starsky. "Are you trying to set 'em free?" Hutch looked up. Starsky was holding up one of the ferns, looking ragged. "I caught this one tryin' to escape. A gust of wind—"

With an exclamation, Hutch jumped up, knocking over his chair, and bolted from the house.

"Calm down. I'll help ya, partner." Starsky followed him out, and the two began to pick up the plants and carry them back in the house, before the wind picked up further.

They carried the plants before anymore fell over. "Maybe it wasn't the best idea I ever had," admitted Hutch a few minutes later, with a streak of dirt on his face. The plants huddled reproachfully on the kitchen table. "I didn't figure on the wind."

"Most of 'em were fine. Ferns are just lightweights." Starsky grinned.

"I should've thought it through," said Hutch ruefully. "I thought they'd feel more at home outside, with a natural watering."

"Aw, Hutch." Starsky threw an arm around his shoulder and grinned at him. "They don't like it out there. Don't you know they'd miss you? You see, Hutch, they're domesticated now. You can't turn 'em loose. Why, they probably couldn't even catch their own plant food or nothin'."

Hutch gave him a swat-and laughed. "For the last time, I wasn't setting them free!"

Starsky turned to the plants. "Hear that? It's okay, guys. He's gonna keep you."