The Left-Handers Club
Edith Dobey opened the door with a smile on her face.
"Ken, Dave! Thank you so much for coming!"
"You call. We come," Starsky informed her, as she kissed him on the cheek. "Now, what's the thing you need help with?"
Lowering her voice, Edith replied, "It's Rosie. Something's been bothering her all week but she won't talk to anyone about what it is. I think something might have happened at school but I don't know. I thought maybe she'd talk to you."
Hutch nodded. "We'll see what we can do."
Edith closed the door and walked to the bottom of the stairs. She called up to her children, "Cal, Rosie? Uncle Dave and Uncle Ken are here!"
There was the sound of running feet from above and then both children came hurtling down the stairs.
"Slow down!" their mother warned.
Rosie zipped past her mother and Hutch and threw herself into Starsky's arms. Cal held out his hand to give Hutch a handshake.
"Why don't you all go out in the garden and I'll bring out some lemonade?" Edith suggested.
"Great idea," Hutch agreed. "We can play a little ball, Cal."
Starsky still had his arms full of Rosie so he just nodded and followed the others out. Once outside, he sat himself on the bench that was against the house wall and settled Rosie on his lap.
"So Rosie Posie, what have you been up to this week? How's your new school? You made some new friends?" He felt the little wriggle of discomfort run through her body but there was no answer. "Hey, Rosie," he whispered in her ear, "You can tell me anything, you know that right?"
Slowly, Rosie lifted her head and looked at him with sad eyes.
"Trouble at school?" Starsky ventured.
Rosie nodded.
"Kids being mean?"
Rosie nodded again.
"Mean how?"
Starsky kept his tone light but he was worried as to what Rosie might say. He was surprised when she snuck a look at Hutch and Cal, to make sure they weren't listening, before answering his question.
"Some of the kids think being left-handed makes me stupid. They're mean. I hate them!"
"Oh." Starsky gave the matter some thought. "Well, next time the subject comes up, you just tell them there are lots of famous people who are left-handed."
"Like who?"
"Well, Babe Ruth for starters. Most famous southpaw there's ever been."
Rosie didn't look particularly impressed.
"Hey, our President is left-handed. Did you know that? Can't get more famous than that!"
Rosie wrinkled her nose.
Starsky decided he needed help. "Hey partner, can you think of any famous lefties? Other than Babe Ruth and President Ford."
As Hutch walked towards them, Rosie kept her back firmly facing his way. Hutch frowned slightly but didn't say anything. He just exchanged glances with Starsky.
"How about David Rockerfeller? Successful, rich and a lefty."
"Hmm, good one," Starsky agreed.
"Or Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics. Five times MVP."
Rosie nodded her head.
"See, lefties are great," Starsky said.
Rosie thought about it and then she slowly turned to face Hutch and look at him. "What about you, Uncle Ken? Do you think lefties are great? Only you don't seem to like Uncle Dave being a lefty. You're always teasing him."
Rosie sounded reproachful and Hutch felt himself slightly flushing. Starsky had to hide a smirk. This was a rare occasion where he was pleased to see his partner squirm.
"Oh Rosie, I don't mean anything by it. I'm just teasing. I bet Cal teases you, right? And you know he doesn't mean it."
Rosie considered this. "I guess. He's my brother so…" She shrugged.
Starsky nodded. "Well, Hutch is my brother so I know he don't mean nothing by it, Rosie. But those kids at school, you tell them about the famous lefties you know of – me and Hutch will try to think of some more for ya. And tell them you're a signed up member of a left-handed club - founding members you and your Uncle Dave. That will shut them up…and if it doesn't tell them I'll arrest them!"
"Starsky!"
"Well, maybe not arrest them but come and talk to their parents. Okay?"
"Okay."
Edith appeared with a tray of lemonades. She smiled at both men, looking at them with suspiciously bright eyes.
"How about that lemonade now?"
As they sat and drank, Rosie noticed Hutch looked a little down.
"Hey Uncle Ken, what's the matter?"
"Oh, just feeling a bit left out. If you and your Uncle Dave are only allowed in your club because you're left-handed, where does that leave me and Cal?"
Starsky looked at Rosie and asked, "Whaddya think? Shall we make them honorary members?"
Rosie nodded. "Yes."
"Great! How about we go play some basket-ball?"
The children (all four of them) quickly scrambled to their feet and went to fetch the ball and Edith smiled as she watched them play.