A Day at the Zoo
Starsky POV
It's a Friday morning and I pick Hutch up early, not because we're going to work, but because we're going to the Santa Barbara Zoo and we want to make a day of it. Hutch has had the whole week off because he needed to 'recharge his batteries' and I can see it's done him good. He's much more relaxed - more 'smiley Hutch', which is my favourite kind of Hutch in the world – not that I don't like the other kind of Hutches too. It's like the sea – it's got multiple moods and looks and they are all fascinating but…the sea sparkling on a sunny day, well, that's the best sight there is.
So we both got today off and Hutch suggested going to the Santa Barbara Zoo and it sounded like a great idea to me so here we are on our way to see all the animals we like and have a train ride, too. What could be better?
Hutch POV
Starsky's here bright and early to pick me up for our trip to the zoo and I can see he's excited, like a little kid going for a day out with his parents. That's one of things I love about Starsky – that child-like innocence that he's managed to hold onto, despite all the horrors he's seen. Sometimes, I wish I was more like him. Maybe the kind of adult you are comes down to how much love you were shown in your first few years as a child. I know Starsky's home wasn't rich in many things but it was rich in love and he's an adult brimming over with love for other people and life.
I love watching him enjoy the simplest things – can't wait to see him when he gets to ride the train. I know he's going to love it.
Starsky POV
First thing we do when we arrive at the Zoo is check what time the train is running and plan our visit to fit around the timetable. We decide we'll ride the train last thing. The Zoo is laid out real nice with lawns and a lake and the train runs around the edge of the whole site. As we walk round we catch glimpses of it going past full of happy kids.
We make our way to see the big cats and then on to the rainforest passage, which is amazing. I could watch parrots for hours. I tell Hutch everything I know about the sub species Macaws and he nods as if he's interested. I don't know why I love Macaws so much, particularly the Scarlet Macaws. They just appeal to me. Hutch indulges me and we stay there for ages just watching the birds coming and going, the life-long pairings preening each other then suddenly taking flight in a large group. He finally drags me away with the promise of lunch – his treat - and we make our way to the café.
Hutch POV
Starsky loves parrots, or more specifically Scarlet Macaws. Actually, he reminds me of a Scarlet Macaw. If I said that out loud, people would misunderstand me as they so often do. They'd think I mean he's loud, bright, noisy, colourful, flashy - like when he's going out on a date and wants to impress – and, yes, he is all those things and, on the surface, that could be the reason why but that's not it. It's because they keep their family units close and they are unfailingly loyal and that's Starsky. If you're lucky enough to be invited into his family unit, you're there for life. I don't know why he let me in but I'm glad he did.
We watch the Macaws for ages until I finally manage to prise Starsky away by offering to buy lunch.
Starsky POV
We've reached the giraffe enclosure and lean up against the wooden railing to watch the group of tall animals going about their day. A mother leans down and gently licks her little one with her long prehensile tongue. It's incredibly cute and kinda awe-inspiring. I look across at my partner and see his face shining, totally enraptured by the sight. It's good to see him so happy.
Sometimes, he reminds me of a giraffe. People at the station would probably think it's because he's tall, a bit gangly looking and tends to look down on things but that's not it. It's because under a tough exterior there's a gentle heart that bleeds for the hurts of others and then there's the way he is with kids, too – calm, quiet and so incredibly, gentle.
And another thing, giraffes ain't nature's fighters but, you go for one of the herd, you'll soon regret it. Those long necks can pack a powerful wallop. They're peace loving but kinda scary when provoked…and that's Hutch.
We stay there for ages, just watching these graceful giant animals, and then I remind him we haven't collected our free ice cream yet and he lets me drag him away.
Hutch POV
Giraffes hardly make a sound. They are the quietest of all the animals and that's one of the reasons they appeal to me. I could watch them for hours and never get bored. They don't say much and they appear to be content. I like their long tongues reaching up high, around the sharpest thorns to get at the juiciest leaves that provide nutrition and water; their friendly, uncomplicated eyes; the way they see the world from up above and don't feel the need to comment on it. I wish I could be more like a giraffe.
Like a giraffe there is a lot I don't say. Unfortunately, what I do say doesn't always come out right. Thankfully, Starsky can read my mind…and more importantly he hears what my heart is trying to say when I can't put it into the right words. So it doesn't matter when I say the wrong thing or the opposite of what I really mean. He gets me and, coming from a family that never did, that's a blessing.
Starsky lets me watch the giraffes for ages before he starts to whine about missing out on our free ice cream. With one last look, I bid goodbye to these superbly graceful creatures and allow him to lead me to the nearest ice cream stand where he buys bubble-gum flavour – yuk – and I choose vanilla. He makes me have chocolate sauce on it and, as usual, he's right – vanilla is enhanced by a dash of chocolate.
Starsky POV
We wait until the last ride of the day to take our turn on the train. Lots of the families have started heading home so there aren't too many people on it. The loco today is the red one, which is great. My favourite colour. It's a two foot narrow gauge railway so the driver sits behind the tiniest of engines, pulling carriages which are just big enough to hold two thin adults side by side in each section. As there are fewer people riding it at this time of day, we manage to grab the last two compartments - Hutch sits in one and I sit behind him. The train chugs around the site taking in the view of the lake, coming quite close to the elephant enclosure and back past the giraffes. Hutch leans out as far as he can to take one last look at the beautiful creatures and then sits back with a sigh. I am overcome with the urge to hug my very own giraffe and lean forward and wrap my arms around him.
"Thanks for a great day, babe."
His initial reaction is to go rigid and then he relaxes. We've only been partners for around a year and he still seems surprised when I hug him. I don't reckon he's had enough hugs in his life and I'm trying to make up for it.
"You're welcome, goof ball," he says, turning his head to give me a beatific smile.
After a minute, he gets this solemn look and says, "Sorry I was so grouchy last week. I didn't mean anything I said."
"I know that," I reassure him. I don't know whether to press him or not but dare a question. "Your Mom say something when you rang her for her birthday?"
He looks away but leans into my hug.
"She asked me what I was going to do when I finished playing cops and robbers. Like I'm a kid who still hasn't grown up. She just doesn't understand a thing about me or what I want to do."
The hurt is clear in his voice and I squeeze him harder. "You can't choose your family…that's what people say, isn't it? Don't pay no mind to her."
Hutch sighs then says, "Thank God you can choose your friends, buddy. I'd be lost without you."
I let him go and sit back as we arrive back at the tiny station and then disembark. We watch the driver uncouple the locomotive and drive round to the back of the carriages to re-attach the couplings and then pull the carriages off to the sheds for night. The zoo is closing up, our day is over and we make our way back to my car in contented silence.
On the way home, we turn the radio on and listen to the songs being played, finding ourselves singing along to one or two favourites. A few times, I just hum and let Hutch do the singing 'cause I like listening to his voice.
I guess he can't really be like a giraffe because he's not silent, he sings.
I think about this for a bit and decide he's more like an American Robin. They got those beautiful songs, like all members of the thrush family, and they have that charming way they move around that makes them fascinating to watch. They also have periods of silence, over the winter, and then burst out into song again, heralding the spring. Yeah, that's my Hutch - a cross between a robin and a giraffe. The thought of what that creature might look like makes me chuckle.
Hutch looks at me and asks, "What?"
I lay my arm across his shoulders and say, "Just thinking about what a fun day we've had. Thanks for suggesting the zoo. It was t'rriffic."
He beams with pleasure at my approval of his choice before returning to his singing. I listen and think that any day out with my best friend is the best day in the world. Doesn't matter where we go or what we do – as long as we can enjoy it together, that's what makes it special.