A Grey Day
Starsky looked out of the window and knew what the view meant. It had been a golden September but overnight the weather had changed. Grey clouds had formed into a steel wall that the sun couldn't break through as hard as it might try. The wind had dropped and the air itself seemed listless. It was going to be a day of little light and infinite dreariness.
Starsky knew time was of the essence. He turned his phone on and sent a message to his friend-partner-brother. Not waiting for the reply, he quickly showered, dressed, made a flask of coffee and left the house. He checked his phone. A flat 'ok' was the response.
When he reached Hutch's place, he strode up the path and knocked cheerily on the door. It opened only a few seconds later. An unusually sombre Hutch was ready and waiting.
"Grab your walking boots," Starsky instructed.
Hutch raised an eyebrow but did as he was told. Soon both of them were in the car heading towards the tree plantation to check on their trees, both the old and the newly planted.
They changed into walking boots and Starsky threw his backpack over one shoulder. Then they followed the path as it climbed steadily through the man-made forest until they came out to a level piece of ground, which overlooked the world of green, gold, orange and yellow bedecked trees.
"Beautiful," Hutch murmured.
A conveniently fallen tree made a great bench and the two of them sat down side by side. Starsky poured them both a cup of coffee and they sipped in companionable silence.
"I checked the weather. Sunny and cloudy tomorrow. Sunny again all weekend."
As Hutch nodded, Starsky could see his friend's mood lightening and knew he'd got to him in time.
"I figured lunch over at that cafe overlooking our bay," Starsky said.
"Sounds good."
Hutch breathed in deep, taking in the scents of the forest. Suddenly, he smiled with delight and pointed as a yellow billed magpie flew across their sight line, quickly followed by another. Starsky grinned.
"Two for joy," he said.
"Yeah," Hutch agreed.
They drained their cups and packed the flask away. Filled with renewed energy, they walked briskly down the path back to Starsky's car, chattering all the way.
Notes: Written for the SHFAFF Friday Fiction prompt – a view from a window.