Mrs Wilson and the Loose Screw

"Why, Gordo, why? Why does one screw always refuse to screw in?" Hutch demanded.

Starsky stoically kept his cool as he answered, "I don't know, Blintz."

Every time, without fail, working on a DIY project produced the same rant. But then again, every time they seemed to hit the same problem so maybe Hutch had a point.

Through his gritted teeth, Hutch muttered, "One screw, one tack, one nail..."

"If one screw never screws, does one tack never tack and one nail never nail?" Starsky mused.

Hutch glared, then huffed his annoyance and went back to fighting with the last screw, but there was a slight twitch at the edge of his lips.

"D'ya reckon there's someone sat in a factory somewhere creating screws that are wonky and then slipping one into every packet that goes out?" Starsky wondered out loud.

"Even though that's ridiculous, I think it must be the answer!" Hutch agreed. "Okay, that's it! That's as far as it will go, it will just have to hold."

Starsky agreed, and anyway he'd had enough of this project.

"It'll be fine. The others are rock solid."

They grabbed a curtain each and hung it up on the rail, cursing the fiddly curtain hooks. But finally it was done. They stood back and admired their handiwork.

"Not bad."

Just then Mrs Wilson came in carrying a tray with mugs of coffee and large slices of cherry madeira.

"Here you are...Oh that looks wonderful. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome," Hutch said.

"I really do appreciate you giving up your time. I know your weekends are precious. I promise not to bother you again."

Through a mouthful of cake, Starsky said, "Bother us anytime. The payment is worth it. Delicious cake, Mrs W."

Mrs Wilson smiled.

"Did you have any problems? My hubbie always swore there was one screw that wouldn't do up."

Before Hutch could say anything, Starsky said, "We had one screw that gave us a little trouble but we won."

"Good."

Hutch put his tools away while Starsky folded Mrs Wilson's ladder away and carried out to the hall for her. Then they took their leave.

As they crossed the road, Hutch said, "See. I'm not the only person who notices these annoying occurrences."

"Never said you were, pal. Right, I'll head home to change and then I'll be back to pick you up for dinner with the Reilly sisters."

"Sounds good. See you later!"

Hutch disappeared into the building. Starsky shook his head as he climbed into his car, muttering, "I definitely know someone with a screw that's missing!"