JUST ONE MORE DIME
BY TOOKI
EDITED BY TONYA
2023
“Are you coming?” Hutch asked, he had a steaming cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich from the cafeteria. The heat from the paper cup was beginning to burn his fingers.
Starsky had stopped at the vending machine and was perusing the selection of candy bars. He sat his cup of coffee on the floor and dug in his pocket as he held a napkin wrapped doughnut in his other hand. “Just a sec.”
Hutch sighed, he knew what was coming.
“Hey Hutch, ya got a dime I can borrow?”
“Borrow? When have you ever paid me back?”
“I…ah,” Starsky stared at his selection through the glass of the machine.
“You already have a doughnut.”
“Yea, but the candy is fresh, Frank filled it up this morning.”
Only Starsky would be on a first name basis with the man that restocked the vending machine. “Why do you never have enough change?” Hutch balanced his coffee on his sandwich and rubbed his burning fingers on his slacks.
“Come on Hutch, it’s just a dime.”
Hutch was enjoying tormenting his friend. Fact was, he had a bunch of dimes in his pocket. He made sure he always did because he knew at least once a day Starsky was going to ask to “borrow” a dime. “Not sure I have any change.”
“Whata talking about? You always have change.” Starsky said mournfully.
“I think I left it on my dresser this morning.”
“H-H-Hutch.”
“You know you don’t need a candy bar, that doughnut has enough sugar to…”
Starsky cut him off, “I know, I know… rot my insides. And some thug could put a bullet in me today and that would be the end of me.”
“Touché!” Hutch shook his head at his friend as Starsky looked longingly into the vending machine.
“I’ll pay you back, I promise. How much do you think I owe you?”
“I’ve lost count.” Hutch growled trying his best not to laugh. Hutch started to walk down the hall then turned, reached in his pocket, and flipped Starsky a dime.
Starsky caught it, “That was just plain mean, you know that, don’t ya?”
Hutch chuckled as he continued down the hall into the squad room.
Starsky plunked the change into the machine and pushed the button, he waited while his candy bar corkscrewed toward him. Suddenly it stopped moving leaving his selection dangling. “Damn!” He hit the machine but failed to dislodge the candy.
Hutch was at his desk enjoying his breakfast when Starsky came barreling up to his desk, he hoped Hutch wouldn’t make him beg. “Can I have just one more dime?” Hutch dug in his pocket and tossed his friend another dime. “Thanks buddy!”
The end.