Hutch stopped in the doorway and stared at Starsky; he nearly dropped the grocery sack.
“What are you doing?”
“Practicing.”
“Dare I ask?”
“Look at the calendar Hutch. What day is it today?”
“Wednesday.”
“Very good detective. What date?”
Hutch looked again. “Oh no!”
“Oh yes!”
“We aren’t going to…”
“Oh yes we are.”
“Starsky I told you, I hate Halloween.”
Starsky grinned evilly and scampered around the apartment. “From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggety blondies and things that go bump in my bed…..”
“Starsky Halloween is not a joking matter. It’s…it’s….”
“It’s fun; that’s what it is Hutch. Harmless silly fun.”
“I don’t know, I mean when I was a kid….”
Starsky silenced him with a kiss. “I’ll protect you from the bad spirits.”
“That’s what I’m worried about.”

Hutch started to unpack the groceries. Starsky grabbed three apples and juggled with them expertly. “You need to get some practice too.”
Hutch gave him a sour look. Starsky placed the apples on the counter and took his partner by the arm. He led Hutch to the middle of the room and pushed him to his knees.
“Hands behind your back.”
“Oh come on Starsk…”
“Heh heh heh; is that an offer?”
Hutch shook his head in despair and Starsky cuffed his hands behind his back before he could escape.
Starsky placed the three apples in the basin. “Let’s see you bob, Blondie!”
“And if I say no?”
“Trick or treat!”

Hutch submitted to the humiliation of having to bob for apples in a bucket of cold water. His hair flopped forward and got soaked; he couldn’t brush the wet hair from his eyes because his hands were cuffed behind his back and to add insult to injury Starsky goosed him which made him snort water up his nose in an attempt not to laugh.
He lifted his head form the water and spluttered “What was that, trick or treat?”