Smeagol was new to the village. His father had a wanderlust and couldn't settle in anywhere for very long so the family was continually moving.

Smeagol was playing a game he had invented. He had made a club of wood which he used to hit walnut shells on the ground with. It was one of the things he could do since he didn't have any friends. He enjoyed thwacking the devil out of the walnuts and had actually gotten quite good at it.

There were some boys in the village who Smeagol had met although he didn't like them very much.

One chap was named Dukash. He had a fairly high opinion of himself and some girls thought he was sort of cute. He didn't think much of Smeagol either and thought he was funny looking and odd acting.

One day Smeagol was outside thwacking his walnuts quite contentedly when Dukash came over on his worn out pony with his friend Laggo riding behind. Largo was a muscular, aggressive boy who hated sissies and "weirdos" and liked to pick on them especially. Dukash and Laggo had already made fun of Smeagol behind his back and wanted to see if they could torment him a little.

"Hey Sheegull!" Ducas yelled at Smeagol as he spurred the tired old pony into the yard. Smeagol looked up apprehensively.

"Oh hello, Dukash."

"Looks like you're a real expert at that," said Dukash as he yanked his pony to a halt. The poor animal slavered and struggled at the rope in its mouth. Laggo had kind of a perpetual sneer on his face.

"Well I like to hit them around," Smeagol admitted shyly.

"Let's see ya sock one!" Laggo yelled.

Smeagol obliged. He was a bit nervous and didn't hit the walnut very well. It went a few yards and stopped.

The boys laughed. "Great shot!" said Dukash. Smeagol felt ashamed.

Laggo jumped off the pony. "Lemme hit one." He took the club from Smeagol and started swinging at the line of walnuts Smaegol had set up. It was really much harder to get a good shot than it looked and Laggo mostly botched it, although he did succeed in knocking the walnuts helter skelter all over the yard.

"You're not so great yourself!" yelled Dukash.

"This is stupid," said Laggo and threw the club into the middle of the yard. He and Dukash laughed again. Smeagol felt very small and powerless.

Laggo jumped back on the pony. "Let's go!" he shouted to Dukash. Dukash dug his heels into the pony and rode into the yard, around and around as Laggo bent down to pick up walnuts. Then as they raced past Smeagol, he threw them at him.

"Here's your nuts, old man!" Smeagol winced as the walnuts struck him. Dukash made one more pass across the yard and Laggo grabbed the club. He bent it as hard as he could with his strong arms and it snapped in two and then he threw it at Smeagol who just barely dodged it.

"Oops, sorry!" said Laggo, laughing. The boys raced out of Smeagol's yard in a cloud of dust.

"See ya later!" yelled Dukash.

"Yeah, take it easy, Sheegull!" yelled Laggo.

Smeagol was very glad when they disappeared down the path. He picked up the pieces of his club and tried to fit them back together. He felt a painful tightening of his heart and wanted to cry but he didn't. He dropped the club went into his house. His mother was stirring a large pot of steaming meal.

"Where have you been? I need more firewood. Go get some."

Smeagol walked outside again. He picked up the pieces of his club and then walked into the woods, bending down and adding sticks as he went. He daydreamed as he went along of riding a fast horse in a race. He beat every one and a pretty young girl gave him a kiss.

"Smeagol, where's my wood?" his mother yelled from the house.

"I'm coming," he answered as he walked back with his load of wood, kicking walnut shells as he went.