FRODO AND BILBO – A FATHER'S DAY STORY
I smiled as we walked out to the bench outside of Bag End. He's finally getting old. I sure will miss him when he passes. I thought. Bilbo was quite frail at the age of eleventy-one. His white curly hair gleamed in the bright sunshine. He smiled at me and said, "My dear boy. How you have grown since I found you after your parents died in that shipwreck." His eyes glistened with tears. My dear boy. That's what they all say. Bilbo, Gandalf, even old Wiseman Gamgee. My dear Frodo. How I love that phrase. "Frodo. What is it, my son?" "Oh, nothing, Bilbo. Just looking at the dewy grass, the sunlight, and the trees. Isn't it so beautiful, Bilbo?" "Yes my boy. It is beautiful, Frodo." Bilbo said. My own eyes watered up. Bilbo was so kind to everyone. Just then, an unexpected visitor came by. "Gandalf!" I shouted. The old wizard chuckled. "My dear Frodo." There it was again. Bilbo stood up, leaning heavily on his cane. The old friends hugged and Bilbo motioned him in the luxurious hobbit-hole. "I'll make tea for all of you." Bilbo declared. Gandalf and I sat down at the table. I persuaded him to tell me again the story about the Lonely Mountain. Gandalf sighed and gave in. "Very well. It was sunrise when we first saw it, high and alone…" I transported myself to the very place, gasping in awe. Then Bilbo came back. "Here we are. I've got some hot tea and seedcake." We eagerly dug in to the delicious spread laid out on the table. We were all very full when we were done eating. Then a knock came at the door. Bilbo looked discreetly out his window. "Those dirty Sackville-Bagginses. I'm not home." All three of us ducked below view. A very high voice was heard. "Bilbo Baggins! I know you're in there!" It said. Then Gandalf made the final mistake. Trying to move, his tall head bumped the chandelier. "Ah-hah!" Bilbo sadly opened the door. Then he was gone! We did our best to look shocked. The angry Sackville-Bagginses left the hole. Bilbo appeared again. Gandalf laughed and then he said, "There are many magic rings in this world. But none of them should be used like that, My dear Bilbo. I'll let it pass for once." We all laughed and went back to the story. This time Bilbo told it. "The peak was high and above the clouds…"