AN: I am the oldest of four. The other two cousins are cousins with whom we are closest. Our two families always visit the our uncle's farm over spring break and we also always get together for Christmas and for Thanksgiving. This is the story of our 'adventures' this past Thanksgiving. If you recognize anything it's most likely not mine- we just borrowed it (rather our imaginations did!) .
The Creation of the Shire
There is a farm that six cousins visit once a year. This year the children are fortunate because they also get to spend an extra weekend on the farm, for Thanksgiving. Soon after the immediate breakfast mess has been cleared, four of the cousins head out to the massive, 6-foot tall, rounded hay bales to play. After the rest of the mess has been put away and the adults had retired to conversation. the oldest of the six cousins convinces the other to join her and the others in what promises to be a messy time of great fun and imagination.
Within a few minutes of their arrival the small, partially covered spaces, found here and there between the hay bales, are no longer mere spaces, but hobbit holes and the main of the hay bales had been transformed into the Shire, while the other bales had turned into Sauron's fortresses. After a quick drink break an hour later and a chance to unthaw half frozen fingers, the cousins decide on 'terms' of sorts, and code names that soon turn into their real names.
Not completely a surprise to her, the eldest of the six ends up as a leader of sorts to the hobbits; while Missy joins her cousin of the same age, Mathew, to be orcs, which is soon changed to the ever-feared Nazgúl, the Ringwraiths that would soon begin their ceaseless torment of the four hobbits, Bilbo, Sam, Ellie and Merry. As they head across the yard, back to Middle Earth those without staffs (Sam and the old Mr. Bilbo) head out to the back pasture to find a walking staff and for a brief practice fight to acquaint themselves with the different weights and lengths. Thus completed, the two run to Middle Earth to defend their home, each other, the Watch Tower, and to gather food for the coming winter.
Within minutes the orcs begin their attack and the battle for the Shire's Watch Tower, therefore the Shire itself, had begun. After what seems like hours of pushing and falling off of the hay bales, after sword and staff fights, the war abruptly ends when the cousins are summoned for dinner and so the day ends during the meal as the sun sets.