Childhood in The Shire
By: Kari (little took lassie3)
Author's note: This story is in Pippin's point of view. Pippin is only nine years of age. Let's see, that makes Merry about seventeen. Frodo would be thirty. You can figure out the rest, right?
I've never liked the thunder. It shakes the world and it brings lightning, which brings fire, which brings disaster, and that brings nightmares. My mother told me I was born on a rainy day. She said that they thought something was wrong with me because I wasn't crying. According to my mother as soon as the midwife was about to slap my bottom, thunder boomed and I wailed louder than any babe they had ever heard. That same night as everyone in the Great Smials slept, lightning struck, and fire started just outside our home. Everyone got out safely and the fire did little damage, but it was still a horrible, frightening night in our family's history. My mother says it is impossible for me to remember it happening, but I have nightmares that remind of the day.
My cousin Merry is the only one who believes my nightmares take place. My parents think it's a cry for attention. This is why I like to spend the night at Brandy Hall whenever I can. Sometimes I stay weeks at a time with my cousin Merry. My aunt Esmeralda and uncle Saradoc have even turned one of their guest rooms into my very own in Brandy Hall. I like it because it's right next to Merry's room. When I have a nightmare all I have to do is make the slightest whimper and Merry will here it and come to me.
But one night I am in bed and had been crying for some time , and Merry hadn't come. Assuming that something may have been wrong, I got out of bed and crept into my cousin's room. I looked and saw that he was peacefully asleep. I slid into bed beside him, "Mer?"
Merry moaned and turned over to face me, "What's wrong, Pippin?" he yawned.
"I had another nightmare."
Merry didn't look surprised, "Pip, it's alright. It's just a dream. Go back to bed."
"But I'm scared," I protested.
"Come on, Pip. Aren't you a little old for this?"
This remark hurt my feelings and I started to cry. My sobs only pestered Merry even more. He told me to be quiet and it made me cry more.
"Aw, Pip stop it. Please."
"Are you mad with me, Merry?"
"No, Pip."
"Can I sleep here tonight?"
Merry seemed hesitant, "Sure."
I asked him what was wrong. He told me it was nothing, but I knew it was something. I asked him again.
"Pippin, it's just that--well, don't take this the wrong way, promise?"
I said I did.
"You need to grow up, Pippin. You're getting too old for these nightmares. I can't spoil you anymore or you'll never learn to take care of yourself. At least that's what my papa says. But I agree with him. I really do. And I think it's a good idea if you go home tomorrow."
"But, I want to stay, Merry," I said quietly, "Merry, I've been having the dream more often now, and I don't want to leave. Merry, what would I do without you?"
"I don't know, but you better figure it out because you're going home, Pippin. You've been here for nearly five weeks now. Don't you think your family misses you?"
"Aw, they don't care about me, Mer."
"Yes they do. Pippin, stop being a spoiled brat."
"I'm not spoiled."
Merry gave a short laugh and I asked him why that was so funny, "I'm not spoiled. I'm not, Mer!"
"Sure."
"I'm not!" I said angrily. How could he think I was spoiled? I furiously pulled the sheets away from him and laid down. He apologized and I forgave him, "Do I still have to leave tomorrow?"
"Yes. And it's not all my planning. Your parents want you home. You do know that Pearl's birthday is next week, right?"
"Of course I know that." I would never forget my sister's birthday.
"Well, you see? We'll be a part just for a week. A week, Pip, and no longer."
"You promise?"
He said he did. And we went to bed.
When I awoke I found that Merry had already gotten out of bed. I found him and my uncle and aunt in the dining room eating breakfast. I was served and ate silently next to Merry. My aunt was talking about a dress she was making just for my sister. She asked me what Pearl's favorite color was and I told her it was blue. Not the blue like the sky, but like the ocean. A rich blue.
"Then that will be the color."
I smiled politely and continued eating. Merry was discussing something with my uncle that concerned Frodo, fishing, and some hobbit named Sam.
"Who's Sam?" I interrupted.
Merry said it was a new friend of Frodo's.
"What's he got to do with fishing?" I asked.
"Well, Frodo, Sam, and I were going to go fishing this weekend."
"Without me?"
"Well, yes. You'll be home with your family, Pip."
"I can stay until Saturday."
"But Pippin, you don't even like fishing. You're bad at it."
I frowned at the insult and Merry apologized. "You'll be bored, Pippin. Sam is my age according to Frodo. Us three will be talking about things that don't interest you."
"Like what?"
"Like older lad things."
"Like what?" I repeated.
Merry didn't answer. He turned back to his father, "Anyway, is it alright if I go, Papa?"
"Of course," answered my uncle.
I stared at Merry waiting for him to answer my question. He never did.
When I returned home I was left quite alone. Merry didn't understand. I had three sisters, and all they were interested in was girl things. My mother was busy preparing for my sister's birthday celebration, and my father was busy doing his job, whatever that was. That night I had my nightmare. I sat up in bed crying louder and louder. It took twenty minutes for Pearl to come in sleepily. She patted me on the head, told me everything was alright, and left. I sat up in bed shocked. What kind of job of comforting was that? I resumed my crying and this time it only took ten minutes for Pearl to return. She looked angry with me.
"I had a nightmare, Pearl."
"I know. It's alright, Pippin. Now, go to bed," she turned to leave,
"Pearl, where are you going?"
"To bed."
"But-- but you're supposed to stay with me until I fall asleep. To be sure that nothing gets me."
"Pippin, it's late. I don't have time for this."
"But that's what Merry does."
"Good night, Pippin." And she was gone.
How could she do that? Wasn't I her brother? Didn't she care about me? I started to cry again, but all I received was an angry pound on the wall from Pervinca in the next room. I couldn't believe it. No one cared about me. I had to get back to Merry and fast.
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Alright, so that's the end of chapter one. What do you think? How is it so far? Reviews are greatly appreciated. Greatly.
