Snip, snip, snip. The young Samwise Gamgee was testing out his new pair of hedge trimmers on Bilbo Baggins' lawn. His Gaffer had told him he had to practice soon, if he was ever going to take his place. And one would have to admit that Sam was doing brilliant for his first try. As he snipped away, his tongue was stuck out in between his lips in concentration, and his young face was contorted as he stared at his tiny hands as they worked their magic on the bush. As he did his work, his pointed ears went back as he heard a twig crack behind him. He looked around.
Nothing was there.
He quickly went back to his duties, and as soon as he heard the next snap of a twig, it was too late. For he suddenly felt a splash of cold water go down his back. "You'll never catch me Samwise Gamgee!"
Sam turned quickly around to that familiar and sweet voice, and there was the young Rosie Cotton, giggling and running away.
Gaining a mischievous smile on his face, he cried back to her, "That's what you think Rosie Cotton!"
And in a flash he was in hot pursuit. Now, he didn't want to make her feel too bad, since she was four years his junior, he decided to go slow. Or, at least, that's what Sam told Tolman when Rosie was explaining the situation. But boy, Rosie was the fastest lass in the Shire, and Sam was falling behind. It didn't help at all when he tripped on a stick, or a stone. To be honest, Sam was never sure what he really tripped him, but all he could remember was falling.
As he lay down in the grass, his eyes looked up, and he suddenly remembered he was in the lawn at Bag End. The Gaffer told him he was never allowed to play there. But while Sam was worrying about a probable scolding he'd get back home, something caught his eye. Somebody was watching from the circular window of the fine Hobbit hole. It was a blue eye, clear as crystal, attached to a pale face and a smirk.
Sam immediately knew who it was, but he hadn't seen him yet. It was Mr. Bilbo's distant cousin who had come to live with him. What his name? Bingo? Dodo? Frodo. Yes that was the name of the joyful tween. Frodo Baggins; the orphan from Buckland. Sam stared at him for a long while, not sure what to do. He had been caught being outrun by a little lass in front of this tween. A superior who would surely be talking about this moment with someone or another.
And that's when Sam remembered; Rosie. She was getting far ahead of him. "Sam, are you okay?" she asked from ten feet away. Worry was in the little lass's voice, and Sam noted that for later on.
"I'm fine," he replied, still on the ground. And as she came closer, with her head turned sideways with concern, he jumped straight up and began chasing her once again. Might as well take the situation to my own advantage he thought and he soon forgot about Frodo.
And as he played in the garden with his future wife, he didn't know that that first eye contact with Frodo Baggins would lead to the greatest adventure of his life.