Like Brothers
Chapter 1
Reading and Writing
Pearl stormed through Brandy Hall. The quiet, rainy evening had been filled with screams of frustration as she searched frantically for her little brother who had been missing for quite some time. She opened the door to Merry Brandybuck's room, "Meriadoc Brandybuck!"
Merry lie on the floor on his belly, with a book propped up in front of him. He looked up, "What?"
"You know very well what," Pearl said, "Why aren't you looking for Pippin? You're the one who lost him!"
"He's not lost..."
"You know where he is, don't you? What have you done, Meriadoc? Where is he?"
"Nothing. And I seriously have no idea where he is."
Pearl stomped her foot angrily, "I know you have something to do with this! Where's my brother?"
"I told you, I don't know. All I know is that he's hiding somewhere."
"And why would he be hiding? What did you do?"
"Nothing," Merry said in a tone that Pearl did not take seriously.
"Merry, you were only supposed to be taking care of him--"
"Only because you got tired of him... so you dumped him with me!"
"I had to help Mother and Auntie with dinner!"
Merry rolled his eyes, and returned to reading his book.
"Merry, I would of never left little Pippy with such an irresponsible hobbit, but he INSISTED of going with you! Merry, he looks up to you! And you lost him!"
"I didn't lose him."
"Then where is he?"
"I don't know!" Merry was starting to get angry with Pearl. His mama always told him to be a gentlemen with girls, but Pearl was the worst.
"Merry, he's only six years old! What if he went outside? It's pouring! My poor little brother--"
"We found him," said Pimpernel as she and Pervinca walked into the room with a smiling Pippin behind them.
Pearl rushed over to Pippin, "Where were you?"
"Hiding."
"Why, Pippy?"
" I was playing hide and seek with Merry," he said proudly.
Pearl sent Merry an angry look. Merry ignored it; he picked up his book and began to read. He knew Pippin was hiding. He told him to hide and that he would go look for him. And when Pippin hid, Merry didn't seek. He thought this little scheme up when he heard the Tooks would be visiting. As cute as the lad seemed, he was rather annoying.
Pippin ran over to Merry, "I was hiding really good, wasn't I Merry?"
"Sure was," Merry said, his nose still in the book.
"You couldn't find me, because I found a REALLY good place to hide! You want to know where it is, Merry?"
"No."
"You want to play again, Merry?"
"Sure. Go hide."
Pippin grinned and began to run off to hide again, but Pearl stopped him, "No, Pippy. That's enough hide and seek for tonight."
"But, Pearl! Why?"
Without answering her little brother's question she turned to her sisters, "Take care of Pippin, will you?"
The two nodded. Pimpernel took Pippin by the hand and the three left.
Pervinca sighed. She looked at Merry who continued to read his book, "You know, Merry... Pippin really likes you. You're like his brother in a way... I don't understand why you hate the lad so much."
Merry said nothing.
"Did you hear me?"
Merry sighed, "Pearl, it's not that I hate him. But... well.... Pippin can find himself another 'brother'. One that can put up with his annoying little ways."
Pearl shook her head, "Fine, Merry. Fine. Just don't ever play this hide and seek game with my brother ever again."
"Fine."
Pearl turned and left.
Merry sat his book aside. He honestly wasn't even reading it. He picked it up as soon as he heard the angry screams from his cousin Pearl. He stood and walked to the window. It was still raining. That means the Tooks would be staying the night. Merry thought about the idea and then frowned. He would have to share a room with Pippin for sure. There were only two guest rooms. One with one bed, and the other with two. His aunt Eglantine and uncle Saradoc would surely get one room to themselves. And of course the girls would too. Yes, it looked like it was going to be a long night tonight.
It wasn't like Merry always disliked his cousin. He was rather cute in the beginning. But he got annoying and tiresome quickly. It seemed like the small Took had an endless supply of energy and a lot of the times Merry was unable to compete. He was less annoying when he was just a babe, and unable to speak, but when he learned how, it was endless. Even when the lad knew only three words, including Merry's name, he was one of the most talkative hobbits Merry ever came across. And the babe never seemed to talk the sort of baby nonsense that came from most little, year old hobbits... it was always a command...
"Merry! Merry! Ball! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry! Up! Merry! Merry! Merry! Up! Up! Merry! Ball! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry!"
It grew worse when the hobbit finally gained some intelligence and began to construct sentences. And even worse... questions...
" Merry, What're you doing? Merry, why don't you have any brother or sisters? Merry, what's for breakfast? Merry, can I help? Merry, can you show me how to read? Merry, can we go fishing? Merry, what's for second breakfast? Merry, why don't we play a game? Merry, can you teach me how to swim? Merry, what's for lunch? Merry, why can't I ever find you? Merry--"
It drove him insane. He didn't mind taking care of the scamp every now and then, but lately they've been leaving Merry with Pippin-duty a little too much for his taste.
Merry laid down on his bed and closed his eyes, relaxing. Some minutes later he opened his eyes to find his little cousin starring at him. The little hobbit was very short, his eyes large and green barely peeking over the side of the bed. His hair was chestnut brown. All the hobbit lasses found him to be the most adorable thing they've ever seen, but Merry thought differently.
Pippin jumped on the bed and Merry sat up. Pippin, as usual, had a wide grin on his face. He cocked his head to one side, "Were you sleeping, Merry?"
"No, Pippin... I wasn't"
"Auntie told me that you and I are to share a room tonight, Merry."
"I thought so..."
"She told me... do you know what she told me?... she told me we aren't to stay up too late having too much fun, Merry."
"Really?"
Pippin nodded, "Yes, but that doesn't mean we can't have any fun. Right, Merry? Merry, we can still have fun, but we can't stay up past nine. That's what she told me Merry. She told me we can't stay up past nine, but that doesn't mean we can't have any fun," Pippin spoke in a manner as if his tiny little head held the most vital information, and he must try to make it understandable to his cousin, who was more than twice his age. "Merry, I was thinking... do you know what I was thinking?... I was thinking that you could help me learn to read. My sisters... do you know what they say? Do you know, Merry?"
Merry shook his head, "What?" Merry was starting to get tired of this endless conversation.
"They say... Merry they say I'm too little. They say that I'm too little and I can't read. So I tell them... do you know what I tell them, Merry?... I tell them "no" I tell them Merry, that I will learn how, because you said. Merry, you said, remember? You said you were going to show me. And so I tell them and they say that you lie, Merry. They say you lie. And I tell them "no" I tell them, "Merry's my friend and he doesn't lie". And you don't Merry. You're my friend."
Merry looked at his small cousin. He thought about what Pearl said earlier... about how Pippin sees him as a brother. He thought about what he had said earlier... about how Pippin should find another "brother". He felt bad. He guessed he could put up with the little hobbit for the night; he could show him how to read. Just a little. Keep him content. Just show him a few letters of the alphabet and let him practice. Easy.
Merry smiled, "So you want to learn how to read, Pippin?"
Pippin's smile became twice as wide, if possible, "Yes!"
"Alright then, let's get started," Merry said getting up from the bed and walking a dresser in the corner of his room. He pulled out some things that he would need. He found some parchment, a quill, ink well, and blotter. Pippin watched Merry set these things down at a small desk. He pulled up two chairs, "Set right here, Pippin."
Pippin obeyed. He watched Merry dip the quill in ink and write something out on a piece of parchment.
Merry spelled out: 'PEREGRIN' He looked at Pippin, "Have any idea what this says?"
Pippin studied it. A few long seconds past and Pippin looked up at Merry, "Cow?"
Merry laughed, "No, Pippin, that's your name."
"My name? My name? It looks odd... That's not my name."
"Here, let me show you." Merry dipped the quill in ink, and began to write out the alphabet. He showed him how to pronounce each letter. The hobbit caught on quickly, and Merry felt proud. Maybe the lad wasn't that annoying.
Time passed, and before the two hobbits knew it, it was nine o' clock. Merry kept his eyes on the door, knowing either his mama or aunt Eglantine would be coming to tell them it was time for bed. He didn't want to go to bed, and it surprised even himself. He never spent this much quality time with Pippin before and he was learning a lot about his cousin. Like he was very smart for his age. Within an hour and a quarter Pippin had completely memorized the alphabet, but of course it was only capital letters.
"P-E-R-E-G-R-I-N," Pippin said as he spelled out his name for the twentieth time, "Peregrin."
The door squeaked, and Pippin's mother peered into the room, "Time for bed, boys." She stopped and looked at the two of them. She walked in to the room, and approached them, "What's this?" She turned to her nephew, "Did you show him how to spell his name?"
Merry nodded, "And the alphabet."
"T-O-O-K," continued Pippin, "Took."
"He's really good, Auntie," said Merry, "He learns fast."
Eglantine smiled, "Meriadoc, you're an angel. Taking your time to tutor my boy..." his aunt kissed him on the forehead, and Merry blushed.
She kissed Pippin too, and Pippin smiled up at her, "Do you see, Mother? I can spell!"
She smiled back, "Yes, yes, but Pippin, sweetie, it's time for bed."
Pippin nodded. He was never one to disobey his mother. He climbed in to bed, and Merry followed.
"Good night, Mother," Pippin whispered softly.
"Good night," She kissed him again and walked towards the door, "Good night, Merry."
"Good night, Aunt Eglantine."
------
So, how's this story so far? Should I continue? Please review with suggestions and your thoughts, they are truely appreciated.
Chapter 1
Reading and Writing
Pearl stormed through Brandy Hall. The quiet, rainy evening had been filled with screams of frustration as she searched frantically for her little brother who had been missing for quite some time. She opened the door to Merry Brandybuck's room, "Meriadoc Brandybuck!"
Merry lie on the floor on his belly, with a book propped up in front of him. He looked up, "What?"
"You know very well what," Pearl said, "Why aren't you looking for Pippin? You're the one who lost him!"
"He's not lost..."
"You know where he is, don't you? What have you done, Meriadoc? Where is he?"
"Nothing. And I seriously have no idea where he is."
Pearl stomped her foot angrily, "I know you have something to do with this! Where's my brother?"
"I told you, I don't know. All I know is that he's hiding somewhere."
"And why would he be hiding? What did you do?"
"Nothing," Merry said in a tone that Pearl did not take seriously.
"Merry, you were only supposed to be taking care of him--"
"Only because you got tired of him... so you dumped him with me!"
"I had to help Mother and Auntie with dinner!"
Merry rolled his eyes, and returned to reading his book.
"Merry, I would of never left little Pippy with such an irresponsible hobbit, but he INSISTED of going with you! Merry, he looks up to you! And you lost him!"
"I didn't lose him."
"Then where is he?"
"I don't know!" Merry was starting to get angry with Pearl. His mama always told him to be a gentlemen with girls, but Pearl was the worst.
"Merry, he's only six years old! What if he went outside? It's pouring! My poor little brother--"
"We found him," said Pimpernel as she and Pervinca walked into the room with a smiling Pippin behind them.
Pearl rushed over to Pippin, "Where were you?"
"Hiding."
"Why, Pippy?"
" I was playing hide and seek with Merry," he said proudly.
Pearl sent Merry an angry look. Merry ignored it; he picked up his book and began to read. He knew Pippin was hiding. He told him to hide and that he would go look for him. And when Pippin hid, Merry didn't seek. He thought this little scheme up when he heard the Tooks would be visiting. As cute as the lad seemed, he was rather annoying.
Pippin ran over to Merry, "I was hiding really good, wasn't I Merry?"
"Sure was," Merry said, his nose still in the book.
"You couldn't find me, because I found a REALLY good place to hide! You want to know where it is, Merry?"
"No."
"You want to play again, Merry?"
"Sure. Go hide."
Pippin grinned and began to run off to hide again, but Pearl stopped him, "No, Pippy. That's enough hide and seek for tonight."
"But, Pearl! Why?"
Without answering her little brother's question she turned to her sisters, "Take care of Pippin, will you?"
The two nodded. Pimpernel took Pippin by the hand and the three left.
Pervinca sighed. She looked at Merry who continued to read his book, "You know, Merry... Pippin really likes you. You're like his brother in a way... I don't understand why you hate the lad so much."
Merry said nothing.
"Did you hear me?"
Merry sighed, "Pearl, it's not that I hate him. But... well.... Pippin can find himself another 'brother'. One that can put up with his annoying little ways."
Pearl shook her head, "Fine, Merry. Fine. Just don't ever play this hide and seek game with my brother ever again."
"Fine."
Pearl turned and left.
Merry sat his book aside. He honestly wasn't even reading it. He picked it up as soon as he heard the angry screams from his cousin Pearl. He stood and walked to the window. It was still raining. That means the Tooks would be staying the night. Merry thought about the idea and then frowned. He would have to share a room with Pippin for sure. There were only two guest rooms. One with one bed, and the other with two. His aunt Eglantine and uncle Saradoc would surely get one room to themselves. And of course the girls would too. Yes, it looked like it was going to be a long night tonight.
It wasn't like Merry always disliked his cousin. He was rather cute in the beginning. But he got annoying and tiresome quickly. It seemed like the small Took had an endless supply of energy and a lot of the times Merry was unable to compete. He was less annoying when he was just a babe, and unable to speak, but when he learned how, it was endless. Even when the lad knew only three words, including Merry's name, he was one of the most talkative hobbits Merry ever came across. And the babe never seemed to talk the sort of baby nonsense that came from most little, year old hobbits... it was always a command...
"Merry! Merry! Ball! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry! Up! Merry! Merry! Merry! Up! Up! Merry! Ball! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry! Merry!"
It grew worse when the hobbit finally gained some intelligence and began to construct sentences. And even worse... questions...
" Merry, What're you doing? Merry, why don't you have any brother or sisters? Merry, what's for breakfast? Merry, can I help? Merry, can you show me how to read? Merry, can we go fishing? Merry, what's for second breakfast? Merry, why don't we play a game? Merry, can you teach me how to swim? Merry, what's for lunch? Merry, why can't I ever find you? Merry--"
It drove him insane. He didn't mind taking care of the scamp every now and then, but lately they've been leaving Merry with Pippin-duty a little too much for his taste.
Merry laid down on his bed and closed his eyes, relaxing. Some minutes later he opened his eyes to find his little cousin starring at him. The little hobbit was very short, his eyes large and green barely peeking over the side of the bed. His hair was chestnut brown. All the hobbit lasses found him to be the most adorable thing they've ever seen, but Merry thought differently.
Pippin jumped on the bed and Merry sat up. Pippin, as usual, had a wide grin on his face. He cocked his head to one side, "Were you sleeping, Merry?"
"No, Pippin... I wasn't"
"Auntie told me that you and I are to share a room tonight, Merry."
"I thought so..."
"She told me... do you know what she told me?... she told me we aren't to stay up too late having too much fun, Merry."
"Really?"
Pippin nodded, "Yes, but that doesn't mean we can't have any fun. Right, Merry? Merry, we can still have fun, but we can't stay up past nine. That's what she told me Merry. She told me we can't stay up past nine, but that doesn't mean we can't have any fun," Pippin spoke in a manner as if his tiny little head held the most vital information, and he must try to make it understandable to his cousin, who was more than twice his age. "Merry, I was thinking... do you know what I was thinking?... I was thinking that you could help me learn to read. My sisters... do you know what they say? Do you know, Merry?"
Merry shook his head, "What?" Merry was starting to get tired of this endless conversation.
"They say... Merry they say I'm too little. They say that I'm too little and I can't read. So I tell them... do you know what I tell them, Merry?... I tell them "no" I tell them Merry, that I will learn how, because you said. Merry, you said, remember? You said you were going to show me. And so I tell them and they say that you lie, Merry. They say you lie. And I tell them "no" I tell them, "Merry's my friend and he doesn't lie". And you don't Merry. You're my friend."
Merry looked at his small cousin. He thought about what Pearl said earlier... about how Pippin sees him as a brother. He thought about what he had said earlier... about how Pippin should find another "brother". He felt bad. He guessed he could put up with the little hobbit for the night; he could show him how to read. Just a little. Keep him content. Just show him a few letters of the alphabet and let him practice. Easy.
Merry smiled, "So you want to learn how to read, Pippin?"
Pippin's smile became twice as wide, if possible, "Yes!"
"Alright then, let's get started," Merry said getting up from the bed and walking a dresser in the corner of his room. He pulled out some things that he would need. He found some parchment, a quill, ink well, and blotter. Pippin watched Merry set these things down at a small desk. He pulled up two chairs, "Set right here, Pippin."
Pippin obeyed. He watched Merry dip the quill in ink and write something out on a piece of parchment.
Merry spelled out: 'PEREGRIN' He looked at Pippin, "Have any idea what this says?"
Pippin studied it. A few long seconds past and Pippin looked up at Merry, "Cow?"
Merry laughed, "No, Pippin, that's your name."
"My name? My name? It looks odd... That's not my name."
"Here, let me show you." Merry dipped the quill in ink, and began to write out the alphabet. He showed him how to pronounce each letter. The hobbit caught on quickly, and Merry felt proud. Maybe the lad wasn't that annoying.
Time passed, and before the two hobbits knew it, it was nine o' clock. Merry kept his eyes on the door, knowing either his mama or aunt Eglantine would be coming to tell them it was time for bed. He didn't want to go to bed, and it surprised even himself. He never spent this much quality time with Pippin before and he was learning a lot about his cousin. Like he was very smart for his age. Within an hour and a quarter Pippin had completely memorized the alphabet, but of course it was only capital letters.
"P-E-R-E-G-R-I-N," Pippin said as he spelled out his name for the twentieth time, "Peregrin."
The door squeaked, and Pippin's mother peered into the room, "Time for bed, boys." She stopped and looked at the two of them. She walked in to the room, and approached them, "What's this?" She turned to her nephew, "Did you show him how to spell his name?"
Merry nodded, "And the alphabet."
"T-O-O-K," continued Pippin, "Took."
"He's really good, Auntie," said Merry, "He learns fast."
Eglantine smiled, "Meriadoc, you're an angel. Taking your time to tutor my boy..." his aunt kissed him on the forehead, and Merry blushed.
She kissed Pippin too, and Pippin smiled up at her, "Do you see, Mother? I can spell!"
She smiled back, "Yes, yes, but Pippin, sweetie, it's time for bed."
Pippin nodded. He was never one to disobey his mother. He climbed in to bed, and Merry followed.
"Good night, Mother," Pippin whispered softly.
"Good night," She kissed him again and walked towards the door, "Good night, Merry."
"Good night, Aunt Eglantine."
------
So, how's this story so far? Should I continue? Please review with suggestions and your thoughts, they are truely appreciated.