I sit beneath an old elm tree, sketching the scenery. I was not
concentrating on my work and so I sit my pad and quill down, and then I
took from my pocket a fresh and warm cornbread muffin. I nibbled on it and
gazed sadly at my cousin Perigryn Took. He was my younger cousin, though
he was not young anymore and he had changed so much in the past decade.
He was lying in the warm sun a few feet away with his hands behind his head. He was watching the clouds float lazily by. A lock of curly honey-colored hair fell in front of his deep emerald green eyes. Pippin shook his head trying to move the lock, but to his disappointment, it did not move from its place. He shrugged slightly, sighed, and went on watching the fluffy clouds. As I studied my cousins' tanned and freckled face I frowned deeply. It seemed just yesterday, even though it had been years that this were so, there had been youth and joy shining mischievously in that round face of his. His face I knew better then my own hands. Now, in place of youthfulness and joy, a grown-up look should not be there. His previously juvenile and filled out face was now slender and lined with qualms no hobbit lad should ever encounter. My eyes subsequently wandered around the Shire, taking everything in.
I picked up my notepad and fanned myself, trying to cool the hot, and still air around me. It is much too hot to do much of anything. Not even the birds are out, I think. I sat down my pad, broke off a bit of muffin, and popped the buttery bite in my mouth. I smile to myself and sigh heavily as I enjoy its richness. I lean my head back until it touches the elms' rough bark. I close my muddy brown eyes and slowly breathe in the summer air. I could smell pies cooling on a windowsill and honey suckle. The smell of my cornbread muffin hits my nose and brings back memories of childhood. They were recollections of me helping my mother in the kitchen and sneaking nibbles of treats that were being prepared. I had always thought I was so cleaver for not being caught, but now that I reflect back, I think that she had seen me and had just pretended to have been working on something else. I bring my head upwards and my eyes wander some more around the Shire. I saw little hobbit lads and lasses playing and herding the sheep, and an elderly hobbit sitting on the bridge that connected the east and west banks of the Shire, his hat was over his eyes so I think he was napping more then fishing. I sigh contentedly as a cool breeze ruffles my hair. The fields of wheat wave slightly in the wind, as if they too are celebrating the cool breeze. I looked up at the sky and see dark, menacing clouds start to form, mingling with the puffy cumulus clouds. I gulp as I recall memories of the time Pippin & I were captured by the orcs. I do not know why the clouds remind me of that time, but they do. I look at my cousin, whom had scamper up from the ground. He looked as if he were ready to weep. I could tell the clouds also remind him of that instant. I hastily grab my pad and pen and stuff the muffin in my pocket. "Lets get into shelter." I say to him. Pippin nodded slowly and we head off at a quick trot down the hill. Pippin was leading us down the hill and lightning cracked. Rain began to pour down and I could hardly see Pippin. I skidded to a stop and looked around me. I could not see Pippin nor hear the sound of him running. I also could not hear children running for cover nor shutters closing, though I knew they were. "Pippin!!" I call through the gusts of wind and rain pouring down in icy sheets. To my dismay, my voice was drowned out and my calls were not heard.
I shiver slightly & run off in hopes to find shelter.
To be continued...
He was lying in the warm sun a few feet away with his hands behind his head. He was watching the clouds float lazily by. A lock of curly honey-colored hair fell in front of his deep emerald green eyes. Pippin shook his head trying to move the lock, but to his disappointment, it did not move from its place. He shrugged slightly, sighed, and went on watching the fluffy clouds. As I studied my cousins' tanned and freckled face I frowned deeply. It seemed just yesterday, even though it had been years that this were so, there had been youth and joy shining mischievously in that round face of his. His face I knew better then my own hands. Now, in place of youthfulness and joy, a grown-up look should not be there. His previously juvenile and filled out face was now slender and lined with qualms no hobbit lad should ever encounter. My eyes subsequently wandered around the Shire, taking everything in.
I picked up my notepad and fanned myself, trying to cool the hot, and still air around me. It is much too hot to do much of anything. Not even the birds are out, I think. I sat down my pad, broke off a bit of muffin, and popped the buttery bite in my mouth. I smile to myself and sigh heavily as I enjoy its richness. I lean my head back until it touches the elms' rough bark. I close my muddy brown eyes and slowly breathe in the summer air. I could smell pies cooling on a windowsill and honey suckle. The smell of my cornbread muffin hits my nose and brings back memories of childhood. They were recollections of me helping my mother in the kitchen and sneaking nibbles of treats that were being prepared. I had always thought I was so cleaver for not being caught, but now that I reflect back, I think that she had seen me and had just pretended to have been working on something else. I bring my head upwards and my eyes wander some more around the Shire. I saw little hobbit lads and lasses playing and herding the sheep, and an elderly hobbit sitting on the bridge that connected the east and west banks of the Shire, his hat was over his eyes so I think he was napping more then fishing. I sigh contentedly as a cool breeze ruffles my hair. The fields of wheat wave slightly in the wind, as if they too are celebrating the cool breeze. I looked up at the sky and see dark, menacing clouds start to form, mingling with the puffy cumulus clouds. I gulp as I recall memories of the time Pippin & I were captured by the orcs. I do not know why the clouds remind me of that time, but they do. I look at my cousin, whom had scamper up from the ground. He looked as if he were ready to weep. I could tell the clouds also remind him of that instant. I hastily grab my pad and pen and stuff the muffin in my pocket. "Lets get into shelter." I say to him. Pippin nodded slowly and we head off at a quick trot down the hill. Pippin was leading us down the hill and lightning cracked. Rain began to pour down and I could hardly see Pippin. I skidded to a stop and looked around me. I could not see Pippin nor hear the sound of him running. I also could not hear children running for cover nor shutters closing, though I knew they were. "Pippin!!" I call through the gusts of wind and rain pouring down in icy sheets. To my dismay, my voice was drowned out and my calls were not heard.
I shiver slightly & run off in hopes to find shelter.
To be continued...