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A few days later Merry arrived in Hobbiton with his parents. When Bilbo and Frodo saw them get out of the carriage they ran to them.
"Welcome, it's good to see you again," Bilbo said to Merry's parents while he hugged them.
Frodo enveloped his little cousin in his arms.
"I missed you so much," he said to Merry while he hugged him. "I'm glad you came."
"I missed you too Frodo."
Bilbo hugged Merry at the same time Merry's parents hugged Frodo.
"We are going to have elevenses now. Would you care to join us before you go?" Bilbo asked Merry's parents.
"Of course," said Saradoc.
Everybody sat at the table eating bread with butter, cheese, and scones and drinking lemonade.
"It is so good to be here again," said Saradoc. "Last time we were here was during the fair last year.
"It was a great fair," said Bilbo. "Everybody had a great time. Everyone seemed to like Gandalf's fireworks."
"I loved his fireworks," said Saradoc.
"Me too," said Merry.
"How are things in Hobbiton lately?" Esmeralda asked.
"Peaceful and quiet," answered Bilbo.
"Sometimes I think it is too quiet," said Frodo.
"You have Merry here now, though," said Esmeralda. "You boys can go out and have a lot of fun."
"And Sam," added Bilbo. "I know you'll have lots of fun together."
Merry frowned at the mention of Sam's name, but nobody took any notice of it.
"Who is Sam?" Esmeralda asked.
"The gardener's son," answered Bilbo. "Frodo met him a few weeks ago. Frodo and Sam are fond of each other, and they are always having fun together, that is when Sam isn't working in the garden or taking lessons from me."
"I can't wait to introduce you to Sam," Frodo said to Merry. "I know that you two are going to get along."
I don't think so, Merry thought. I won't like anyone who takes you away from me.
"How is your new dress coming along?" Bilbo asked.
"My dress will be finished soon. I just have to sew the sleeves on."
Merry welcomed the change of topics. He didn't want to hear them talk about Sam anymore.
They continued to talk until elevenses ended. Then they went outside and said goodbye to Merry's parents.
"Goodbye dear, have a good time with Frodo," Esmeralda said while she hugged her son.
"Goodbye son," Saradoc said. "Behave yourself. We will miss you." Saradoc hugged him, and ruffled his hair.
"Goodbye mama and papa. I'll miss you too," said Merry.
"Thanks for everything," Saradoc said to Bilbo.
"We'll take good care of Merry," Bilbo said while Saradoc and Esmeralda climbed in the carriage.
Saradoc flicked his reigns at the ponies, and the ponies pulled the carriage away. Bilbo, Frodo, and Merry walked back inside.
"Why don't we take a walk in the woods and visit the pond?" suggested Frodo.
"We can look for frogs and snails, and play in the mud," said Merry.
"That sounds like a lot of fun," said Frodo.
Of course, Frodo was too old to do these things because he was a tween, but he always had fun with the younger kids.
"Let's go outside," said Frodo. "I would like to introduce you to Sam."
"Alright," Merry said.
Frodo did not seem to notice the lack of enthusiasm in Merry's voice.
Frodo and Merry walked into the garden. Merry saw a larger boy helping someone pull weeds.
Hamfast noticed them when they approached them, and stood up.
"How are you this fine day, Master Frodo?" asked Hamfast.
"We are well."
Hamfast motioned for Sam to stand up.
"Mr. Hamfast, Sam, I would like to introduce to you my cousin Merry," said Frodo.
"Give them your hand, and remember what you are supposed to say," Frodo said quietly to Merry.
Merry extended his hand to Hamfast and they shook.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Merry said to Hamfast.
"A pleasure to meet you too," said Hamfast.
Sam extended his hand to Merry.
"Welcome to Hobbiton," said Sam.
Merry, took his hand and shook it, but the shake lacked enthusiasm. It seemed to Sam that Merry was not so glad to meet him, but he hoped he was wrong.
"Mr. Hamfast, I'm going to take Merry to the pond this afternoon, and I was wondering if Sam could join us."
"Can I, gaffer?" Sam asked excitedly.
"Yes, you can Sam, after you finished your chores," said Hamfast.
"We will see you this afternoon," said Frodo.
"Come along Merry," said Frodo.
Merry and Frodo walked back to Bag End. Merry had a sour look on his face.
"Does he have to come with us?" Merry asked rudely.
"Merry that's not nice," Frodo admonished.
Frodo and Merry walked into Bag End, and they saw Bilbo set the table.
"I introduced him to Hamfast, and Sam. I also invited Sam to go to the lake with us a little later: you don't mind, do you Uncle Bilbo?"
"Not at all."
"Great," Merry muttered.
"You don't seem glad to meet Sam, do you?" asked Bilbo.
Merry shook his head.
"Give him a chance, Merry; he is a very nice boy," Bilbo said to him.
Later on, the three hobbit lads walked toward the lake. On the way down there, Sam told Frodo about something funny that happened near Ted's Mill and Frodo laughed.
Merry felt left out.
When they came to the pond they began to play. The three hobbits played tag for a few hours until Merry grew tired of the game and suggested a new one.
"Can we start looking for frogs and snails now?" Merry asked.
"Yes," Frodo said.
The boys began to look for frogs and other things.
"Let's see how many things we are going to find today," Frodo said.
"I hope I catch a big frog today," said Sam.
"You catch a frog?" Merry said. "Hah!"
"I've caught lots of frogs before," Sam protested.
"Well I caught better frogs near the Brandywine River," said Merry.
"How is the Brandywine River?" Sam asked.
"It is better than this pond and too good for you," Merry said haughtily.
Sam noticed Merry's hostility towards him.
"You don't like me do you Merry?" Sam asked.
"Why should I?"
"I was thinking that since we both know Frodo and since we both like playing near the pond and catching frogs, that maybe we can be friends."
"I certainly don't want to be your friend, fatty."
Frodo who was quiet throughout the whole conversation was displeased with Merry's treatment of Sam.
"Apologize to him," Frodo said to Merry.
"I'm sorry, Sam."
"That's ok," Sam said.
They continued to look for frogs and other things.
After a while Merry found a hollowed reed, and blew on it, and when he did it made a weak whistle like sound.
I'm going to show this to Frodo, Merry thought.
Merry walked over to Frodo.
"Look what I found." Merry said.
He showed Frodo the hallowed reed and Frodo blew into it.
"This is great," Frodo said. "Where did you find it?"
"Over there," Merry said while he pointed towards the left.
"Let's go over there and find some more," Frodo said.
They began to walk toward the hallowed reeds when Sam ran toward Frodo and shouted.
"Mr. Frodo! Mr. Frodo! I finally caught a really big frog! I've been looking for one for weeks."
"Wow, that is a good catch," Frodo said, observing the amphibian closely.
Frodo and Sam were so caught up in talking about the frog that they did not notice Merry walking away and angrily throwing the reed into the pond.
"It's not fair," Merry said angrily. "I was going to show Frodo the reeds until he came along. So he found a big frog: big deal. Frodo is more interested in what Sam finds than what I found. That proves that he likes Sam better than me."
The boys continued to play near the pond until it was time for them to go home.
The next day Frodo, Sam, and Merry played near the pond again. This time they played knights and dragons.
"I like this game," said Merry.
"I like this game too," said Sam. "Frodo and I had a lot of fun playing that game before you came here."
At these words, Merry's feelings of jealousy grew more.
"We used to play that game at my house too before Frodo moved here," said Merry. "It's a lot more fun without you, Sam."
"Meriodoc!" Frodo shouted disapprovingly.
Merry was about to say something more, but Frodo glared at him. Merry kept his mouth shut.
The boys continued playing knights and dragons, but this time Merry wasn't having as much fun.
After playing for an hour, Merry had a mean idea.
"Why don't we go swimming?" Merry suggested.
"I don't want to go in to the water," said Sam.
"Why? Are you scared of the water?" Merry asked.
"My gaffer said, 'tis not natural for hobbits to go swimming,' and I don't like the water," said Sam.
"You're scared of the water, aren't you," Merry said. "Sam is scared to swim. Sam is scared to swim," Merry taunted in a singsong voice.
Frodo noticed Sam's frown and sad eyes.
"That's enough!" Frodo said to Merry. "Either you stop teasing Sam, or I am going to tell Bilbo how you have been treating him!"
"Alright," Merry said sullenly.
They continued to play until it was time for them to go home.
To be continued
