Chapter 13-Of 'The Hedgehog Song'
'Hush a meenit,' said Pippin, looking towards the group. An elderly Hobbit with a red handkerchief tied round his neck was being called on to sing. Usually this was cause for much table thumping and applause (or occasionally cause to ask the landlord if he had any rotten tomatoes to hand), and some people started whistling and calling to him. Eventually a song was decided on and various instruments, in degrees of working order, were produced.
Malva rolled her eyes and said this was boring if you didn't want to hear some old codger warbling about past events, or possibly their favourite food. Pip was starting not to like Malva very much. He didn't mind songs about his favourite food. It seemed a perfectly reasonable thing to sing about.
Somebody counted him in and Diamond was quite surprised to hear that he had a very fine tenor voice which didn't miss any notes in the whole of the song, and was really quite pleasant to listen to. Something stirred, the beginnings of an idea, in her alcohol- fuddled mind.
There was due applause and clappings on the back, and ale all round when the elderly Hobbit had finished. Who would be next? The interested Hobbits looked round the room. Until one Minto Burrows called out:
'Hey Pippin! Why don't you come and sing and dance for us?'
Every head in the room swivelled round to watch Pippin. He was suddenly aware of just how many people were actually listening, and of the feeling his vocal chords were trying to creep down his gullet. 'Och, er, no, if it's a' the same tae you. No' noo', he squeaked.
There were disappointed mumblings from the crowd, thinking him to be a very dull hobbit indeed. Pippin could feel a blush starting.
'A reeli widnea wish tae inflict mah voice on ye! It's like a frogs tryin' tae sing!' Now the crowd thought he was just being very modest, and as slow smiles spread across their faces. Some of the younger Hobbits started chanting 'Pi- PIN! Pi-PIN! Pi-PIN!' banging their fists on the table and watching expectantly.
'Dae something Meeri, ye lump. YOU sing, fer the love o' Middle-Earth!', Pippin kicked him under the table. He do almost anything, but not singing. He'd tried to once, and he couldn't sing idiotic rubbish in front of Diamond. His comment about the frog? It was an insult to all things amphibious. At least a frog could hold a note.
Pip could swear he'd spotted his Sisters, chanting along with everybody else. If THEY heard.he'd have to stay in bed for about four years while they spread malicious rumours. But there was nothing else for it. He prepared to step up on the bench and give ' The Hedgehog Song' his worst try..
'Hush a meenit,' said Pippin, looking towards the group. An elderly Hobbit with a red handkerchief tied round his neck was being called on to sing. Usually this was cause for much table thumping and applause (or occasionally cause to ask the landlord if he had any rotten tomatoes to hand), and some people started whistling and calling to him. Eventually a song was decided on and various instruments, in degrees of working order, were produced.
Malva rolled her eyes and said this was boring if you didn't want to hear some old codger warbling about past events, or possibly their favourite food. Pip was starting not to like Malva very much. He didn't mind songs about his favourite food. It seemed a perfectly reasonable thing to sing about.
Somebody counted him in and Diamond was quite surprised to hear that he had a very fine tenor voice which didn't miss any notes in the whole of the song, and was really quite pleasant to listen to. Something stirred, the beginnings of an idea, in her alcohol- fuddled mind.
There was due applause and clappings on the back, and ale all round when the elderly Hobbit had finished. Who would be next? The interested Hobbits looked round the room. Until one Minto Burrows called out:
'Hey Pippin! Why don't you come and sing and dance for us?'
Every head in the room swivelled round to watch Pippin. He was suddenly aware of just how many people were actually listening, and of the feeling his vocal chords were trying to creep down his gullet. 'Och, er, no, if it's a' the same tae you. No' noo', he squeaked.
There were disappointed mumblings from the crowd, thinking him to be a very dull hobbit indeed. Pippin could feel a blush starting.
'A reeli widnea wish tae inflict mah voice on ye! It's like a frogs tryin' tae sing!' Now the crowd thought he was just being very modest, and as slow smiles spread across their faces. Some of the younger Hobbits started chanting 'Pi- PIN! Pi-PIN! Pi-PIN!' banging their fists on the table and watching expectantly.
'Dae something Meeri, ye lump. YOU sing, fer the love o' Middle-Earth!', Pippin kicked him under the table. He do almost anything, but not singing. He'd tried to once, and he couldn't sing idiotic rubbish in front of Diamond. His comment about the frog? It was an insult to all things amphibious. At least a frog could hold a note.
Pip could swear he'd spotted his Sisters, chanting along with everybody else. If THEY heard.he'd have to stay in bed for about four years while they spread malicious rumours. But there was nothing else for it. He prepared to step up on the bench and give ' The Hedgehog Song' his worst try..