"No, darling, this is your Auntie
Esmerelda. You're going to stay with her until Mummy comes back." Eglantine
said, as she struggled to pry Pippin's hand away from hers. The little
one was hanging on for dear life, but his mother managed to release the
grip, and replaced her hand with the suitcase. "I'm sorry I have to run
off like this, Esme, but we're quite late."
"It's alright, Elan, we don't mind
caring for little Pippin." Esmerelda said with a laugh. "After all, it's
the least we could do, after you minded Merry for that week Saradoc and
I were gone."
"Oh, it was nothing. I'm sure our
little one won't be any trouble." Eglantine bent down and hugged the small
trembling boy tightly, then kissed his forehead. Then, she gave him a little
push inside, and hurried out, calling, "Goodbye, Pippy, Mummy loves you!"
as she went. Pippin clutched his suitcase tightly, and eyed the Hobbit-lady
that was his aunt. She bent down and smiled at him. "My goodness, Pippin,
how much you've grown! I'm your Auntie Esme. Goodness, I haven't seen you
since you were a baby in your cradle." Pippin did not respond. Esmerelda
thought for a moment, and then an idea came to her. "Here, sweetheart,
I'll bet you like mushrooms. I've made some for supper, but I suppose we
can just have something else." At this, Pippin suddenly warmed up. He loved
mushrooms.
Merry was lying on his bed reading
a book, when the delicious smell of cooked mushrooms wafted into his nose.
He remembered his mother had promised to make her dearly loved stuffed
mushrooms for supper earlier that day, and so he when he caught the aroma,
he jumped up and burst into the kitchen. What he saw almost made him keel
over. Pippin was sitting at the table. The plate in front of him was empty,
save for a single mushroom. Before Merry could say anything, however, Pippin
took it into his chubby fingers and popped it into his mouth, chewing slowly,
as if savouring every single bite. Merry looked around the kitchen, his
eyes falling on the pan that his mother cooked her mushrooms in. Empty.
Pippin had eaten every last mushroom. It was too much for an already angry
Merry. He promptly flew into a rage.
"MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM! You let him eat
ALL the mushrooms?!?!? How could YOU? They were for ME!" Merry felt hot
tears coming to his eyes, but he squeezed his eyes shut tightly and got
them out.
"Darling, Pippin hadn't eaten at
all today. They've been traveling all day, Merry, and Pippin didn't get
any of his first six meals. And he would have had to wait for supper. So
I thought he'd want some mushrooms. He was very hungry, dear."
"I don't care! They were MINE, Mum!
Now I have to wait for supper! How could you!?" Merry's eyes flashed at
Pippin, who was smirking contentedly, and not looking the least bit sorry
for what he'd done. He wiped his mouth and climbed down from the table,
handing his plate to Esmerelda. "Thank you veby much, Auntie Esme. Where
do I sleep?" Pippin's manners so enchanted Esmerelda, that she forgot about
Merry's complaints, and took Pippin's hand. "Come, darling, and get your
suitcase. You'll be sleeping in Merry's room. We have a cot." The two left
the kitchen. Merry, still fuming, stormed after them. "MUM!" he yelled.
She didn't answer. She opened the door to Merry's room and showed Pippin
the little cot that had been set up. But Pippin frowned at it. He went
instead, to sit on Merry's bed. "I likes this better!" He announced, bouncing
up and down a little. Esmerelda smiled. "Alright, you take Merry's bed.
Merry, you won't mind sleeping on the cot will you?" She didn't wait for
Merry's answer. "Good. Pippin, you've got a full tummy, are you going to
bed now?"
"Yes. I'm sleepy." Pippin went through
his bag and pulled out his nightgown. "Can you help me, please?" He said
sweetly. Esmerelda went over and undressed Pippin, and then put his nightgown
on him. She helped him into bed, and tucked him in. She then placed a kiss
on his forehead. "Good night, Pippin." She told him. "Nighty." Merry pretended
to gag from his place in the doorway. Esmerelda happened to come past him,
and smacked him on the arm, not hard, but enough to evoke some discipline.
She pulled her son's arm. "Come on, Merry, darling. I'll fix up some tomatoes
and sausages for supper." She pulled him into the kitchen and planted him
firmly into a chair.
Merry decided then that he hated his cousin Pippin.
