Chapter Two - Pippin's Recollections

"I remember crying my eyes out all morning, begging Pearl to stay. I tried to reason with her that she wasn't of age yet and could refuse Cousin Lalia's hiring her as an attendant. But Pearl wouldn't be persuaded; she was too eager about living on her own at the age of twenty-seven. When she tried to hug me to say goodbye, I turned away from her in anger.

"I nearly melted when I saw how much I'd hurt her, but we were both being stubborn young hobbits. Yet I couldn't let her leave without say goodbye properly. I quietly sneaked into the back door of the washroom from the back hallway and watched my Pearl's last moments at home in Whitwell.

"The hustle and bustle in the kitchen of our little farm smial paused only when the outer door was opened, and the frigid, blustering wind of winter swept through taking the breath out of everyone. 'Pimpernel Took! Must you open the door so wide? Be quick, lass, and shut the door before we all catch our death!' I heard our mother shout as she tied the woolen bonnet to Pearl's chin just before burying her neck with a knitted scarf.

'Sorry, mother! The door blew out of my hands', Pim said. I watched as mother gave Pearl a last going-over; a task that entailed doing a pirouette before receiving mother's final nod of approval.

"My other sister, Pervinca, sat at the kitchen table fidgeting the whole time with Pearl's mittens. At mother's nod, she finally handed them to Pearl. She stood up to hug our sister and then burst into tears.

"Pearl squeezed Pervinca into a tight hug, 'Please don't cry! You'll only get me started again!' Pearl wiped her eyes. I watch as Pearl looks around the kitchen, 'Where's Pippin?'

"Pervinca shook her head, 'I couldn't get him to come out of his room.'

"Pearl is obviously saddened by me not being present to send her off. 'Poor lad. First Bilbo, and now me.' Then she looks at mother for advice. 'What shall I do?"

"Mother puts her arm around Pearl and answers, 'There's nothing you can do, Pearl dear. He'll come round.'

"I see Pearl tugging nervously at the belt of her good coat, 'Goodness, everyone is behaving as if I'm going away for good!'

"Mother told me that she wasn't going to cry in front of Pearl--she wanted to be a strong mother at their parting. But, truth be told, I would have worried if mother hadn't shed at least one tear. And she shed many. I could see her wiping her eyes when she answered Pearl, 'You will be gone for...a long while--for as long as Lalia needs you.'

"Pearl squared her shoulders, and straightened her coat, "Mother, I'm not a child, and Cousin Lalia is One-hundred-and-nineteen-years-old. I don't think she will last much longer!'

"The others stood silently, not knowing how to, nor wanting to say goodbye. It was Pim who broke the somber moment, speaking softly, 'Father is waiting for you outside.'

"Like a fledgling bird, Pearl was excited to be embarking on a new part of her life, yet at the same time, she was loath to leave the love and security she had always known. This had been her home ever since she could remember. At last, she said 'Goodbye', then departed out the door.

"She had almost shut the door completely when I flew out of my hiding place in the washroom and ran past the kitchen door into the freezing weather outside. I grabbed Pearls waist and hugged her tight. Yes, I loved my sister very much, but I also realized that I'd ran outside without so much as a sweater or scarf, and I feel myself shivering all over her. My sister knew me only too well. She quickly wrapped her cloak around me and took me back inside the warm smial, all the while reprimanding me for not thinking about my health. 'Peregrin Took!' she says, 'If I ever catch you running around outside in the dead of winter without a coat or a cloak....' Well, as you lasses know, she did catch me doing just that more times than I can count, and have paid dearly for it....more times than I can count.

"Anyway, Pearl takes me back inside the smial so I can bid her farewell. She set me in front of her, and her hand is soft upon my wet cheeks, wiping away my tears. She took her handkerchief out and wiped my runny nose, saying only to me, 'Pippin....what am I going to do with you?'

"I fumble in my head for the right words to say to my sister, but the only ones that come out of my mouth were, 'I love you, Pearl.' She managed a smile through her own tears, 'I love you, too, Pip.' And then we hugged each other.

"Pearl left that cold, wintry day, never looking back, and never to set foot inside the little farm smial ever again."