18th September, 1378
My seventh day in Brandy Hall. Cousin Drogo can barely contain his excitement about Frodo's 10th birthday party, especially about the food. Frodo has been pestering me ever since I arrived, asking me questions and talking to me endlessly, hoping that I would be caught unguarded and drop hints about his birthday present. I've been teaching him letters. We spent half the mornings writing. Frodo caught on to letters easily. His handwriting is firm and flowing. He begged me to teach him runes, but I said I wouldn't do such a thing until he could write a presentable letter to me in Tengwar. He sulked and said he didn't need me to teach him things anyway. But tonight I found a letter under my pillow.
"Dear Bilbo," it read, "You asked me to write a letter, and here it is. I don't know what to write so I'm just going to tell you a secret. Do you know Farmer Maggot out in Marish? Yesterday I got a bit lost and wandered onto his farm. And you know what I found there? In the borders of his farm there were a lot of sweet smelling mushrooms, the juiciest kind that I like best. I gathered all I could before I had to run away because of the dogs. I cooked the mushroom near the woods. It got a bit burnt, but still very delicious. I didn't share it with anyone, I hope you don't mind. Well, that's my secret. Please don't tell anyone about it.
Love,
Frodo Baggins
PS: I'm sorry I was angry this afternoon and didn't have tea and supper with you.
PPS: So, are you going to teach me runes now?
PPPS: If you want, I can get you some of those mushrooms too.
PPPPS: We have to cook it ourselves though, in the woods, or everyone will want a bite and we'll have nothing left."
Well, there are some mistakes, and he spilled ink here and there on the paper. But it was wonderful. I shall cherish it above the mithril coat I risked my life to get.
Thought up a song about mushrooms. Am going to teach it to Frodo tomorrow. It is going to be our secret.
28th August, 1380 SR
Cousin Drogo and his wife Primula died yesterday, drowned while boating in the Brandywine. I am on my way to Brandy Hall now, stopping for a half-hearted luncheon at Frogmorton. I keep wondering how Frodo will cope with the loss of both of his parents in so tragic an accident. He's only but twelve. Whatever will happen to the lad now?
No song seems to help now. I am so worried about Frodo. Never knew I could feel this way about a child.
30th August, 1380 SR
Well, at least he didn't cry during the funeral, I wouldn't know what to do if he had wept openly. He merely looked sad and forlorn. He was very quiet, eating very little at mealtimes. Nobody seems to know what to say to him and people speak in hushed tones whenever he's around. He is left alone most of the time but he doesn't seem to mind. The most heart-wrenching thing happened after lunch. Some of the children were restless from the stifling summer heat and the solemn atmosphere, and one suddenly piped out, "Oh, let's go and drown ourselves in the Brandywine!" Somebody, I think it was Amaranth, shushed him and everyone glanced anxiously at Frodo. But he did not seem to notice, he was reading one of the books I gave him for his eleventh birthday. He was very, very pale, though.
They say children bounce off from grief faster than adults. I don't think it is fast enough.