Chapter 6
Friendship Means Alot
Sam sputtered and coughed as Frodo laid him on the dirt bank after pulling him from the pond. Frodo was dripping wet and it fell like raindrop onto Sam's face. Sam looked up at Frodo in shock at what just happened.
"Sam! What on earth where you thinking when you jumped into the water if you knew you could not swim?" asked Frodo almost angry with Sam.
"I was trying to save you, Mr. Frodo. I thought you were drowning," replied Sam.
"I was only swimming to cool myself off from the hot summer sun. You frighten me as I thought I might lose you,"
"You were that worried about me?" asked Sam.
"Yes, of course I was. You are my friend Sam. It would of hurt me if anything were to happen to you,"
Sam wiped the water from his face and he smiled thinking over what Frodo just told him. He had never had a friend before or someone other than his family thinking that much of him. "You really mean that, don't you. I mean about being my friend and all." Sam said as he looked into Frodo's eyes as he pondered that thought awhile. Then Sam continued saying, "Thank you Mr. Frodo. It means a lot to me having your friendship. I will always be your friend."
They both looked at each other and burst out laughing. "If you ever see me swimming in a pond again, I will remind you that you can not swim," said Frodo.
"Look at us! We are both a sight. The Gaffer would have a thing to say about this. He would not miss the chance telling me that I was in need of a washing. He'd be calling us a pair of stinkers for sure," Sam chuckled under his breath.
"The Gaffer is not soft-hearted, Sam. But he is wise as any," added Frodo.
"I live just over that bend in the road. What say you that we head there for a change of dry clothes," Sam told him.
Walking from a small grove of trees and onto the road. Sam spotted a wagon being pulled by a pair of ponies heading their way. Sam recognized the wagon and knew it was the Gaffer.
"Looks like we'll be hearing about it very soon now," Sam pointed out.
The Gaffer pulled the ponies to a stop and looked over the boys who stood by the side of the road, "What do we have here, a pair of stinkers. Beggin' your pardon, of course, Master Frodo. Get in, but sit down wind until you both have had a scrubbin'," commented the Gaffer.
The Gaffer snapped the reins to his ponies while Sam and Frodo waited until the back of the wagon reached them. They both jumped on the flat bed and dangled their feet as the ponies headed toward Bagshot Row.
~*~
Mrs. Gamgee awakened from she long nap. She sat up in her bed and rubbed the back of her neck as it felt very stiff and strained. Even her head ached. She looked at her pillow and she thought that she must have slept in an odd position that caused the stiffness to settle in her neck. She pulled the poultice off her wound and saw that some of the swelling had gone down. Even the redness around her wounded looked a little better. 'I knew this poultice would do the trick,' she commented to herself.
Even though her leg was a bit sore to walk on, she managed to get dressed and made her bed. She walked to the kitchen and pulled out her medicines and mixed a power to help with her headache. She thought to herself that her family should be coming home soon for their supper. She began cooking the evening meal.
It was not long until the girls came rushing in the front door still giggling and laughing with their brother, Halfred.
"Did you have a fine time of it today?" asked Mrs. Gamgee.
"Oh, yes mother. We spent the day with the Cottons, with Rosie and her younger brothers. We had a picnic and Mrs. Cotton made us a gooseberry pie. I even got to ride on Wee Billy and he is doing well."
"Now that sounds like a grand time you had. Get yourselves washed up and help me set the table," said Mrs. Gamgee.
Mrs. Gamgee heard the rattling of the wagon as it rolled into Bagshot Row. She saw Master Frodo and Sam jump off from the back of the wagon. "We'll be having a guest tonight. Set another plate at the table, May."
The Gaffer walked in the front door and announced that the boys fell into the pond and were in need of a washing. "I'll set up the tub in the barn to give them some privacy, if you will bring me a change of clothing for them."
Mrs. Gamgee urged her leg as much as it would tolerate to Sam's dressing table and pulled out pairs of pants, shirts and other fixings that they would need. She handed them to the Gaffer.
Sam walked over to his rabbit cage and shown Frodo his Henry. Frodo petted the small rabbit while Sam filled his bowl with food and water.
The Gaffer filled the tub with warm water that he heated from a small fire by the well. He handed Frodo the soap and towel. "Scrub yourself good and proper. Pardon the meek fashion of your bathing, Master Frodo, but it is as good as any and will get you just as clean." The Gaffer placed the clean clothing on a crate.
"Thank you, Gaffer. I do appreciate your kindness," commented Frodo.
"My Mrs. will have a fine sup waiting for you both, if you a mind too," the Gaffer offered. He turned and went into his house.
The Gaffer sat down at the table and began talking with his wife as she prepared their meal.
"I don't hold it proper that our Sam is hobnobbing with the Baggins. Even the town folk will have a word to say about that," said the Gaffer.
"No harm in our Sam having a friend or two and Master Frodo spends all day long shut-up at Bag End. I dare say it will do them a greater good," said Mrs. Gamgee.
"It is more than I can guess why Frodo befriends our Sam. Mark my words, trouble will come of it. All the more so if he is false," said the Gaffer.
"Now Gaffer, say not a word about this while Master Frodo is at hand or I'll be sharper than I was this mornin'," commented Mrs. Gamgee.
"They'll be under my eye this evening and what little schemes, if he has any," said the Gaffer.
It was not long until the evening meal was placed on the table and the Gamgees began to sit around the table. Sam and Frodo walked in the front door looking presentable and clean.
"Please sit yourself down here Master Frodo and I'll get you a plate of my finest fixings."
"Thank you Mrs. Gamgee. After Bilbo's cooking all week. I look forward to a fine meal," said Frodo.
"I could cook a meal or two at Bag End if you have a mind to it," offered Mrs.Gamgee.
"Do have a word with Bilbo about it and I'm sure he'll agree," Frodo told her.
Sam saw his mother walk towards the stove to get another bowl and he sensed that something was not right with his mother. It concerned him greatly.
When Mrs. Gamgee placed the bowl on the table she noticed Daisy's constant stare at Frodo. She taped her slightly and scowled at her. Daisy quickly lowered her eyes and picked up her fork and began eating.
"The girls were telling me they spent the day with the Cottons and that Wee Billy is doing fine," Mrs. Gamgee commented.
"And Rosie, how is she doing?" asked Sam trying not to sound too concerned.
"Rosie asked the same thing concerning you, Sam," Daisy mentioned.
"Did she now," was all Sam would say about it.
"I think she likes you, Sam."
Sam's face turned a dark shade of red and he glanced towards Frodo shyly.
"That is nonsense, Daisy. She is only thankful for helping with Wee Billy," said Sam sharply.
"That is enough of that! Tell us Frodo, how did Bag End fair after the storm the other day? It gave us a bit o' a blow here and shook Bagshot Row up some," said the Gaffer.
"We faired well, but Biblo asked me to tell you to bring Sam and yourself to Bag End tomorrow morning. He will tell you his concerns," commented Frodo and winked towards Sam.
"Did the rose bushes take a damage?" asked the Gaffer.
"I do not know for sure, Gaffer. I had not been in the garden of late," commented Frodo.
"Tell old Mr. Bilbo that I'll be there directly in morning," said the Gaffer.
Frodo looked at Mrs. Gamgee and saw that she was sweating badly. "Are you all right, Mrs. Gamgee?" asked Frodo.
Sam's ears perked up to listen. Frodo asked what he wanted to know the most this night. He stared lovingly at his mother.
"Yes, of course, Master Frodo. I have been slaving over a hot stove for hours. Why wouldn't I be sweating and flushed by it all," She commented.
After the meal, the Gaffer went outside to light his pipe. He sat in his chair a looked out at Bagshot Row.
Frodo and Sam soon joined him and enjoyed the coolness of the evening air.
"Well, I will be off then. Thank you Gaffer for sharing your meal with me. I so enjoyed it. I will see you both tomorrow morning." Frodo waved as he began his walk home.
Mrs. Gamgee asked her girls to clean up the kitchen and she took a hot teapot with her to her bedroom. She told them that she was going to turn in early and get some rest. They kissed their mother and hugged her. However, Halfred made mention that she did not take the tea or a teacup with her. He thought odd of that.
Friendship Means Alot
Sam sputtered and coughed as Frodo laid him on the dirt bank after pulling him from the pond. Frodo was dripping wet and it fell like raindrop onto Sam's face. Sam looked up at Frodo in shock at what just happened.
"Sam! What on earth where you thinking when you jumped into the water if you knew you could not swim?" asked Frodo almost angry with Sam.
"I was trying to save you, Mr. Frodo. I thought you were drowning," replied Sam.
"I was only swimming to cool myself off from the hot summer sun. You frighten me as I thought I might lose you,"
"You were that worried about me?" asked Sam.
"Yes, of course I was. You are my friend Sam. It would of hurt me if anything were to happen to you,"
Sam wiped the water from his face and he smiled thinking over what Frodo just told him. He had never had a friend before or someone other than his family thinking that much of him. "You really mean that, don't you. I mean about being my friend and all." Sam said as he looked into Frodo's eyes as he pondered that thought awhile. Then Sam continued saying, "Thank you Mr. Frodo. It means a lot to me having your friendship. I will always be your friend."
They both looked at each other and burst out laughing. "If you ever see me swimming in a pond again, I will remind you that you can not swim," said Frodo.
"Look at us! We are both a sight. The Gaffer would have a thing to say about this. He would not miss the chance telling me that I was in need of a washing. He'd be calling us a pair of stinkers for sure," Sam chuckled under his breath.
"The Gaffer is not soft-hearted, Sam. But he is wise as any," added Frodo.
"I live just over that bend in the road. What say you that we head there for a change of dry clothes," Sam told him.
Walking from a small grove of trees and onto the road. Sam spotted a wagon being pulled by a pair of ponies heading their way. Sam recognized the wagon and knew it was the Gaffer.
"Looks like we'll be hearing about it very soon now," Sam pointed out.
The Gaffer pulled the ponies to a stop and looked over the boys who stood by the side of the road, "What do we have here, a pair of stinkers. Beggin' your pardon, of course, Master Frodo. Get in, but sit down wind until you both have had a scrubbin'," commented the Gaffer.
The Gaffer snapped the reins to his ponies while Sam and Frodo waited until the back of the wagon reached them. They both jumped on the flat bed and dangled their feet as the ponies headed toward Bagshot Row.
~*~
Mrs. Gamgee awakened from she long nap. She sat up in her bed and rubbed the back of her neck as it felt very stiff and strained. Even her head ached. She looked at her pillow and she thought that she must have slept in an odd position that caused the stiffness to settle in her neck. She pulled the poultice off her wound and saw that some of the swelling had gone down. Even the redness around her wounded looked a little better. 'I knew this poultice would do the trick,' she commented to herself.
Even though her leg was a bit sore to walk on, she managed to get dressed and made her bed. She walked to the kitchen and pulled out her medicines and mixed a power to help with her headache. She thought to herself that her family should be coming home soon for their supper. She began cooking the evening meal.
It was not long until the girls came rushing in the front door still giggling and laughing with their brother, Halfred.
"Did you have a fine time of it today?" asked Mrs. Gamgee.
"Oh, yes mother. We spent the day with the Cottons, with Rosie and her younger brothers. We had a picnic and Mrs. Cotton made us a gooseberry pie. I even got to ride on Wee Billy and he is doing well."
"Now that sounds like a grand time you had. Get yourselves washed up and help me set the table," said Mrs. Gamgee.
Mrs. Gamgee heard the rattling of the wagon as it rolled into Bagshot Row. She saw Master Frodo and Sam jump off from the back of the wagon. "We'll be having a guest tonight. Set another plate at the table, May."
The Gaffer walked in the front door and announced that the boys fell into the pond and were in need of a washing. "I'll set up the tub in the barn to give them some privacy, if you will bring me a change of clothing for them."
Mrs. Gamgee urged her leg as much as it would tolerate to Sam's dressing table and pulled out pairs of pants, shirts and other fixings that they would need. She handed them to the Gaffer.
Sam walked over to his rabbit cage and shown Frodo his Henry. Frodo petted the small rabbit while Sam filled his bowl with food and water.
The Gaffer filled the tub with warm water that he heated from a small fire by the well. He handed Frodo the soap and towel. "Scrub yourself good and proper. Pardon the meek fashion of your bathing, Master Frodo, but it is as good as any and will get you just as clean." The Gaffer placed the clean clothing on a crate.
"Thank you, Gaffer. I do appreciate your kindness," commented Frodo.
"My Mrs. will have a fine sup waiting for you both, if you a mind too," the Gaffer offered. He turned and went into his house.
The Gaffer sat down at the table and began talking with his wife as she prepared their meal.
"I don't hold it proper that our Sam is hobnobbing with the Baggins. Even the town folk will have a word to say about that," said the Gaffer.
"No harm in our Sam having a friend or two and Master Frodo spends all day long shut-up at Bag End. I dare say it will do them a greater good," said Mrs. Gamgee.
"It is more than I can guess why Frodo befriends our Sam. Mark my words, trouble will come of it. All the more so if he is false," said the Gaffer.
"Now Gaffer, say not a word about this while Master Frodo is at hand or I'll be sharper than I was this mornin'," commented Mrs. Gamgee.
"They'll be under my eye this evening and what little schemes, if he has any," said the Gaffer.
It was not long until the evening meal was placed on the table and the Gamgees began to sit around the table. Sam and Frodo walked in the front door looking presentable and clean.
"Please sit yourself down here Master Frodo and I'll get you a plate of my finest fixings."
"Thank you Mrs. Gamgee. After Bilbo's cooking all week. I look forward to a fine meal," said Frodo.
"I could cook a meal or two at Bag End if you have a mind to it," offered Mrs.Gamgee.
"Do have a word with Bilbo about it and I'm sure he'll agree," Frodo told her.
Sam saw his mother walk towards the stove to get another bowl and he sensed that something was not right with his mother. It concerned him greatly.
When Mrs. Gamgee placed the bowl on the table she noticed Daisy's constant stare at Frodo. She taped her slightly and scowled at her. Daisy quickly lowered her eyes and picked up her fork and began eating.
"The girls were telling me they spent the day with the Cottons and that Wee Billy is doing fine," Mrs. Gamgee commented.
"And Rosie, how is she doing?" asked Sam trying not to sound too concerned.
"Rosie asked the same thing concerning you, Sam," Daisy mentioned.
"Did she now," was all Sam would say about it.
"I think she likes you, Sam."
Sam's face turned a dark shade of red and he glanced towards Frodo shyly.
"That is nonsense, Daisy. She is only thankful for helping with Wee Billy," said Sam sharply.
"That is enough of that! Tell us Frodo, how did Bag End fair after the storm the other day? It gave us a bit o' a blow here and shook Bagshot Row up some," said the Gaffer.
"We faired well, but Biblo asked me to tell you to bring Sam and yourself to Bag End tomorrow morning. He will tell you his concerns," commented Frodo and winked towards Sam.
"Did the rose bushes take a damage?" asked the Gaffer.
"I do not know for sure, Gaffer. I had not been in the garden of late," commented Frodo.
"Tell old Mr. Bilbo that I'll be there directly in morning," said the Gaffer.
Frodo looked at Mrs. Gamgee and saw that she was sweating badly. "Are you all right, Mrs. Gamgee?" asked Frodo.
Sam's ears perked up to listen. Frodo asked what he wanted to know the most this night. He stared lovingly at his mother.
"Yes, of course, Master Frodo. I have been slaving over a hot stove for hours. Why wouldn't I be sweating and flushed by it all," She commented.
After the meal, the Gaffer went outside to light his pipe. He sat in his chair a looked out at Bagshot Row.
Frodo and Sam soon joined him and enjoyed the coolness of the evening air.
"Well, I will be off then. Thank you Gaffer for sharing your meal with me. I so enjoyed it. I will see you both tomorrow morning." Frodo waved as he began his walk home.
Mrs. Gamgee asked her girls to clean up the kitchen and she took a hot teapot with her to her bedroom. She told them that she was going to turn in early and get some rest. They kissed their mother and hugged her. However, Halfred made mention that she did not take the tea or a teacup with her. He thought odd of that.