Childhood in The Shire

By: Kari (little took lassie3)

Chapter 7

Bilbo and Frodo had grand conjoined birthday party that year. I danced with Cindy for a while, then I joined my cousin Merry in a mission of obtaining some fireworks.

"Here's the plan," begun my cousin, "Gandalf's got a cart full of fireworks. When he's not looking, I'll boost you up and into the cart and you grab the biggest one. I'll keep watch, alright? Once you get it we'll take it into one of the empty party tents and light it!"

I nodded signaling that I understood what I had to do.

"Alright, let's go!"

Merry and I hid inside a tent next to the firework cart and waited for Gandalf to collect his fireworks for his next display. As soon as he left we ran to the cart. Merry hoisted me up. I climbed into the cart and begun searching for a firework stick. I grabbed one and grinned at it, imagining the colorful explosion it would create in the night sky.

"No. no, no!" said Merry, "The big one! The big one!"

I found the biggest one that had a dragon's head on it. I smiled at the face and showed it to Merry who looked equally impressed. I hopped out of the cart and Merry and I retreated into the party tent.

I stuck the thing in the ground as best I could as Merry made sure that nobody was coming. I took a sparkler from my pocket and used it to light the firework, "It's done!"

"You're supposed to stick it in the ground!" Merry exclaimed leaning the firework towards me.

"It is in the ground!" I said pushing it back towards him.

"Outside!" He pushed it back.

"It was your idea!" I shoved it back at him, and as I did so the thing powerfully shot up with a big boom. I shrieked and fell backwards. When I gazed up I saw that the firework had taken the entire party tent along with it. The firework had took the shape of a large, fiery dragon. It swooped over the party guests as they fled from it in complete chaos. Merry helped me up from the ground; his face was black and his hair stuck up in a funny way, as did mine due to the firework's explosion. Merry and I watched the dragon soar high up into the night sky over the lake, there it exploded into a shower of bright orange and red sparks. It was a beautiful scene and everyone cheered.

"That was good," said Merry.

I nodded, "Let's get another one!" But just then I felt a sharp pinching on my ear. I looked up it was Gandalf.

"Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took-- I might've known…"

Merry and I were punished by being forced to wash the dishes and such, but I didn't care. It was worth it. I got to unleash a dragon. How many hobbits can say they did that?

As I scrubbed and Merry dried, and Gandalf kept a close eye on us both, Bilbo began his speech. I wasn't one for speeches, and I honestly wasn't listening. A few minutes passed and I heard Bilbo say, "…and I wish you all a very fond farewell. Now, goodbye."

I looked up and saw Bilbo vanish before my eyes. I stared in disbelief. Where did he go?! I looked to Merry who was just as shocked, then to Gandalf who stood from the table.

"Gandalf, what's--"

"You keep washing those dishes, Peregrin Took!" and he was gone.

I glanced at Merry who silently resumed drying the dishes, and I reluctantly continued my work, hoping that nothing serious happened to Bilbo.

Bilbo was gone. I didn't know where he went or why he went. He left me a couple of books. When Frodo delivered them to me they had a note that read: "To PEREGRIN TOOK from your uncle Bilbo with great love."

I asked Frodo if Bilbo died, and he said that he was positively sure that Bilbo was very much alive. I believed him, but others didn't.

Cindy believed him too, But being the adopted daughter of someone as "odd" as Frodo wasn't very flattering. I didn't think Frodo was odd. He was one of the hobbits I admired most, but a lot of hobbits disagreed. Because of Frodo's reputation, a lot of lads and lasses our age teased Cindy. But I made it my job to shut them all up. One day I got in a fight with a couple of Boffinses who were laughing and mocking Cindy as we made our way to Bag End. I beat them of course, but it being my third fight in one week, I was punished severely by my parents.

"No leaving this house," scolded my mother, "Not to Brandy Hall. Not to Bag End. No, Peregrin Took, you are in deep trouble!"

"Mother," I protested, "I was just trying to--"

"No excuses!" she cut in before I could give reasons for my actions, "Your father and I are very upset with you! Honestly, Pippin, three fights in one week!?"

"Aw, they all deserved it…"

She slapped me on the head, "Hush! Now, you get to bed!"

I was banished from the outside world for three weeks. "Three fights. Three weeks," was what my father said, "And you remember that! For every fight you get in, a week of punishment awaits you."

After my sentence was carried out, I went to Brandy Hall. I needed to see Merry and tell him of my unfair situation. But when I talked to my cousin, he seemed to agree with my parents' decision. I told him he was a trader and being very mean to me.

"I'm not trying to be mean, Pippin. You should not have fought those hobbits. Don't you remember what I told you? Words--"

"Can't hurt," I recited, "I know, but Mer-- you should of heard what they said! I just-- ugh!" I clenched my fists.

"Calm down, Pip."

I took a deep breath, "Alright," I looked to Merry, "So when I see them again and if they tease Cindy, I--"

"Just keep walking."

"What? Can't I yell at them back, or--"

"No!" Merry exclaimed.

"I keep walking?" I repeated. Merry nodded, "That's stupid," I said. Merry laughed. I ignored it, for I knew that he had gone insane. Honestly! Walking away? What had came over him?

When I saw the boys who made the remarks about Cindy, I saw there was no need to walk away from insults, for none were made. They and the rest of the lads my age seemed to be afraid of me. Excellent.

That was very much how most of the days passed. If anyone made the slightest snicker about Cindy or Frodo in my presence, all I had to do was look at them, and they would cower back.

Merry told me I should've apologized to them, but I was enjoying my power too much to give it up, I would only regret my boasting when I came across a hobbit who was not intimidated by my reputation. He was huge. I thought him to be twice my age, but he was two year younger than me! What did his parents feed him?! I was knocked out in one effortless punch.

When I came to I saw stars along with Cindy leaning over me, "Are you OK, Pippin?"

I sat up and rubbed my head that throbbed and pounded horribly, "I suppose so…"

Cindy helped me to my feet, "I told you to leave him alone," she sighed, "Let's get you to Bag End, so that you can rest."

I received another week of punishment. I guess I should've known better than to ignore advice from Merry.