The alarm went off, and a small hobbit hand reached out from under the blanket to punch it.
Damn...why didn't I tell the party planner to come later? Now I have to bloody wake up and face that sad excuse for a hobbit.
The hobbit, Bilbo, who was celebrating his 111th birthday that day, slowly got up from his bed, pulled on a plaid shirt and some skater shorts (even though he was 111, he only looked 50, so it wasn't quite so bad...) and combed some gel through his hair. Everyone said he was having some mid-life crisis (or nearly-end-of-life crisis, whichever you prefer) and some people even recommended world renown therapists to Bilbo, who would always shake his head and shoo away the annoying hobbit who had dared to bring up the subject of Bilbo's mental stability.
At least dear Frodo never makes such comments about me...if I wasn't leaving the Shire, I would stay with him. But, that first class ticket to Rivendell was just SO expensive...I couldn't resist.
Bilbo looked at himself reassuringly in the mirror, and quickly ate a waffle. He heard a knock at his door, and opened it, expecting the annoying party planner. In walked a rather tall, old, cloaked bearded man.
"Gandalf? What the hell are you doing around here?"
"Oh, hello, Bilbo. Did you seriously think I would forget your birthday?"
Gandalf looked Bilbo over, shaking his head and sighing to himself.
"You haven't changed a bit. I thought all those years would mature you, but nope, you're still dressing like the hobbits still in their tweens."
Bilbo looked up and glared at Gandalf, who began laughing.
"Oh well, I'm getting tired of the same old company. Come, come have some tea fresh off the stove. Talk to me. Tell me of what happens outside the Shire," Bilbo beckoned to his guest.
Gandalf had a last look around, then bending down, walked into Bilbo's main room, which was covered with scribbles and maps.
"Oh, are you redecorating?"
Bilbo snickered, and shook his head.
"Just remembering my adventure. Do you even have a house to redecorate?"
Gandalf glared down at Bilbo, and drank his tea.
"So, you wanted to know of what has been happening outside the Shire? Here, let me think...wait...whatever happened to the subscription to 'The Rohan Post' I bought for you?"
"Oh, it stopped coming, and was always full of gossip, nothing worth knowing anyway."
Gandalf looked around the room again, and picked up a map, showing the voyage to the Lonely Mountain.
