Chapter Two
A Poem for Rosie
"Hey Sam! I'm going for a walk, would you like to come?" Frodo had just emerged from Bag End and had spotted Sam tending to the roses in the corner plot. He had only been in Hobbiton for a few weeks and already he and Sam were great friends, despite the twelve year age difference.
Sam looked uneasily at Frodo, "I… uh …"
"Don't worry Sam. We won't stray too far, perhaps just out to the Party Tree." Frodo smiled reassuringly at Sam. He knew Sam did not like to go too far away from his home, not many hobbits did.
"Alright then." Sam relaxed and stood up to join Frodo.
"Those roses sure are nice." Frodo said as they left the yard.
"My gaffer says if I can keep those healthy I'll be one step closer to taking over the gardening at your uncle's house. Besides, roses are my favorite flower." Sam said this and brushed his fingers across a rose from someone's yard as they passed by. Frodo chuckled softly.
"What?" Sam asked, getting defensive.
"Nothing," Frodo smiled, "Roses are pretty."
The two walked in silence for a bit and they could hear children laughing somewhere up ahead. They came around a corner and saw three children playing tag in one of the yards ahead. Frodo was not sure who two of them were but he recognized little Rosie's curls straight away.
Sam hesitated for a moment but Frodo nudged him a little and as they neared the group of children they stopped their game to watch Frodo and Sam approach. Frodo stopped once they reached the trio, Sam stood slightly behind him looking at his toes.
"Good day Rosie." Frodo smiled and pretended to tip a hat to the two other children,"Pleased to meet you, I'm Frodo Baggins."
When they didn't answer Rosie spoke for them, "These are my sisters, Lily and Petunia. They are shy too." When Rosie said this she looked to Sam. "Hullo Sam."
"Hullo Rosie." Sam mumbled and barely lifted his eyes.
"Well it was nice to meet you, but we must be going, come along Sam." Frodo once again tipped the hat he was not wearing and he and Sam continued their walk. Frodo glanced at Sam who was blushing madly and started laughing again. "Ah, young love," he teased as they rounded another bend.
"Oh be quiet you." Sam said and blushed again.
Before long they arrived at the Party Tree and took a seat in the grass among its roots. They sat in silence for a bit then Frodo pulled a pipe from his pocket and began to smoke. Sam looked longingly at the pipe and was about to ask if he could try when Frodo spoke up.
"Not till you're older." Frodo smiled at Sam's disappointment then reached into his pants pocket and tossed Sam a sugar candy.
"You know," Sam said, sucking on his candy, "I thought of a poem this morning while I was tending the roses."
"Yeah?" Frodo asked, looking to Sam,"Let's hear it."
Sam tilted his head to gaze into the leaves of the Party Tree and began his poem,
"Honey curls and bluebell eyes,
A dress to match the clear blue skies.
A smile to brighten all the days,
And kindness shown in many ways."
Once he had finished his face turned beet red.
"That was lovely Sam." Frodo smiled.
"Yes, well don't you go telling all The Shire what I said or I'll have you!" Sam warned Frodo.
"Don't worry," Frodo chuckled, "Your secret's safe with me." The two finished watching the sun set and returned to their homes for a good nights sleep.
