THE GAP BETWEEN

REALITY AND IMAGINATION

PART ONE

CHAPTER TWO

BAG END

They would be staying with Frodo wherever he lived in some guest rooms. Frodo was leading them there. Meanwhile, Gandalf was off to go visit Bilbo.

Frodo led the group around to the back of a very large hill. Then, they went through a white gate, and through a round, green door set in the side of the hill. Leading them off a few halls here and there, they eventually came to a long hall with five doors in it.

"This whole hall belongs to all of you. You can decide which rooms you want to share with whom, but Gandalf told me to let you lot stay with us. He says that you will all probably end up helping us in one way or another," said Frodo. Exploring the hall, they found that three of the doors led to bedrooms with four beds in each one. The other two doors led to very large bathrooms.

The seven boys decided on occupying two of the rooms, and Becca had the whole other room to herself. Frodo came back later and gave them a tour of the entire house, or should I say hill. He called it Bag End and said that he and his Uncle Bilbo lived there. He also said that the eight newcomers were allowed to stay there as long as they wished.

A week or so passed uneventfully. The eight kids, Frodo, Bilbo, and Gandalf were all visiting in the big family room one night. Bilbo was short, fat, and had white, curly hair on his head and feet.

The eight kids were telling stories of things from the future, such as television, and radios. Bilbo and Frodo listened in awe, and Gandalf just sat nodding his head.

Becca, meanwhile, was sitting the closest to the fire, staring deeply into it, waiting. Soon it would be Bilbo's birthday, though when she didn't know. Then, even more trouble would start. Frodo would get the ring, and then they were doomed.

Taylor came over and sat by Becca. "What's up?" said Taylor. "Haven't you realized that the War of the Ring will be starting soon, and we will be caught in the middle of it all?" asked Becca. "Yeah, so?" said Taylor. "We don't know how to fight, so we'll probably be killed," said Becca.

"Maybe we can go with Frodo and everyone else to Rivendell. We can even become part of the fellowship!" said Taylor. "Yeah, and then we can learn how to fight and stuff from Aragorn and Legolas," said Becca. "I didn't think of that. We'll actually get to meet Aragorn," said Taylor.

Just then, Bilbo started pounding the coffee table. "Attention all of you, attention! My birthday is coming soon, and I would like to announce that you are all invited," said Bilbo. Everyone cheered, and began to chat excitedly.

Most of them had never been to a hobbit birthday party before, and some of them couldn't wait to see the fireworks. They all talked and had fun well into the night. Then, about one in the morning, Gandalf stood up and said, "Time for bed, little ones."

"Little? We're not little," said Taylor, standing up. "You are littler than I am, therefore you must go to bed," said Gandalf, shooing them towards the doorway. "Bilbo's littler than you," said Becca. "Yes, but Bilbo's older than all of you combined," said Gandalf.

So the eight kids and Frodo left for their rooms. Most of them were so tired that they dropped straight to their beds and fell asleep. Becca was not one of those people. She always had a hard time getting to sleep. Deciding to get up and get a glass of water, she left her room, heading for the kitchen.

On the way, she passed the family room. The door was cracked open, and Gandalf and Bilbo were mumbling to each other. Becca stopped by the door. She knew she shouldn't eavesdrop, but it was just too tempting.

"I need to get away from these confounded relatives hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moment's rest. I want to see mountains again, Gandalf, mountains! And then find someplace quiet where I can finish my book," Bilbo said.

"You mean to go though with your plan, then?" asked Gandalf. "Yes, everything's in hand. The arrangements have all been made," said Bilbo. "Frodo suspects," said Gandalf. "Of course he suspects, he's a Baggins, not some blockheaded Bracegirdle from Hardbottle!" said Bilbo. "You will tell him, won't you?" asked Gandalf. "Yes, yes," said Bilbo.

"He's very fond of you, you know," said Gandalf. "I know. He'd probably come with me if I asked him to, but I think in his heart Frodo is still in love with the Shire. The woods, the fields, the little rivers. I'm old, Gandalf. I know I don't look it, but I begin to feel it in my heart. I fell then, stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread. I need a holiday, a very long holiday, and I don't expect I shall return. In fact, I mean not to!" said Bilbo.

Then, there was the sound of Gandalf getting up. "I think I need some fresh air," said Gandalf. "I agree," said Bilbo, getting up, as well.

Uh oh. They were coming out, and they would notice Becca walking by and think she was eavesdropping. She was, but she didn't want them to know that.

Panicking, Becca ran as quietly as she could around the corner, straight into Taylor. "What are you doing here?" whispered Taylor. "I had trouble sleeping," whispered Becca back. "You were eavesdropping, weren't you?" said Taylor. "Er...no," said Becca. "I was too," said Taylor.

"Well, we'd better get out of here before Bilbo and Gandalf come out," said Becca. They heard the door creak behind them. Taylor and Becca ran straight for their dormitories, hoping desperately that Gandalf had not seen them or heard them.

The next night was Bilbo's birthday party. Everyone was there. There was food of all sorts, there were all sorts of dancing, and, lucky for Pippin, of course, there were all sorts of alcoholic beverages.

Frodo and Christian were running around, making everyone laugh and generally having fun doing so. Trent and Sam were walking around, talking to everyone. Pippin, Stratton, Merry, and Shae were running around pulling pranks on everyone when they weren't looking. Gandalf was teaching Clint how to do some magic with the fireworks. Taylor was talking to some weird hobbit, not by choice. Becca was sitting over to the side, thinking and watching everyone. Chris was trying every kind of food that was on the table.

Just then, Bilbo walked over to Taylor. "Oh, hi Bi-" Taylor was cut short by Bilbo shoving a pipe into Taylor's mouth. Taylor pulled the pipe out and said, "What was that for?" "Try it. It's Old Toby, finest weed in the Southfarthing!" said Bilbo. Taylor dropped the pipe on a nearby table, and said, "Er...no thanks."

Meanwhile, Trent and Sam had slipped over to the food table. Trying everything in sight five times, they both were shoveling it in. Some girl hobbit passed and said, "Hi, Sam!" Then, she walked off. Sam stared after the girl for a minute, and then banged his head on the table. "What's with you, Sam?" asked Trent. "It's nothing," said Sam. "Oh, that was Rosie, wasn't it," said Trent. Sam nodded.

Trent shoved Sam on his feet. "Go ask her to dance then," said Trent. "No," said Sam. "I will if you won't. I'm about her size," said Trent. "OK," said Sam, blushing. "Get...UP!" said Trent. He shoved Sam one last time. Sam lost his balance and fell into the dancing circle. Rosie grabbed him up and danced with him.

Everyone was having a generally good time, when the mischief suddenly decided to happen. I'll leave you to ponder about that until our next chapter.

So what did you think? It'll get better, I promise.