Kalista brushed herself off one last time before walking deeper into the
house. How to ditch her parents so she could change was what was going
through her mind at the moment. She quickly looked in each room, not seeing
her parents and then ran by the doorway, doing this for each room. She
finally got to the kitchen and to her terror, saw her parents sitting at
the table. She tried to think of a way to get passed them and decided that
she would walk by naturally; a run would be too suspicious. So she started.
Hamfast looked up from his pipe and saw Kalista walking by. He cleared his
throat to alert her to his presence. "Where have you been all day?"
Kalista stopped in mid trounce and turned, smiling widely at her dad. "No where, bye!" She quickly said and sped off to her room.
"Not so fast." Belle called. "Did you do the laundry like I told you too before going off with Frodo?"
Kalista stopped and looked at her mother and father with a nervous look. Frodo had called her rather early to go swimming so she did not do any of the chores she was told to do. "Well, a little," she offered. This was bad, very bad; she knew how angry Belle could get when her orders were disobeyed.
"Right, and how much is 'a little' because-" suddenly, Belle stopped talking because as she spoke, she stood to walk over to Kalista and noticed her torn neckline and the grass stains on her skirt. "Kalista-Rose Gamgee, what have you done to the dress Mr. Baggins bought you? It is ruined!"
Kalista looked down to the dirtied dress and laughed, "Well, it's a long story. You see, Frodo and I were walking down the road and then these burglars jumped out at us. They tried to take Frodo's towel and well, I stopped them and whooped them good! They won't be coming back for a while." Kalista laughed uneasily, she knew they would never by the story, but it was worth a try.
"Wanted to steal Frodo's towel..." Belle asked suspiciously. The tone of voice used by the elder hobbit revealed that she did not believe the story at all. She looked to Hamfast and then back to her daughter.
Kalista nodded, "Yes, and they would have too. It was such a nice towel; the green one, with the embroidered leaves."
"You know, when a person lies, their nose grows? Yours is about ten inches long now." Belle crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Kalista.
Kalista's hand went to her nose and tapped along her bridge. It was not long. Pulling her hand away, she looked back at her mother. "No it's not, and I'm not lying."
"Kalista, you know better than to lie to your mother. No one tried taking Mr. Frodo's towel, now did they? Do you want to do extra chores?" The Gaffer interrupted.
Kalista looked over at her Dad and shook her head, "No, but the burglars..."
Both parents fell silent and stared at Kalista threateningly. They were becoming quite impatient with their daughter now. Neither said anything to Kalista; just looked at her with the type of look that could melt mithril if they had the chance.
Kalista pouted and looked down to the floor. This was hopeless; she had to tell the truth. "I swear; it was all Lotho's fault."
"Lotho?" Belle asked, looking at Hamfast and back to Kalista. "What were you doing with Lotho Sackville-Baggins?"
"I wasn't with him, he came to me and Frodo. Started calling Frodo girly and said I wasn't a lady and, and..." Kalista was trying to remember everything he did but through her desperation to be heard and fear of what her parents would do, she fell blank.
"And?" Belle asked, forcing Kalista to continue. "How does that explain your ruined dress and your messed up hair?"
"Well, he started it." Kalista said defensively.
"Started what?" Belle asked one more time, now getting agitated. "Did you get in a fight with that boy?"
Kalista switched her weight from her left foot her right, brought her hands behind her back, and stood up straight. "I won." She finally murmured.
"I do not believe this. How could you get in a fight with that boy?" Belle was not happy. She looked down at Kalista and wanted to scream. That beautiful dress Bilbo bought her and now it was grass stained, torn and wrinkled. How, in the name of the Shire, did she get into a fight with a hobbit that was at least twice her height? "Go to your room, and do not come out for dinner; you won't get any."
Kalista looked at both her parents and her eyes became wide with one last plead in her defense, "but Mum, I haven't eaten since tea."
"You should have thought about that before getting into a fight." Belle snapped. "Off with you now."
Kalista trudged off to her room with one last pout. This was horrible. A torn dress, double chores, and now she would not have any supper. She hated Lotho Sackvile-Baggins; this was his entire fault.
The next morning, The Gamgee Smial was filled with a familiar aroma of eggs, toast, and sausages. Belle was cooking breakfast and once Hamfast, Marigold and Samwise were at the table, She called to Kalista to come get breakfast. Kalista heard the call and ran down the hall; she was starving. Sitting down at the chair, she waited for some sort of food to be placed in front of her.
Once breakfast was served, everyone began to eat in silence. Sam and Marigold new that something had happened last night but did not want to question the events. It was not their place and neither wanted to be thrown into the mix.
Suddenly, there was a hard pounding on the door to the Gamgee smial. Anymore force and the door may have been knocked down completely. After waiting a few moments, the knock came again, causing everyone at the breakfast table to look up.
Hamfast sighed and put down his eating utensils then. "Who could that be this early in the morning?" He asked and stood from the table. Walking to the door, he opened it and saw Lobelia and Lotho waiting for him. He frowned but tried to turn it into a polite smile. The last thing he needed was trouble from these two at such an early hour. "Good morning Miss Sackville-Baggins, how may I be of service to you?"
Lobelia glared at Hamfast, she was not at all in a good mood. She pulled Lotho in front of her, revealing to the gaffer a large, dark bruise on Lotho's eye. "Look what that CHILD of yours did to my son!" She stated angrily as the world child rolled off her tongue like sour milk. "Something has to be done about her. She can not keep running around and bullying others!"
"Kalista did THAT to Lotho?" Hamfast tried not too laugh and instead tried to scowl. He looked into the Smial, towards the dinning area. "Kalista- Rose!"
Kalista came out tentatively and looked to the Gaffer and then to Lobelia and Lotho. His black eye was worse than she thought it would be. 'I'm in for it now,' she thought to herself.
The gaffer then looked at Lobelia and forced a polite smile. "I am sure there is an explanation for this mess."
Lobelia glared at the scoundrel that had given her angel a black eye. "There better be! And a punishment too! She should not be allowed to get away with this!" She growled at Hamfast and Kalista.
"But it was HIS fault Dad!" Kalista protested as she heard the threatening voice of Lobelia. "He called Frodo a sissy and called me names."
Hamfast motioned for Kalista to be silent and looked from Kalista to Lotho. "Is that true?"
Lotho looked from Kalista to Hamfast, over to Lobelia and then shook his head. "She's lying! She started it, she attacked me!" Despite the fact he was completely lying, Lobelia believed him and it seemed as the gaffer was as well.
"No, HE is lying, the snake." Kalista protested. She tried to figure out how she could get out of this. "Frodo! Frodo was there, he will tell the truth, ask him." He stated to Lobelia and the Gaffer.
"See, she started it!" Lotho pointed at Kalista. "She just called me a snake. I didn't do anything except ask Frodo to join me and the lads for a drink, honest!"
"No, you also insulted my family." Kalista stated.
"All right, enough of this. I don't care what Lotho said. Obviously you threw the first punch, and that is unacceptable." The gaffer snapped. "Go back to Breakfast and I will talk to you in a few moments." Kalista looked up at the gaffer and knew he was not one to anger any more so she marched off to eat.
The gaffer then looked at Lobelia. "I am terribly sorry, we will straighten this out soon, I promise you."
"You better, or there will be trouble. I won't tolerate any girl beating up my SON!" Lobelia replied before storming off down the lane.
"Have a good morning!" Were the only comments the gaffer stated after Lobelia left. He then shut the door and returned to the kitchen. He sat down with the rest of the family without saying a word. Kalista sat quietly but finally couldn't take the silence, "can I be excused?"
Hamfest put down his fork and looked up at her with a hard, quiet stare. He wasn't in the mood to yell, but from what he just saw and how he was treated, he wanted too yell so badly.
Not getting an answer, Kalista repeated herself, "Can I please be excused?" Belle just nodded and Kalista quickly disappeared and went outside.
Bilbo Baggins saw Kalista trudging along the road from the kitchen window and sighed. He had heard plenty from Lobelia before she went to the Gamgee's and he also had heard plenty from Kalista's own family. He dried off his hands from the dishes he was washing and went to the door. He stepped outside and waited for the young hobbit lass to walk the rest of the way. She looked up and smiled at Bilbo but then went back to a frown when he did not smile back.
She trudged up the steps and up to the old hobbit, "Good Morning Bilbo." She smiled again and Bilbo chuckled to himself, he hated to do this; Kalista knew this was the third scolding she was to get and probably would not the last either.
After being taken inside, Kalista sat quietly. Bilbo sat down across from her and lit a pipe. The two sat there for a little while until finally, Kalista spoke up, "You heard, didn't you?" Bilbo just nodded. Kalista looked down, "I'm sorry, it's just, well, he was being mean and I wasn't."
Bilbo cut her off, "Kalista you don't have to apologize to me. But I do have to talk to you."
"About what?" Kalista asked with curiosity.
"Well, after some long talks with your parents last night, your father and mother have decided it is time for you to become a lady. You are to go to school."
"School? But-" Kalista frowned.
Bilbo continued, "You are to spend this summer in the Michael Delving. They feel that you might learn some important things while there."
Kalista's jaw dropped with surprise. This was devastating! She did not want to leave Hobbiton. What about her friends, her family and even her chores? Yes, physical labor was a more appealing option than staying in Michel Delving. "You mean I have to stay there for a whole summer?"
Bilbo nodded, "It might be just what you need; to be around some ladies who can teach you about how to be like them."
"But, I don't WANT to learn how to be like them and a whole summer is too long Bilbo." Kalista argued. Her eyes drifted away from the older hobbit as her mind went on overdrive. There had to be something she could do to get out of this.
Bilbo didn't laugh despite his feelings, "Kalista, all of Hobbiton doesn't feel you are going right. Now, I know very well you are a good and wonderful lass, I think of you as a daughter of my own." Bilbo smiled then and walked over to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "However, perhaps this will be an enlightening experience for you. Think of the new friends you will make. And you can impress your friends when you come home."
"They will think I am hoity toity," Kalista pouted.
Bilbo let out a sigh, he hated seeing Kalista so upset. But the plans were already in motion. "I know it will seem dull and painful at first, but it is not so bad, I promise you that. You need not worry about expenses or anything like that; I have taken care of it all. So, I suppose I could ask if you would go, just to please and humor an old, mad hobbit like myself." A grin appeared on Bilbo's face, but his joke was not enough to lift Kalista's spirits.
Kalista did not look up; she stared at a small bowel of fruit sitting on the table intently. Her emotions were flaring; she was mad, sad, confused and scared all at the same time. All she wanted to do was lock herself in her bedroom and die.
"You have two weeks to pack and say our good byes, Kalista." Bilbo finished and went to the kitchen to finish his cleaning, leaving a baffled Kalista to sit by herself at the table.
Two weeks to live.
Kalista stopped in mid trounce and turned, smiling widely at her dad. "No where, bye!" She quickly said and sped off to her room.
"Not so fast." Belle called. "Did you do the laundry like I told you too before going off with Frodo?"
Kalista stopped and looked at her mother and father with a nervous look. Frodo had called her rather early to go swimming so she did not do any of the chores she was told to do. "Well, a little," she offered. This was bad, very bad; she knew how angry Belle could get when her orders were disobeyed.
"Right, and how much is 'a little' because-" suddenly, Belle stopped talking because as she spoke, she stood to walk over to Kalista and noticed her torn neckline and the grass stains on her skirt. "Kalista-Rose Gamgee, what have you done to the dress Mr. Baggins bought you? It is ruined!"
Kalista looked down to the dirtied dress and laughed, "Well, it's a long story. You see, Frodo and I were walking down the road and then these burglars jumped out at us. They tried to take Frodo's towel and well, I stopped them and whooped them good! They won't be coming back for a while." Kalista laughed uneasily, she knew they would never by the story, but it was worth a try.
"Wanted to steal Frodo's towel..." Belle asked suspiciously. The tone of voice used by the elder hobbit revealed that she did not believe the story at all. She looked to Hamfast and then back to her daughter.
Kalista nodded, "Yes, and they would have too. It was such a nice towel; the green one, with the embroidered leaves."
"You know, when a person lies, their nose grows? Yours is about ten inches long now." Belle crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Kalista.
Kalista's hand went to her nose and tapped along her bridge. It was not long. Pulling her hand away, she looked back at her mother. "No it's not, and I'm not lying."
"Kalista, you know better than to lie to your mother. No one tried taking Mr. Frodo's towel, now did they? Do you want to do extra chores?" The Gaffer interrupted.
Kalista looked over at her Dad and shook her head, "No, but the burglars..."
Both parents fell silent and stared at Kalista threateningly. They were becoming quite impatient with their daughter now. Neither said anything to Kalista; just looked at her with the type of look that could melt mithril if they had the chance.
Kalista pouted and looked down to the floor. This was hopeless; she had to tell the truth. "I swear; it was all Lotho's fault."
"Lotho?" Belle asked, looking at Hamfast and back to Kalista. "What were you doing with Lotho Sackville-Baggins?"
"I wasn't with him, he came to me and Frodo. Started calling Frodo girly and said I wasn't a lady and, and..." Kalista was trying to remember everything he did but through her desperation to be heard and fear of what her parents would do, she fell blank.
"And?" Belle asked, forcing Kalista to continue. "How does that explain your ruined dress and your messed up hair?"
"Well, he started it." Kalista said defensively.
"Started what?" Belle asked one more time, now getting agitated. "Did you get in a fight with that boy?"
Kalista switched her weight from her left foot her right, brought her hands behind her back, and stood up straight. "I won." She finally murmured.
"I do not believe this. How could you get in a fight with that boy?" Belle was not happy. She looked down at Kalista and wanted to scream. That beautiful dress Bilbo bought her and now it was grass stained, torn and wrinkled. How, in the name of the Shire, did she get into a fight with a hobbit that was at least twice her height? "Go to your room, and do not come out for dinner; you won't get any."
Kalista looked at both her parents and her eyes became wide with one last plead in her defense, "but Mum, I haven't eaten since tea."
"You should have thought about that before getting into a fight." Belle snapped. "Off with you now."
Kalista trudged off to her room with one last pout. This was horrible. A torn dress, double chores, and now she would not have any supper. She hated Lotho Sackvile-Baggins; this was his entire fault.
The next morning, The Gamgee Smial was filled with a familiar aroma of eggs, toast, and sausages. Belle was cooking breakfast and once Hamfast, Marigold and Samwise were at the table, She called to Kalista to come get breakfast. Kalista heard the call and ran down the hall; she was starving. Sitting down at the chair, she waited for some sort of food to be placed in front of her.
Once breakfast was served, everyone began to eat in silence. Sam and Marigold new that something had happened last night but did not want to question the events. It was not their place and neither wanted to be thrown into the mix.
Suddenly, there was a hard pounding on the door to the Gamgee smial. Anymore force and the door may have been knocked down completely. After waiting a few moments, the knock came again, causing everyone at the breakfast table to look up.
Hamfast sighed and put down his eating utensils then. "Who could that be this early in the morning?" He asked and stood from the table. Walking to the door, he opened it and saw Lobelia and Lotho waiting for him. He frowned but tried to turn it into a polite smile. The last thing he needed was trouble from these two at such an early hour. "Good morning Miss Sackville-Baggins, how may I be of service to you?"
Lobelia glared at Hamfast, she was not at all in a good mood. She pulled Lotho in front of her, revealing to the gaffer a large, dark bruise on Lotho's eye. "Look what that CHILD of yours did to my son!" She stated angrily as the world child rolled off her tongue like sour milk. "Something has to be done about her. She can not keep running around and bullying others!"
"Kalista did THAT to Lotho?" Hamfast tried not too laugh and instead tried to scowl. He looked into the Smial, towards the dinning area. "Kalista- Rose!"
Kalista came out tentatively and looked to the Gaffer and then to Lobelia and Lotho. His black eye was worse than she thought it would be. 'I'm in for it now,' she thought to herself.
The gaffer then looked at Lobelia and forced a polite smile. "I am sure there is an explanation for this mess."
Lobelia glared at the scoundrel that had given her angel a black eye. "There better be! And a punishment too! She should not be allowed to get away with this!" She growled at Hamfast and Kalista.
"But it was HIS fault Dad!" Kalista protested as she heard the threatening voice of Lobelia. "He called Frodo a sissy and called me names."
Hamfast motioned for Kalista to be silent and looked from Kalista to Lotho. "Is that true?"
Lotho looked from Kalista to Hamfast, over to Lobelia and then shook his head. "She's lying! She started it, she attacked me!" Despite the fact he was completely lying, Lobelia believed him and it seemed as the gaffer was as well.
"No, HE is lying, the snake." Kalista protested. She tried to figure out how she could get out of this. "Frodo! Frodo was there, he will tell the truth, ask him." He stated to Lobelia and the Gaffer.
"See, she started it!" Lotho pointed at Kalista. "She just called me a snake. I didn't do anything except ask Frodo to join me and the lads for a drink, honest!"
"No, you also insulted my family." Kalista stated.
"All right, enough of this. I don't care what Lotho said. Obviously you threw the first punch, and that is unacceptable." The gaffer snapped. "Go back to Breakfast and I will talk to you in a few moments." Kalista looked up at the gaffer and knew he was not one to anger any more so she marched off to eat.
The gaffer then looked at Lobelia. "I am terribly sorry, we will straighten this out soon, I promise you."
"You better, or there will be trouble. I won't tolerate any girl beating up my SON!" Lobelia replied before storming off down the lane.
"Have a good morning!" Were the only comments the gaffer stated after Lobelia left. He then shut the door and returned to the kitchen. He sat down with the rest of the family without saying a word. Kalista sat quietly but finally couldn't take the silence, "can I be excused?"
Hamfest put down his fork and looked up at her with a hard, quiet stare. He wasn't in the mood to yell, but from what he just saw and how he was treated, he wanted too yell so badly.
Not getting an answer, Kalista repeated herself, "Can I please be excused?" Belle just nodded and Kalista quickly disappeared and went outside.
Bilbo Baggins saw Kalista trudging along the road from the kitchen window and sighed. He had heard plenty from Lobelia before she went to the Gamgee's and he also had heard plenty from Kalista's own family. He dried off his hands from the dishes he was washing and went to the door. He stepped outside and waited for the young hobbit lass to walk the rest of the way. She looked up and smiled at Bilbo but then went back to a frown when he did not smile back.
She trudged up the steps and up to the old hobbit, "Good Morning Bilbo." She smiled again and Bilbo chuckled to himself, he hated to do this; Kalista knew this was the third scolding she was to get and probably would not the last either.
After being taken inside, Kalista sat quietly. Bilbo sat down across from her and lit a pipe. The two sat there for a little while until finally, Kalista spoke up, "You heard, didn't you?" Bilbo just nodded. Kalista looked down, "I'm sorry, it's just, well, he was being mean and I wasn't."
Bilbo cut her off, "Kalista you don't have to apologize to me. But I do have to talk to you."
"About what?" Kalista asked with curiosity.
"Well, after some long talks with your parents last night, your father and mother have decided it is time for you to become a lady. You are to go to school."
"School? But-" Kalista frowned.
Bilbo continued, "You are to spend this summer in the Michael Delving. They feel that you might learn some important things while there."
Kalista's jaw dropped with surprise. This was devastating! She did not want to leave Hobbiton. What about her friends, her family and even her chores? Yes, physical labor was a more appealing option than staying in Michel Delving. "You mean I have to stay there for a whole summer?"
Bilbo nodded, "It might be just what you need; to be around some ladies who can teach you about how to be like them."
"But, I don't WANT to learn how to be like them and a whole summer is too long Bilbo." Kalista argued. Her eyes drifted away from the older hobbit as her mind went on overdrive. There had to be something she could do to get out of this.
Bilbo didn't laugh despite his feelings, "Kalista, all of Hobbiton doesn't feel you are going right. Now, I know very well you are a good and wonderful lass, I think of you as a daughter of my own." Bilbo smiled then and walked over to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "However, perhaps this will be an enlightening experience for you. Think of the new friends you will make. And you can impress your friends when you come home."
"They will think I am hoity toity," Kalista pouted.
Bilbo let out a sigh, he hated seeing Kalista so upset. But the plans were already in motion. "I know it will seem dull and painful at first, but it is not so bad, I promise you that. You need not worry about expenses or anything like that; I have taken care of it all. So, I suppose I could ask if you would go, just to please and humor an old, mad hobbit like myself." A grin appeared on Bilbo's face, but his joke was not enough to lift Kalista's spirits.
Kalista did not look up; she stared at a small bowel of fruit sitting on the table intently. Her emotions were flaring; she was mad, sad, confused and scared all at the same time. All she wanted to do was lock herself in her bedroom and die.
"You have two weeks to pack and say our good byes, Kalista." Bilbo finished and went to the kitchen to finish his cleaning, leaving a baffled Kalista to sit by herself at the table.
Two weeks to live.
