Fireworks exploded. Music played and hobbits danced, laughed, ate, drank, and chattered. Hobbit-children giggled and chased each other. Over to the side, Bilbo crouched, recounting to the other young hobbits his adventure with the ogres. And in the midst of it all, Andyalf set off fireworks that burst into flowers, fluttering butterflies, and fiery rain.

Under the cover of the clamor, two hobbits crept towards an old wooden cart loaded with firecrackers. One climbed inside and grabbed the nearest squib.

"No, no!" whispered the other. " The big one, big one!"

Selecting a large red firecracker, the hobbit jumped out of the cart and dashed to the nearest tent. There, they lit it.

"Umm… shouldn't you stick it in the ground?" asked one as she pushed it away.

"It is in the ground!" the other replied and pushed it back.

"Outside?!!"

"This was your idea!"

The firecracker exploded, sailing into the sky, and bursting into a fiery red dragon. It swooped low over the crowd of hobbits, who screamed and dove for cover.

"Bilbo!" Rosie yelled." Look out for the dragon!"

"Dragon? What are you talking about? There's no dragon around here!"

The dragon soared into the distance and exploded in the distance. The hobbits cheered and resumed partying.

The two young hobbits sat covered in soot, stunned. They stood to watch the last of the sparks drop to the earth.

"Good times," the taller one said.

"Lets do it again!" replied her companion.

Suddenly, they found their ears being tugged, and they looked up at Andyalf.

"Meriadoc Wagnabuck and Huntagrin Took. Not the brightest cups of tea, are we?"

Soon, Merry and Hunter found themselves scrubbing dishes with Andyalf supervising, looking wistfully at his pipe.

The hobbits were seated at tables now, and demanded a speech. Bilbo walked to stand in front of a large cake before the crowd.

"My Dear Bag'ems's and Muffins!"

The hobbits cheered.

"Tooks and… um… Wagnabucks!"

They cheered again, though less enthusiastic.

"Uh…. Bubs?"

This time the cheering was scattered.

"…. Nubs?… no, that's not right. Oh, why can't I ever remember?" Bilbo dug in the pocket of his black hoodie and pulled out a scrap of paper.

"Here we go! Ah, Stubbs!"

The cheering resumed.
"Noseblowers!"

More cheering.

"Buldgers!"

Still more cheering.

"Facegriddles!"

Cheering.

"And sweatyfoots!"

"Sweatyfeet!" came a cry through the cheering.

"Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday," Bilbo continued. "which is much to short a time to live here with you guys. I don't like more than half of you less than….. Wait, I know less of you then half of me would…er, no,…. i mean, I think the first half of you like the left half of …oh, never mind. I never could understand why I had to say that anyway. Just to confuse you, I suppose, and I think I've done a good job of that already."

Silence.

" What I really wanted to say was that I'm leaving.. Goodbye."

With that, Bilbo lifted the hood over his head and disappeared.