Chapter 4

Paddy gave Pippin a long, hard emerald-green stare—sort of a sad, disappointed glare. Not one of those really flaming mad glares. The one that make you want to stick your head in a fireplace and never come out. Poor Pip knew exactly what Paddy was thinkin': probably along the lines of "Why can't he ever grow up?"Mum never took her piercing blue eyes off me. I could almost feel it boring a hole straight to my throat… strangling me.

Well… not really. I just wanted to use the word "boring".

I bet it was awkward for Merry and Frodo too. I usually feel embarrassed when one of my friends gets in trouble by their parents in front of me. I looked at Merry, who had feathers in his ears and hair, and almost started crying. He looked utterly guilty. Frodo seemed to take it with a more adult-like manner, seeing as he's almost 50 years old (but you wouldn't be able to see that just by looking at him). It was times like this that I really respected my cousin, Frodo.

Huh… when I was a baby Mum said I used to call him "Rodah". Sorry, random thought.

Finally, Paddy heaved a disappointed sigh, "Let's go home."

Pippin shuffled his feet, yet tried to look as brave as possible as he followed Paddy out the door. Mum immediately grabbed me by the wrist and yanked me away. I took one last glance at Frodo and Merry before the lovely green door was slammed closed.

Mum's grip was hard and cold, but I didn't dare complain or struggle because I knew she'd only tighten it. She practically pulled me all the way into the cart. We sat in the back while Pippin and Paddy drove. I could catch a few bits of Paddy talking solemnly with Pippin. Pippin just listened and made no excuses—what good would those do? Poor Pippin! I just wanted to reach up and give him a big, gigantical squeeze around his curved neck.

I had no idea what time it was. Only Paddy had a watch because I knew Pippin left his at home. I really wanted to know, but I was too scared to ask. Maybe I'll ask for a watch for my birthday.

I sighed gratefully at the sight of our hole. It was a strange feeling—I was glad to be home, but at the same time, NOT glad to be home. Kinda complicated.

Pimpernel, my second oldest sister, rushed out of the house all flustered and red in the face. She looked so mad, she could've kill a cow with her look.

"Do you even have an idea," she said shaking her finger at me, then Pippin, then back at me. "HOW much you worried us? Do you? Hm?!" She shot me a reprimanding look. Pimpernel was always nagging on me. And I hated it.

"Pimilla, you are the most reckless child on the face of the whole Middle-Earth!" she continued, rubbing her forehead. I know this is mean, but I hoped she had a headache.

She was cut off by Paddy clearin' his throat, "Pimpernel, let us be the parents, will you?"

Yes! I liked it when Paddy did that.

Pimpernel tightened her face at the command. Then she walked back to the hole with a huff. I always giggle when she walks off in that way. Pippin often teases her of looking "so hilariously like a stuffed hen" when she gets irate like that.

Mum squeezed my wrist tighter when I giggled. I stopped, rememberin' what I was in for.

"She's halfway right, you know?" Mum looked sternly into my eyes. It made me want to look away. She sighed deeply, "But we'll have to talk more about this inside. Come on, Pimmy."

We walked into the warm hole. There was a large fire in the fireplace. My sisters were in the lounge, trying not to notice us. Pearl was knitting, Pervinca had her eyes fixed in a book, and Pimpernel was reading and, uh, huffing.

Paddy and Mum lead us like army people into their room. We stood by the bed, straight and stiff, waiting for the blow, and they sat in two chairs on the other side of the room.

There was silence… for a long, long time. Paddy switched calm, contemplating eyes from Pippin, to me, covering his chin and part of his mouth with his hand. Pippin and I had Paddy's eyes and hair colour, but nothing else. The rest was all Mum. If it weren't for the large gap in our ages, many say that they would have mistaken Pippin and I for twins. Pearl looked every little bit like Mum, Pimpernel looked like Paddy (with Mum's almond-shaped blue eyes), and Pervinca was all Paddy (except for her golden hair, that came from Grandma). Goodness, where was I?

I was starting to fidget. Pippin just stood still. How can grown-ups do that? I then began to sway back and forth on my heels.

"Pimilla!" Mum suddenly burst out, irritated. I jumped and widened my eyes. What did I do?

"Pimpernel is right," she said desperately. "You are a very reckless child and it's going to get you into deep trouble someday. How can I get you to understand? I don't want you to get hurt, Pimilla. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. You have hardly any friends that are your age—and female" (she emphasized "female" because I started to protest) "One of these days you'll grow up and realize you have hardly anything. Pippin and your cousins can't be your only source of friendship, Pimmy! Oh! Why can you be more like your sisters?"

Oh boy. Here it comes. I could feel Pippin stiffen up beside me. He knew I hate it when people pestered me to be more like my sisters. Paddy remained in a thoughtful state, as if Mum, nor we, were even there.

Then Mum then turned on Pippin, "And you! You should have been more responsible, young hobbit. We gave you a punishment this morning, and you go off doing some other mischief again! When will you learn? Now we have to punish you even more! And I doubt if it will do any good."

Mum stopped and choked back a sob. I hate it when we make her cry like this. It makes me feel like a melting candle. A big knot of guilt twisted my gut around.

Finally, Paddy spoke up. Pain clouded his deep green eyes. His voice was low, but wise-sounding, almost the way you would expect a wizard's to sound, "Peregrin and Pimilla."

We both tensed up. Paddy, as soft as he was usually, was always pretty good at giving affective punishments.

"You will both go without second breakfast and supper for a month along with luncheon and dinner as we said before", he said gravely. "Peregrin, you will continue to spend most of your day in the field, doing the majourity of the work, as we have told you before. And Pimilla, even you will now help in the field."

I frowned slightly. I hated working in the field! It was so itchy…

"You shall, for the next month, become your mother's apprentice as Pippin will become mine. You will help your mother make every meal and clean up everyone's dish. You will also help her around the hole the entire day."

We both stood silent for a moment and looked at each other slowly. The exact same message read clearly in both of our identical eyes: we deserved it and that's what made it so hard.

Paddy eyed us, "Is that perfectly clear?"

We both nodded our curly auburn heads. Then Paddy nodded as our cue to leave and we shuffled down the hall to our rooms gloomily.

I sighed and looked up at Pippin for some sort of guidance, reassurance, or something, I'm not sure what, but whatever I needed, I knew he'd give it to me. He looked down at me and a smile crept over his face, brightening his green eyes.

He chuckled and patted my back, "That was some fightin' you did back there."

I let a little smile escape. Pippin knew precisely how to lift my spirits. He glanced back at Mum and Paddy's room.

"This is gonna be one long month", he sighed. I nodded in weary agreement and with that, we went our separate ways to our rooms.

A whole month without any second breakfast, luncheon, or supper. How would we survive? That night I couldn't sleep: not one ity, bity bit.

A/N: Oh wow. Sorry for that super long delay you guys. Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday! I know I did.

(FT, I got kicked off in the first place because I exchanged addresses with a friend I met on fanfiction without my parents knowing. When I told them, it was too late. But now I'm back! Good to see you or… talk to you again!)