He grinned wildly as I fell to the floor with a thud.
Growling, I pushed myself back up to my feet and lunged for him gain. Unfortunately, he did a quick side step and I ended up toppling into the side of the trailer.
Laughter rang through the makeshift living room as I slowly sat up, rubbing my head feeling every bit sorry for myself. �Damn hobbit�� I muttered under my breath.
�What was that?� I heard him say, walking over and crouching down in front of me. Now eye level, I stared right into his green eyes that were full of defiance.
I simply grinned.
Sighing, he fell back onto his rump, keeping his eyes on me. �You know,� he started, shifting around a bit to get comfortable, �I�m getting kind of old for this. A wee bit more rough housin� and you could of beat me.�
�Nah.� I shrugged. �You�re only 33. That ain�t too ancient uncle Billy.�
A smirk spread across his cheery face as he tussled my strawberry coloured hair affectionately. �And to think. I�m stuck with you for the next two weeks. I�m not sure Peter would enjoy your company with the rest of us on set.�
I frowned. �But why not? I haven�t done nothin� to him! Besides, I wanna see more hobbits.�
Billy nodded. �I know you do kiddo, but I just don�t know�� he trailed off as my eyes grew huge and tears began to well up. Hey, acting runs in the family. After a moment of our stand off, he gave in. �All right, all right. I�ll see what I can do. But you must behave. Please?�
My tear filled eyes disappeared in a flash as I smiled a toothy grin at him. Sure, my two front teeth were missing, but Uncle Billy had promised me they would grow back if I was nice to him. �I�ll be good, I promise!� I promised, holding up my hand in mock swearing.
Uncle Billy eyed me carefully, I could tell he was wondering if I was being honest or not. After a moment, he nodded signaling that the decision was final. I jumped to my feet and tackled him to the ground as best an six- year- old kid can do to her 33-year-old uncle.
We were in a ball off giggling and tickling when I heard the trailer door whip open. I ignored it and sat on my uncle�s stomach, indicating that I had one. I gazed down at him with a triumphant look on my face, which quickly turned into absolute shock as someone grabbed me around the waist and hoisted me up into the air. I squealed at the top of my lungs, shutting my eyes tightly.
�Help! Bobo help me!� I screamed, startled and absolutely confused at what was going on. I heard my uncle�s laughter, and stopped squirming. Slowly opening my eyes, I looked around. I was about four feet up in the air and the only thing keeping me there was a strong grip around my elbow.
My uncle got to his feet and brushed himself off. He then looked at me. We were about eye level now, even with him standing, so I knew the person that was keeping me from falling was tall.
�My, my. What a predicament you�ve got yourself into this time.� Uncle Billy smiled, pure amusement in his eyes.
�Okay, okay. If you don�t put me down, I won�t tell you about the time Uncle Bobo went fishing with a kilt on.� I bribed the guy I knew who was holding me up.
In a split second, I was on the trailer floor again and the grip around my wrist was gone. It turned around to face the culprit, craning my neck backwards to see up that high.
It was an elf.
I began laughing harder then ever, falling backwards where Uncle Billy caught me and held me up.
�You look like a girl.� I giggled at him.
Orlie stared down at me, his face dead serious now. I stared right back, not afraid of him. I knew my Uncle Billy was right behind me, just incase I needed protection.
After a moment of staring, a grin spread across Orlie�s face and he laughed. �Your niece sure has guts.� Orlie chuckled to my uncle.
Uncle Billy nodded. �Aye, that she does.� he agreed. �So what can I help you with Orlie?�
Orlando smiled. �Peter wants you down there right away, he says you hobbits have to practice your falling.�
Uncle Billy rolled his eyes. �But I just took off those hideous feet. Besides, it�s the start of my vacation and my niece is up. Can�t it wait?�
Orlie shrugged. �I�m only the messenger. But I�m sure one hour out of your one day holiday won�t hurt too much, will it?� he asked, brushing a strand of blonde hair out of his face. �Besides, I�m sure the little runt would like to see the set.�
I opened my mouth to object to being called a runt, but Orlie winked at me so I closed it. That�s how he let�s me know he�s goofin� around. By winking.
�Not to worry love.� he said to me, �You�ll have fun.�
�And,� Uncle Billy added, �You can meet more people then just Orlie.�
�Are they as crazy?� I asked innocently.
�Unfortunately.� Uncle Billy smiled then winced as Orlie slapped him across the back of his head.
Finally. I was going to meet more hobbits and see what a movie set looks like.
I had flown out here to New Zealand all by myself two days ago from Scotland. I live in Glasgow where Uncle Billy lives, but since he�s been here shooting a movie, I haven�t been able to see him. I missed him so much, mom stuck me on a flight and I ended up here. On a movie set where they were making a movie. I have no clue what the movie is though; all I know is that my uncle is a �hobbit�, whatever that is. I just liked the sound of it, so I said it any chance I got.
I had just met Orlie yesterday. I can�t remember his whole first name though, so I call him Orlie. I think it�s easier to pronounce. Anyway, Orlie is really nice. He shook my hand like a grown up when I first met him, so I thought that was cool. He was playing an elf in this movie, but I still think he�s too tall for it. Actually, I think he�s just too tall. I only come up to his thigh. He had taken care of me while Uncle Billy had been filming his character. Orlie told me the name of my uncle�s hobbit, but I can only remember it as Pippin.
After Uncle Billy gathered some of his stuff up, he picked me up and put me on his shoulders, which made me taller then Orlie. I was happy about this because all the way down to where this guy named Peter was, I poked Orlie in the head, just because I could.
After several minutes of poking Orlie in the head as we traveled down to the set, Orlie glared at me and was about to speak when I saw some guy running up to us. He was dressed kinda like Uncle Billy was earlier, only he seemed younger then my uncle, even younger then Orlie, who was pretty old himself.
�Billy, we just have to practice a couple times. Pete just wants to make sure we have this scene down.� This new guy had an American accent. It was strange sounding and I almost burst into giggles, but I was suddenly lifted into the air and placed on the ground. Orlie was now taller then me and I grabbed Uncle Billy�s hand, just incase Orlie wanted to poke me.
Uncle Billy smiled at me. �Alex, this is Elijah. He�s another hobbit in this movie, the main one actually.�
I looked at him from head to toe. He looked like my uncle did this morning, big feet and all. Only, he had dark brown hair and really, really blue eyes. They reminded me of the colour of the ocean on those tropical island commercials on TV.
�Hi.� I smiled, sticking out my hand the way Orlie had taught me yesterday.
He peered down at me and grinned. �Hello Alex.� he said, shaking my hand. �How do you like the set so far?�
�I dunno.� I shrugged, �Uncle Bobo never lets me leave the house or trailer.�
Elijah nodded. �Well then, you should get elf boy here to take you on a tour while Billy and I go practice our scene.�
I gulped and looked at Orlie. He looked at me like he had a trick up his sleeve.
I held onto my uncle�s hand even tighter.
�Good idea.� Uncle Billy chimed in. Looking down at me, he knelt down to be eye level. �Now, don�t cause to much trouble for Orlie.� Uncle Billy warned, �Or I�ll get an Orc after you.�
I swallowed hard. Orlie had told me about Orcs. They were mean things that ate people... and they supposedly kidnap my uncle. How on earth that could happen, I didn�t know since my uncle was the toughest person I knew. He once scared off a stray kitten that came into our backyard, and he didn�t even get scratched! My uncle Billy is my hero... now where was I?
Oh, yeah.
I nodded at my uncle and held up my hand to swear I would be good again. He nodded and tussled my hair.
�Have fun!� He called as Elijah dragged him off.
I turned to Orlie, who looked at me.
�So...� I began, but stopped in mid thought as Orlie picked me up and placed me on his shoulders. I giggled; this was the highest in the air I�d ever been... besides the plane.
�Welcome to Orlando Tours...� Orlie started in an American accent. I laughed as he began walking along, starting my very own tour of the set.