�You what?� Uncle Billy asked me, looking over his shoulder as he pulled some plates out of the cupboard.
�I closed the door. He�s really strange looking, and he knew my name!� I repeated for what I thought had been for the sixth time.
Uncle Bobo sighed and set the plates down on the counter. I followed him closely as he headed toward the front door, just in case the stranger did somethin�, I could take him.
Uncle Billy opened the door reviling the stranger, still standing there, not looking too happy.
Uncle Billy backed up a bit, letting him in. I just stared at the stranger, looking him over very closely.
�Thanks Billy. I didn�t feel like standing out there all day.� The stranger, who sounded very familiar, said. He then looked down at me and sighed. �You don�t recognize me do you love?�
I shook my head slowly, and then it dawned on me. �Orlie?�
He smiled and nodded. Well, at least he didn�t look like a girl anymore. I was about to ask what happened to his neat ears and long hair, when Uncle Billy closed the door and lead him away. I was going to follow, when the doorbell rang again. This time, I decided, I wouldn�t shut the door on the person, even if I had no idea who they were.
�Well now, looky here. It�s a real hobbit!� The guy said. He looked kinda scary with his long black hair and beard and moustache, but I decided if he knew what hobbits were, he was a good guy.
As he walked into the house, I noticed three other people coming up the path to the front door. I recognized the hobbits� haw-bits� but there was another man with them. He looked like the scary dude that just walked in, but this guy had lighter hair.
�Well hello Alex.� Elijah greeted me. I grinned up at him and the others.
�Uncle Billy is with Orlie someplace, but you guys can go ahead and find him.�
They nodded and entered. The guy with the lighter hair kneeled down and looked me in the eyes.
�So, you�re Alex huh?� he asked, with an Irish accent.
I nodded.
He grinned. �You don�t look like a trouble maker, but then again, you had enough courage to attack that ring-wraith.
Wow. This guy just said I had courage, just like the lion from the Dorothy movie. Cool. I liked him instantly.
�Well, I�m Sean,� he said, shaking my hand. This whole hand thing seemed to be very common among adults. Not that I minded or anythin�, it was fun.
�But there�s already a Sean.� I said, slightly confused.
He smiled, �All right then, you can call me Bean. How�s that?�
�Like Mr. Bean?� I asked.
�Yeah, like Mr. Bean.� He chuckled softly as he rose to his feet.
I nodded and let him walk the rest of the way into the room as I shut the door.
Mr. Bean waited for me as I finished the job, then I ran to catch up with him.
Upon entering the living room, I realized not everyone had arrived, but there were already a lot of people. Elijah had a seat on the couch, with Merry sitting beside him. Sean was sitting in Uncle Billy�s favorite chair, while the scary guy sat on the other couch. Mr. Bean sat down beside him and Orlie� Orlie was sitting on the floor reading my �Green Eggs and Ham� book. Wow. I wasn�t the only one who liked Dr. Seuss!
I looked around and all the adults seemed busy, so I decided to find Uncle Billy.
He was settin� the table when I found him. When he saw me, he raised an eyebrow, probably wondering why I was in there.
�Orlie�s readin� my book.� I explained, and he nodded.
�Well then, you can probably help me get this place looking presentable.� He led me to the kitchen, where he handed me a pile of napkins. He picked up some forks, spoons, and knives then we went back to the dining room. After a couple more trips to the kitchen and back, plus me making sure Uncle Billy didn�t trip over anythin� when he brought out the steaks, we were all set.
�Go tell them dinners ready.� Uncle Billy told me, giving me a nudge toward the living room. I nodded and quickly ran in, I was hungry.
I noticed right away that there were a couple more people. Mr. P. and a tall guy that reminded me of my grampa. He was talkin� to the scary lookin� guy while Mr. P. was talkin� to Mr. Bean. I grinned at the thought of the real Mr. Bean. He was so funny!
�Dinner�s ready.� I said.
No one seemed to hear me.
�Dinner is ready.� I tried again, but still they ignored me. I twisted my face, wondering why no one was answering me, when I heard a voice from my side.
�You�ll have to speak louder then that love.� Orlie said, placing my book on the coffee table.
I nodded and took a deep breath. �DINNER�S READY!� I screamed with all the force I could muster. Silence came over the room. I guess they heard me.
�I don�t think we heard you!� Merry grinned from the opposite side of the room.
I sighed and opened my mouth to yell my message again, but was quickly silenced when Orlie tackled me, placing a hand over my mouth. �They heard you love, he was only joking.�
Everyone laughed as they walked by me. Orlie stood up then lifted me up. I liked it when Orlie was around �cause I didn�t have to walk anywhere. I didn�t have to do anythin� on this trip!
Everyone sat down at the long table, with Mr. P. at one end, and Uncle Bobo at the other. To Uncle Bobo�s right sat Merry, and I was on Uncle Bobo�s left. Sean sat beside me and beside him sat Mr. Bean. Last on my side of the table sat the scary guy. I still had no idea who he was, only that he called me a hobbit� haw-bit. Hobbit. On the other side of the table, across from me was Merry. Beside him was Elijah, and beside him was Orlie. Last on that side of the table was the tall guy who looked like grampa. And there was one empty space.
�Where�s John?� Uncle Billy asked.
�Oh, he called a little while ago. He will try and be here in time for dessert, but they�re keeping him late to train with his axe.� The tall guy explained.
Everyone looked at Mr. P., who just shrugged. �I�m not in charge or choreography.� He stated.
I glanced over at Orlie who winked at me. I thought back to our plan and grinned. We were gonna do it after dessert, when everyone was sittin� around and talkin�.
�Well then, he�s missing out.� Uncle Billy smiled, �Dig in.�
I don�t know what happened, but all of a sudden plates and bowls and food where being passed out all over the place. I sat patiently waiting while Uncle Billy piled food of all sorts on my plate. There was even this yucky green slop that I hadn�t seen earlier. It looked like� well, I don�t know what it looked like �cause I�ve never seen anythin� like it. It was gross. I later learned it was called coleslaw, which Uncle Billy said I didn�t have to eat because Elijah made it, and Elijah couldn�t cook.
The adults talked about a lot of stuff, most of which I didn�t understand. There was mention of a trip to go surfing later on this week when the tall guy, who I learned was named Ian, was filming a part with some other guy. He was supposed to be twirled around a lot or something. I don�t know �cause again, I had no idea what they where talkin� about. I decided they should talk about more important stuff, like Arthur, or at least something I understood.
�Orlie,� I called over the table. He turned his attention to me, turning away from whatever the scary guy had been talking about. I still didn�t know who he was!
�Yes Alex?� he asked, raising an eyebrow.
�I owe you that story.� I told him, thinking back to earlier today when I had used the promise to bribe him out of lettin� me go.
�Oh no.� I heard Uncle Billy groan.
A huge smile spread over Orlie�s face. �Whoa, whoa, guys. Listen to this. You�ve got to hear this.� He laughed as the table became silent.
�No you don�t.� Uncle Billy said, covering his face with his hands.
I looked at him and smiled. It was payback time for the food fight� that I lost horribly! See? I�m short. It sucks being this short.
�Go ahead Alex.� Orlie urged me.
I nodded. �Well, Uncle Billy had just come back from a band practice when we came to visit. It was my dad�s birthday so we were havin� a party. Uncle Billy thought he would come in a kilt, just to kinda dress up I guess. The worst part is though, he was wearin� it in the old way� um, what�s that word Bobo?� I asked.
�Traditional.� Uncle Billy sighed, his face turning bright red. Everyone laughed, knowing full well how kilts were worn in the old days, with no underwear what so ever.
�Yeah, that�s it.� I replied. �Anyways, he was wearin� it all threw the party when my dad decided he wanted to go fishin�. Uncle Bobo wanted to change first, but they wouldn�t let him, so my dad and his friends dragged Uncle Billy out fishin� with them only in the kilt.� I paused, lookin� around. �Let�s just say that it was a very windy day out in the fishin� boat.�
Everyone broke out into a whoop of laughter; Orlie�s face was as read as a tomato �cause he was laughin� so hard.
�Yeah, sure. Laugh at me. I was forced into it, I swear.� Uncle Billy tried to defend himself, but to no avail.
Uncle Billy looked at me and sighed.
�A promise is a promise.� I shrugged. �I�m sorry Uncle Bobo.�
He half smiled at me and tussled my hair. �Not to worry kiddo.� He said, �Just remember, I know where you sleep at night.�
Uh-oh.