Crash and Bang

A crashing and banging intruded into Frodo's midmorning slumber. He expected that Sam had decided to make something extra special for second breakfast. 

Time for a little more sleep yet.

Bang, clang, crash ….. Frodo bolts upright in his bed.

 That definitely doesn't sound like Sam cooking - and come to think about it, Sam has gone to Hobbiton this morning to replenish the provisions that Merry and Pippin have seemed to inhale.  How anyone the age and size of Pippin, all of 12, can eat his own weight in a day is beyond me. 

Clunk, ding, bang, bash…… The sound was getting louder and strangely rhythmical.

Frodo donned a dressing gown and armed himself with a walking stick, as he crept up the hall towards the kitchen.  The noise was getting worse.

 I hope Pippin hasn't left the door open and let a goat in.

At the end of the hall, Frodo pushed himself tightly against the wall and edged around the corner.  What he saw was totally unexpected but highly amusing ……. Pippin had all the saucepans lined up on the table and a wooden spoon in each hand, hitting the cooking vessels in time with a tune he was humming.

~~~

Hunting

Bang, crash,…

Not again, thought Frodo, Pippin can't possibly be playing the saucepans after the glares he got from Sam.  He made his way to the kitchen to see what all the noise was about.

The floor was covered with pots and pans, and Sam was on hands and knees with his head in the cupboard.  Frodo considered that it was lucky that Sam's voice was actually muffled by the furniture, what with the language that was being uttered and the fact that his young cousin, Pippin, was visiting.

"What's the matter, Sam?"  Frodo asked, noticing Sam was red in the face and looking ready to explode.

"I'm hunting for that pot that I stew apples in. You know the one, not too big, not too small, nice and thick in the base?" Sam explained, calming down noticeably.

At that moment, the door flung open as Pippin raced in. He baulked and then took the mess at a leap as he screamed, "Out of my way, I'm hunting orc."  He brandished a fire poker towards the retreating orcs and was off down the hallway.

"The only thing stewing in that hobbit-warrior's helmet is an already scrambled brain, Sam," Frodo giggled.

~~~

Joy of Reading

Isn't that nice, Pippin has finally found the joy of reading, Frodo thought, as he watched his young cousin walk past the study door with a book in hand.That will make it easier to entertain him for the rest of his visit. Much better than having him playing with saucepans or chasing orcs.


Pippin had carefully selected a volume of "Shire Law Rulings: 1390-1395 S.R.", in view of his future role as Thain. He was thinking that he would need to hone his skills if he wished to make his family proud when he finally took over the reins at The Great Smial; and a book like this was definitely what he needed.

I should take an interest. Find out what he is reading; point him in the right direction. Frodo pushed himself away from the table. He stretched and walked down the hall towards the guest room.


As Frodo neared the door, he noticed the book on the floor and on it, a small hobbit, hands gesturing wildly. "My dear Bagginses and Boffins, and my dear Tooks and Brandybucks, and Grubbs, and Chubbs, and Burrows, and Hornblowers, and Bolgers, Bracegirdles, Goodbodies, Brockhouses and Proudfoots, lend me your ears."