Child went over and patted Sam on the shoulder. At the mere mention of the name Gollum, Sam had arched his back and involuntarily brought up his sword and extended it towards Durshag.
Something inside Child whispered. "Remember your little daughter and the Hobbit mistress, Prutense Littlefoot."
Child had sent her daughter Gavriel to Prutense Littlefoot's house one summer so she could learn from her how to sew and knit and do the many other things which Child so disliked but which are necessary for life. Mistress Littlefoot had been extrememly mean to little Gavriel and had given her nightmares. Child never sent her back there again.
The funny thing, however, happened right after that. Prutense's sister, Daffodil Littlefoot, was a delightful person, but, physically, she looked just a bit like the mean Prutense. Every time her daughter saw Daffodil in the market, she shrank back and refused to speak to her or sometimes even played wicked tricks on her. When Child questioned Gavriel about her behavior, her daughter was unable to explain it and just shrugged.
As Child stared at Sam, she thought he looked just like Gavriel did when she encountered Daffodil. Frodo and Rose were already relaxing a bit with Durshag, but Samwise looked unhappy and suspicious. Child hoped he would soon realize that Gollum and Durshag were two different hobbits, hobrim, or whatever, even though they looked a bit alike.
[ June 27, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]
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