[doug*platypus]

Once the chatter and the inevitable pre-party excitement had died down, Bilbo tried to usher them all out of his hobbit-hole, even before tea and cakes no less! Well, how do you like that! Biffo thought to himself. Fortunately good old Uncle Olo had come prepared, and Biffo had been rewarded for his patience with half of a very decent ham sandwich.

"You had all better go for a walk together," said Bilbo, "and make plans for how you will travel, what you will get for the party, and everything else you need to think over."

The planning as it seemed was being largely left up to Primrose. It appeared that Bilbo was otherwise occupied, or didn't want Frodo to know that something was afoot. Biffo was a little disappointed that the old hobbit would not be coming along, as he had been looking forward to his stories. After a few quiet words with Bilbo, Primrose turned to all the hobbits.

"All right, let's all go walk along the road and discuss our plans. Come on, everyone! And if Frodo comes along the road and sees us - just pretend we're all going for a wonderful walk together, start talking about something else, and don't giggle!"

Bilbo saw the older hobbits (although he probably didn't use that term himself) out. Biffo, last to leave, claimed his hat from the hatstand, and picked up his walking staff from where it reclined next to the wonderful round, green door of Bag End. Halting a second before he stepped out into the lane, Biffo turned around and said to Bilbo:

"No worries, then Mr. Bilbo, sir, shouldn't take too long to get the job done. Me and Olo will put any bandits off, and Primrose will too I daresay!"

"Thank you for helping out, Biffo," the old hobbit said (he knew almost every hobbit in The Shire by name). "Oh, and by the way..." he whispered, leaning in close to Biffo with a strange gleam in his eye, "don't forget to use your head!"

Then with a laugh and a pat on the shoulder, he bid them all a last farewell, and closed the door after them. Biffo strode quickly off after the rest of the group, hoping that Primrose was leading them to The Green Dragon for supper and a talk about what tomorrow would bring.