[Nurumaiel]

Bowman ran up the hill and greeted his pet squirrel warmly. He had just finished helping his father out and now he could sit back and rest a bit. But it was not to be.

As he walked up the path to the front door of his house, he saw a little note sticking out from under the mat. Excited, he picked it up and saw it was addressed to him. He never got notes hidden under door mats! He eagerly read it, but his face changed until it was a scowl.

"That Camelia Goodchild!" he said, crumpling up the note and throwing to the ground in frustration. "She gave me that note just to be mean! And she said 'Dear Bowman.' Ha! Dear! I won't go." He looked at his squirrel with a dangerous expression, as if he were daring it to defy him. Slowly his face changed and he sat down on the step with a sigh.

"I have to go and help Mr. Bilbo out," he said. "If only there were a boy there, but it's just a bunch of sissy girls!" He kicked an empty bucket in front of him angrily and watched as it clattered down the steps. Feeling better after releasing some of his anger, he stood up and opened the front door, calling, "Mum, I'm going over to Bag End. I'll be back soon!"

Then he hurried down the path and onto the road, eager to show Mr. Bilbo he was willing to sacrifice some rest to help him out, even if he had to be stuck cleaning with girls. His squirrel watched him go, and then went to the front door to see if Mrs. Proudfoot could spare some of her seed cake.

[ February 22, 2003: Message edited by: Nurumaiel ]