[Nurumaiel]

At a desperate and protesting scream from the garden, Angelica Baggins Muddyfoot looked out the window and gave a groan. Throwing the window open, she shouted to one of the two children sitting on the grass, "Fosco Muddyfoot, stop that right now!" Her youngest child, a three-year-old girl, began running towards the front door, sobbing. Angelica gave her son a look that clearly said, "I'll deal with you later," and then rushed to the door.

Her daughter's gold-brown hair was smeared with mud, as well as her dress. Angelica sighed as she picked up the little girl. At least she had her apron on. Fosco will catch it from his father for doing that to his sister, she thought as she carried the child into the bedroom to get her tidied up. I wonder where he learned that? He did it to the neighbor's girl just two days ago.

"There, there, Prisca-baby, don't be worrying your pretty head," Angelica said, helping the girl change. "We'll get you all tidied up and you'll look fine in no time." But Prisca continued to sob. Angelica sighed and began to wash her daughter's hair.

Twins! They hated and loved each other at the same time. Unfortunately with this particular set of twins they spent most of their time together hating each other. Her friend over in Buckland had twins and they were the best of friends, though they occasionally fought.

Madoc, her eldest son, could be heard calling from the front door, "Mum! Mum!"

"Yes, Madoc?" Angelica called back.

"There's someone at the door for you!"

"I'm sorry, dear, but I can't come right now. Ask him to leave a message!" Her mind was elsewhere, and whatever she was thinking of made her groan. Today is the 20th of Thrimidge. That means I have to get the clothes washed. And there'll be even more work if Fosco keeps this up. She looked down at her daughter.

"That's what he's leaving, Mum. He's delivered a message." There was the sound of a door closing, and feet running down the hall.

"Don't run, Madoc!" Angelica said. How many times did she have to tell the children that? A strand of her brown hair fell into her face, and she dropped Prisca's hair for a moment to tie her own back once more. The little girl screamed as the wet hair fell down her back. Angelica hurriedly finished doing her daughter's hair, and then left the room to find Madoc.

She found him sitting on a bench near the front door, holding a letter. As she approached him he looked up and held out the letter for her to take. "It's addressed to you, Mum, from someone called Camelia Goodchild."

Angelica practically snatched the letter from her son's hands and read it excitedly. After she had finished she set it down on a table and began pacing back and forth. She had been invited to a party at the Green Dragon the next evening, which would be a welcome home party for her cousin Frodo and uncle Bilbo. Cami had said that Piosenniel, an Elf, would be there as well.

Angelica sat down next to Madoc and thought for a moment. Bilbo… Frodo… Elves? It was very confusing to her. "I'm afraid I can't," she said, standing up. "Merimac would come with me, of course. I couldn't leave the children alone, and I can't think of anyone I would trust to be responsible enough to take care of them, especially the twins."

"It says to take the family with you," a voice behind her said. She started and whirled around, smiling with relief to see it was only her husband. He smiled back. "You've told me about your friend Camelia more than once, and I'm sure you'd love to see her again. No doubt you want to see your two relatives as well… Bilbo and Frodo."

"But we couldn't take the family, Merimac," Angelica protested. "The twins would cause such havoc, and - "

"I'll watch after the twins," he said, giving a stern look to Fosco, who had just entered the room. "Now, if our little girl is correct, I need to deal with Fosco."

Angelica smiled her pretty smile, and walked out of the room, saying, "I think I should find good clothes for all of us to wear for tomorrow."

[ February 19, 2003: Message edited by: Nurumaiel ]