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A Mid-Year's Walking Trip  by GamgeeFest 6 Review(s)
EstellaBReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/10/2006
I love this chapter. And it is so reminscent of spending time with my own family friends, most of whom are between eight and ten years older than I am and so have *copious* embarrasing stories of me and my little brother.
You are very talented at making scenes from Middle-earth seem real and feasible. I always notice this when I am reading your stories-all the little subplots and such that you have in you stories make them seem very possible :)

Author Reply: It's the older siblings/cousins duty to embarrass their younger family members. I think it's a law, lol. Around a campfire with nothing to remind you of home, these stories can be a comfort, even if they do make you want to hide your face!

I'm so glad that my Middle Earth feels real to you. I try to forget that these are hobbits in an imaginary land (or so some would have us believe its imaginary) and simply try to tell the story as though it really happened. A big part of that is remembering how random life can be sometimes, even despite the best of our intentions. John Lennon said it best: life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.

Thanks for reading!

PeriantariReviewed Chapter: 5 on 1/28/2005
hilarious chapter~ :D i love all the stories and pranks and memories the cousins have about tricking each other and funny instances. :D my you're very very creative :D
I especially love the Merry with pony dung lol~!!
::goes on to next chaper:: =)

Author Reply: I honestly don't know where these stories come from sometimes. Though the Merry with pony dung story was partly inspired by real events. ;) And I always crack up when I see those kids walking around on leashes. :D

Thanks for reading!

Hai TookReviewed Chapter: 5 on 1/24/2005
*snort* That was great. I loved hearing different embarrassing stories about the hobbits! To bad we didn't get to hear any about Frodo or Sam (though I doubt Sam has very many). They were certainly having a great time! Thank you for the laughs!

Author Reply: Embarassing stories are always fun - when they're not about you, lol. But Merry and Pippin are good sports. If Sam has any embarassing stories, they're more likely to be something due to his innocent and unassuming nature, not the antics and pranks that the other three have gotten into in their youth. And of course, Frodo's not talking (about himself at any rate). This chapter was a lot of fun to write. Glad you enjoyed. :)

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 5 on 1/23/2005
So they mentioned every prank but Merry's unfortunate prank on Sam? Interesting that the conversation never made its way there. I was hoping for a discussion that resolved the issue, though I imagine that even Merry doesn't want things that far out in the open. It is a shame that there were no stories told on Sam. I am sure that Frodo knew some since he had been living at Bag End when Sam was small, but maybe he simply didn't want to embarrass his friend that way in front of Merry and Pippin.

Author Reply: Well, they're trying to keep the mood light, and that prank was anything but funny. There will however be plenty of discussion about it in coming chapters. That's the root of the problem between Merry and Sam and until that's resolved, then nothing will ever change between them.

Frodo was more concerned about teasing his cousins, in part to get them back for their scheming, and in part just to tease them mercilessly. They of course fed right into it. And if they overlooked Sam, that's only because of Sam's uncanny ability to become "invisible" when he wants to be. Another asset Merry will come to utilize in the coming years. ;)

Just as Sam has stories about his master, Frodo would have a story or two about Sam as well, but you're right. He wouldn't want to embarass Sam like that. Sam's too shy about such things, especially if they were to be told to his betters.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 5 on 1/23/2005
Oh these are wonderful stories. You know, Frodo always gets off lightly in these sessions, doesn't he, no matter who's writing them? An unfair advantage in being so much older.

I don't know which of them were funniest, I was sniggering all the way through.

Author Reply: Naw, it's because Frodo's perfect and has never done anything embarassing in his life. ... Not buying it are you? LOL, he does have an advantage over his younger cousins, though I'm sure if Merry put his mind to it he could remember a few stories of his own. After all, he was Frodo's little Meadow, he had to have seen his cousing doing *some* embarassing things.

These stories were fun to come up with, especially the Merry/Menegilda story, which was partially inspired by something my nephew did when he was just a baby, and oh, doesn't he just love it when we tell that story, lol.

Glad you enjoyed!

Elf FriendReviewed Chapter: 5 on 1/23/2005
Those embarrassing stories were very funny! This chapter was enjoyable and I can't wait for the next update!! :)

Author Reply: There's nothing like embarrasing stories to make you feel loved and appreciated, lol.

Next chapter is Mid Year's Day, the pinnacle of the story. What could possibly happen? It should get interesting. ;)

Thanks for reading!

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