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If I had a Hammer by Grey Wonderer	246 Review(s)
Auntiemeesh	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/30/2005
I always seem to be reading these chapters first thing in the morning and run out of time before I'm able to leave a comment. Good thing you posted on the weekend this time! Pippin was so cute, sticking so close to his wheelbarrow and so very happy just to have something entered in a contest. I absolutely loved Frodo knocking Berilac into the cow patty, though. That was the best moment of the chapter, with him driving the lesson home. I just hope Berilac is smart enough to realize that Frodo's comments were pointed. :) Author Reply: Oh, I think Berilac is too smart for his own good. His trick on Pippin was rather clever even if it was mean-spirited. I think he will have no trouble figuring out what Frodo's message was. LOL I also thought that it would be more effective coming from Frodo than Merry or Pippin. Pippin has enjoyed the fair even if he doesn't win. He's just been thrilled to see his wheelbarrow on display among all of the other projects especially since Tunnely had him convinced that he couldn't build anything. It has all been good for his confidence. Thank you for reveiwing this one! You've been so sweet!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/30/2005
OMG! GW, this chapter is perfect! Everyone is wonderfully in character. Merry and the toffee apples was just priceless, Sam's nervousness for Pippin's sake was so sweet, and the pride showed by Frodo, Pippin's sisters and his Uncle Saradoc was lovely. I loved the way Merry was able to startle Tunnelly with the apple--he's still a bit obvious, but he's learning a few things about subtlety. Perhaps after several years he'll be almost as good as Frodo, so that no one will be quite sure if he is really exacting his revenge--brilliant, totally brilliant. I also loved the way Pippin was enthusiastic over the other children's entries--it's quite clear that he's simply proud to have made something good enough to enter, and that winning would simply be icing on the cake for him. I do hope that this year Tunnelly's entries are shut out completely. The only thing I'm sorry about is your announcement of only one chapter to go. sigh I know, I know, all things must come to an end sooner or later, but I'd be perfectly happy if this one was much later... Author Reply: So pleased that you've liked this one. I've had a great time writing it. Merry will need some practice if he is ever to be as subtle as Frodo in the revenge department. In a way, Berilac got off much easier than he might have if Merry had planned the revenge. I suspect that Berilac will be puzzling this out for a while. It might keep him from going too far in the future with his little pranks. Pippin is just so happy to be in the contest that he isn't too worried about prizes, especially since he knows that his sisters are going to make his celebration dinner either way. Mister Tunnely is basically a coward and Merry has his number. It seems there was enough revenge to go around this time. LOL Thank you so much for reviewing this story. You have been so supportive and it has really helped me along. I have mixed emotions about ending it also, but I do think it's gone about as far as it can go. Thank you again!

GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/30/2005
LOL, Frodo's method of punishment was very fitting, and if anyone deserved to get back at Berilac for that story, it was Frodo. Merry and the toffee apples was classic. That lad would buy anything if Estella were selling it, lol. I loved the fair in general and Pippin's demonstration was delightful. Pippin's so proud of his project and I don't think he's concerned about it winning or not. I just wish Sam wasn't so nervous. He has a knack for carpentry, if he built that hope chest by himself; he shouldn't doubt himself so much. This has been wonderful and I'm sorry to see there's only one chapter left. This story has to be one of my favorites of yours. Author Reply: I appreciate all of your lovely reviews on this one. You've made me feel much better about my version of Sam. As you know, I was dreadfully nervous about him in this story! Your encouragement helped this one get finished. I thought that Frodo deserved to get even for everyone with Berilac. Also he is more subtle than Merry. Berilac may never to sure but he will certainly be more careful in the future. Estella has turned quite a profit on her toffee apples this year at the fair thanks to Merry. You're right about Pip. He's just thrilled to be in the contest no matter how things turn out. Sam may get a chance to relax before too long but I suspect he will be worried until he see that Pippin is all right with the outcome of the judging. Thank you again for your help and for all of the wonderful reviews!

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/30/2005
"What if I don’t win anything?" Pippin asked. "Then we shall celebrate the splendid job that you did with the judges and the wonderful wheelbarrow that you built," Pearl said. Pippin grinned at her. "And either way, we have to eat." what a wonderfully optimistic young hobbit! And Pippin said everything just right to the judges. Author Reply: I thought Pip gave Sam plenty of credit and I did think that Sam deserved his day in the spotlight after all he'd gone through to get Pippin to the fair. Pippin is just happy to be there and a celebration dinner is always a good thing for a hobbit! Merry may be full, but everyone else will be starving! Thank you for reviewing and for sticking with this one.

SlightlyTookish	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/30/2005
Yay! Berilac got his well-deserved punishment. I only hope that Frodo wasn't too hurt by what Berilac had been saying. The fair was great and I love how Pearl and Nel managed to come and support their brother. The scene with the judges questioning Pippin was great too, and I think it was a good choice on your part to do that all in dialogue. I always love hearing your Pippin talk becaus eyou never know what he'll say :D Author Reply: Thank you! I was hoping that the way I did Pippin's judge interview wouldn't be too distracting. I wanted to make it mostly dialogue but I also wanted to be able to put in those little reaction bits like (points to Sam) and that sort of thing without making the chapter longer than the rest of this story! It's nice to know that it worked. I did think that some of the Tooks might turn up for the fair and that Saradoc might come for the livestock anyway. I did have to have a way to get Berilac there! Thank you for all of your lovely reviews and for reading this one! You have been so sweet and it is much appreciated!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/30/2005
Phew - that went well! I was a little concerned that Tobias Tunnely might have tried to put a cat among the pigeons and suggest that Sam had done the work. But if he's a hobbit who can be scared off with an aggressively wafted toffee apple, he's clearly not one to take risks! Pippin is delightful - so excited and proud. I don't really think he cares if he wins or not, just as long as everyone knows he did it himself and that Sam is a great teacher. I love the coat-stool. (That's youthful confidence for you!) And the wardrobe - and its maker. It's delightful the way Pippin's sisters and Saradoc turn up . . . and bad Berilac. And if Estella is selling toffee apples, it's not surprising that Merry has eaten at least a dozen. And Frodo knew! Or if he didn't know it all, he knew that bad Berilac was responsible for Pippin's distress. Very handy that the cows and their - er - products were there. I daresay Berilac is one who doesn't mind making others look foolish, but won't much appreciate the outcome. (Although various other pranks come to mind.) What a shame this is nearly over. But I'm looking forward to the outcome of the judging. And the celebration supper. Author Reply: I think Tobias knew better than to try and imply that Sam had built the wheelbarrow other than his snide remark to Sam. Not only would he have to worry about Merry, but he might also have to face that Gaffer. Glad you liked the coat-stool. I thought that more than one rather inventive hobbit carpenter might turn up at this contest. Pippin had his extra wheels and this other lad, well, he had a coat-stool! I wonder if Merry will have room for a celebration supper? He's got to be full of those apples, but I bet Estella has a nice profit on her day at the fair. Frodo is a very sneaky hobbit isn't he? Berilac had no idea who he was messing with on this one. Thank you so much for revieiwng this story and for reading it. It's so nice to know that someone enjoyed it!

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/30/2005
This just made my day! I was so thankful nothing dreadful happened to Pip's project, and he answered the judges perfectly. How sweet that he gave Sam so much credit. gasp snigger I was hysterical at the end - Frodo knew all along! What a brilliant was to get back at Berilac. Wicked, wonderful Frodo! I love it - and to take revenge so beautifully that not even Berilac is certain it was deliberate. Brilliant, GW! Now can I wait to find out if Pip has won a prize............ Author Reply: So glad you liked this and if Pippin won or didn't win will be revealed in the next chapter. Pip wanted the judges and Sam to know how grateful he was for Sam's help and I think he managed to get that across. Glad you thought so too. Frodo is very tricksy isn't he. Sometimes it's the quiet ones that you have to watch. Thanks so very much for all of your reviews and support! One more chapter to go!

Lindelea	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/30/2005
This is truly inspired. Truly. “You’re eating too fast even for a Took,” Merry teased. (what a lot this tells about Tooks in so few words!) it would hardly be fair to turn a grouchy Brandybuck loose on Hobbiton without someone going along to smooth things over a bit. (such a picture!) The Gaffer’s foot guards were more than a little too large on the lad and Pippin walked a bit like a duck in them. (I can see this perfectly well in my mind) Come to think on it, a shield might be nice. (I'm laughing here. Dwarf helms, and shields as an afterthought.) He couldn’t believe that the lad had actually nailed his own shirt to the practice board. (Somehow I knew this was coming, from the way you introduced it, but still it made me chuckle) “I was just sayin’ we should give it another go,” Sam said. (Clever Sam. Reminds me of a rendition I heard of "Jack and the Beanstalk" where Jack mutters something under his breath, I forget what, and the Giant's wife asks him what he said, and he says something completely different, like "I said, I'm too hungry to go." And so she feeds him.) I know that the Tooks wisely leave the child there as often as they can (poor Pippin! gossip is such an unlovely thing) Why I was hit in the head so hard I saw stars for two days! He ruined my best work shirt with grease, nailed me to a board, spilt a whole can ‘o red paint into my tool sack, broke one of my best saws off at the handle, and sawed my best work table in half. (I hope I didn't waken the family, laughing at this list of woes...) “Least you got other children, Gaffer. I only had that one work table.” (What a capper!) Looking forward to reading more another night. Thanks! Author Reply: That review was such fun to read! I love the way you listed what you enjoyed about the chapter and I thank you for taking the time to do it. I'm glad that you got a laugh or two out of this chapter. That last line about the work table may actually be my favorite line in the story so I am very glad that you liked it. Come back when you get the time and thank you for the review!

GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/27/2005
Interesting... Frodo suddenly has a lightbulb moment about the furniture, right after Merry and Pippin had that talk about it. Seems coincidental enough. It would be horrible if Frodo ever had to find out about that story Berilac told. Loved nervous!Sam. I could just see him pacing about the smial, too anxious to sleep. Can't wait for the fair and the look on Tunnely's face when he sees the wheelbarrow. Author Reply: Frodo had been trying to work this mystery out for a while and so maybe he just got desperate enough to empty the room? You just never know. So glad that you liked Sam in this bit. I did think that he might be a bit nervous since this is not gardening or an area that he usually gets involved in. Being Pippin's tutor will put the attention on him as well. Plus he is worried about how Pippin might take it if he doesn't do well against the other entries. More soon and thanks for reading!

PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/26/2005
Awww! I like how Pippin chooses his furniture not because of how it looks--though that would be nice, but for the cherished memories he has of some of them. The part of him oblivious to other children not hiding in the wardrobe because of the warped door is so sweet! So very Pippin. So sad to see the eerie dreams end, but we do have to move on, I know. Squeee! We're going to the fair! Pippinfan Author Reply: Pippin has his own style and Frodo let him indulge his own tastes on this one. I think Frodo would have let him do almost anything in order to get him to sleep in his room. I could see Pippin repeatedly hiding in the same place because he liked it and ignoring the fact that he kept getting found. LOL I will send you a link to an errie story if you like. I have something rather odd that is very Halloween-ish that I posted recently just don't have it up here yet. May do that tonight. Get ready for your toffee apples! The fair is up next!

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