It is a very hot summer.
Each day the sun rise high in the blue sky above the Shire and the fields shimmers in the heat. The hedgerows and roads are quiet . Many of the hobbits prefers to stay inside their shady burrows, trying to stay cool. Out of doors the best place to be is by the stream. I went there in the afternoon with Cleto , sat under the bank in the shade, and dangled my feet in the clear water, reading grandpa Rufus’s old book. On the banks of the stream that runs from Brockenborings to Overhill there is a small flour and dairy mill. The flow of the water turns the wheel which grounds the flour and churns the butter for the village. Grandpa Rufus writes in his book about some mysterious little creatures that, according to him, lives in the mill
‘No stranger being can be found that those dwelling in the olde mill. Unlike ghosts, these tiny creatures are of great value to the milner. They do odd jobs around the house, in the stables, or in the mill itself, and NEVER ever stray away from home. Once one of them has adopted a house or a mill or even a family, it will remain loyal forever, and ask nothing in return. In many grand burrows , cheese and ale and a small vacant chair is always left by the fireplace for them creatures, to ensure they know they are welcome, although the owner of the house may never see their little guests...’
Cleto is convinced grandpa Rufus is talking about house mice, and given it is well known he was shortsighted and needed spectacles , Cleto may just be right. I myself never seen any of such creatures (yet) , but I am still looking. The other night was so warm I could not sleep so I went for a walk and I saw this lonely hobbit sitting quietly under a tree with a small lantern hanging from a low branch. The hobbit looked up at me and smiled, cheerful and friendly, we talked about stories and songs, poems and elves as Cleto sat on my shoulder with a little smile as his whiskers were tickling my ear - hidden amongst the long grass and ferns, wild roses and honeysuckle was a choir of crickets singing a summer song accompanied by a frog, and of course, was so busy talking about grandpa Rufus that I forgot to introduce myself
~ Elyja
