Journal, Third Entry: The Shire

Dear Mother and Father, Tonight we are sleeping at the Golden Perch Inn in Stock. It took us five days to get here and I have seen a lot of new things. Like Waymeet. Rua says that's not a real town. There's chickens running loose all over the place and the people talk funny. Rua talked to them though and tried to sell them tools. He sold a hobbit some farming things. He also mended some pots and pans for a nice lady who lives in a house on wheels. She gave me some sweets. We camped under the stars and I asked Rua if we could live in a house on wheels. He said that would slow us down. Then I got wood for the fire and Rua showed me how to make bannocks. We slept on the ground and it was hard to sleep. Rua told me I should try counting stars but I don't remember how many I counted. The next day we went to Hobbiton. That is a real town. It was big! But I liked the river. We stayed at the inn there and it was big and noisy and I was tired and fell asleep on the table. But tonight I'm not so tired so I can write. Rua says I'm getting used to the travelling. When we stayed in Bywater there was a party. We stayed at the Green Dragon Inn and there was music and poetry and I got to stay up late but I fell asleep on a bench. I was too tired to talk to anyone but I liked the music. I didn't get any of the poems except one about pie. The innkeeper gave me a drink of Green Dragonbreath. Do you think it was real dragonbreath? I didn't like it much and made a face. But the innkeeper just laughed so that was alright. I was afraid he might be angry that I didn't like his special drink. Tomorrow we are going to Buckland. Good night, Your loving Zara