[Arry]

‘Come on, you lot,’ cried Gil. ‘We promised we’d help drag the tables out to the front yard early on.’ He motioned for his lagging companions to catch up to him. Tomlin yawned widely at the admonition to hurry, while Ferrin and Fallon simply ignored him altogether.

‘Too wet still,’ Tomlin argued, nodding toward the grassy area.

‘Be dry enough once you laggards finish your breakfasts,’ Gil laughed, running up the steps to the Inn. ‘Hey! Someone’s taken down for volunteers that was here last night,’ he said pointing to the empty nail by the doorpost. ‘Hope somebody saw we needed another player in the band . . .’

He found he was talking to himself; when he looked back, the other three Hobbits were not to be seen. Drawn on by the scent of eggs and sausages, they had rushed through the door, leaving him, now, to trail behind. Gil hurried into the room, looking to see where they’d gone.

‘Gil!’ he heard, seeing Tomlin as he stood waving from a table near the bar. Gil! Over here!’ He smiled as he passed the other customers in the room and made his way to the benches where his friends sat.

Behind the bar, he could see Buttercup holding up a half pint mug and pointing to him as she held it up. He winked at her and nodded ‘yes’, calling her his little darling as she brought the group a round . . .