[Primrose Bolger]

Willi makes a proposition to Miz Bracegirdle

Ginger bent down and whispered something in Willi’s ear. He nodded his head solemnly, then grinned at Miz Bracegirdle. ‘Ginger says I should ‘scuse me and let you eat your supper.’ He leaned against the edge of the table and took a long look at the plate of spice cake he’d brought out to her. ‘I spose though I could come back and sit with you while you have your dessert.’ He looked up at Ginger, then back to the elderly Hobbit. ‘You could tell me a little more about your Mister if you wanted. I could add his name in to the list my Da has when he tells me about the battle.’

He looked hopefully at Miz Thistle as she took another bite of stew. ‘We could share the cake if you wanted . . . “blessings shared with a friend are always best” is what my Ma says. And that cake is so good it surely must be a blessing.’

‘Well, I got to go for now,’ he said waving as Ferdy grabbed his little hand and urged him toward where the band was setting up once again to play. Ginger smiled as Willi pulled on Ferdy’s sleeve and whispered something up at him. ‘He’s a bold one, little Willi is. Got a good heart. Hope he didn’t bother you too much with his prattling.’ She paused for a moment. ‘Will there be anything else I can get for you, Miz Bracegirdle?’