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Number Three, Bagshot Row  by GamgeeFest 8 Review(s)
6336Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 8/11/2010
Oh, yes, very easy to loose track of a munchkin, especially when not used to watching them, it's quiet, they're asleep, I can read a bit more and two hours later when you wonder where they are you can't find the little dickenses!
Bye the way the closest the British get to American biscuits is a plain scone.
Huggs,
Lynda

Author Reply: Especially a little sprout as quiet and unassuming as Sam is. He wouldn't want to disturb his betters. :D Bilbo learned a very important lesson - never take your eyes off little ones!

Biscuit here is the cookie type, not scone. So confusing when we use the same words for different things. :)

Thanks for reading!

nancylea57Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 12/4/2008
such a thing for a batchelor to learn and with one as quiet and unassuming as sam. what a task listening, and as absentminded as most of us think of bilbo? wow the trust of gaffer.

Author Reply: I don't think of Bilbo as absent-minded. He does get lost in his writing, as we all do, but he's mindful enough of his responsibilities. However, he's simply not used to having a little one in the smial. It's understandable that he forgot about wee Sammy, who really should have had the decency to cry when he woke up like any other child would do. ;) Bilbo will be more mindful in the future of his charge, and the Gaffer's trust will not be misplaced again. :)

Thank you so much for reading, and for all your lovely reviews! That was quite a pleasant surprise to come to at the end of a long day. :D

RenaissanceGrrlReviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/23/2008
Aww! Poor wee!Sam! This was sweet. =)

Author Reply: Yep, poor Sam doesn't get to sleep in late any more. :)

Thanks for the review! *hugs*

martaReviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/22/2008
Oh, this was a fun story! I love Bilbo, but it's good for him for things not to go smoothly every now and then. You captured him quite well, especially his relationship with the Gaffer. And Sam was so cute, his head bumping on the Gaffer's shoulder.

One quick question: were the biscuits meant as cookies or as American biscuits (think Pillsbury?) I don't have little kids so I don't know and want to be clear in my mind.

Author Reply: Thank you, Marta! Bilbo has always been a bit elusive to me, for some reason. But I do know what it's like watching a wee one, so I can more than understand Bilbo's desire to let Sammy keep on sleeping. He hasn't been around kids much, and while he would naturally do a fine job keeping them entertained, the other more homey details such as naptime would need to be learned. Thankfully, he has a patient teacher. :)

Ah, the biscuits are cookies, though American biscuits would probably be easier for kids to make than most of your cookies. It always confused me when I started reading fan fic, why hobbits seemed so fond of their biscuits, as naturally I was thinking of American biscuits. I finally found out that 'biscuits' actually meant 'cookies'. Then I was told that they don't even have an equivalent of American biscuits in Britain, which just seems wrong to me, lol.

Thanks for reading!

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/21/2008
Sweet! Especially that Sam lad was found curled up on Frodo's bed, like he already knows where his heart is most comfortable.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Thank you! Indeed, Sam was meant for his Frodo, and Frodo will find he has a new playmate the next time he comes to visit. :)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/20/2008
Ah, but we ARE learning! And it will stand him in good stead in a few years when it is Pippin who will be coming for visits! Heh!

Wonderful that Sam chose THAT bed to feel comfortable on. Nice foreshadowing there.

Author Reply: Bilbo wouldn't have had much exposure to younger children. Growing up he was an only child, and in adulthood he's a bachelor. And while he might have any number of guests over at any given time, the chidren's parents would be there to care for them! He does have a lot to learn, but he'll learn it quick enough - just in time for Pippin. ;)

And in my universe, Sam wouldn't have even met Frodo yet, though he will soon enough. Seems Sam knew even then where he should be. :)

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/20/2008
This was just adorable! I think you did Bilbo very well indeed!

I think that the situation you described, with Bilbo taking care of Sam at this point in time, seems very realistice. And while it would horrify Hamfast to think of it this way, I am sure it went some towards making "Mr. Bilbo" seem more like "family" to Sam than merely his father's employer. (And Bilbo would find that very gratifying.)

I also liked the touch that the bed wee Sam found to nap in was the one Frodo used.

Author Reply: Thank you, DF. I trust you when it comes to Bilbo, so I'll take your word for it!

The Gaffer's description of Sam being more "in than out" of Bag End, along with the fact that Bilbo taught him his letters, always gave me the impression that Sam must have spent a good deal of his childhood in Bag End. My solution as to why was always the passing of Bell and Sam's need to be near his father. This "temporary" solution will end up lasting for a quite a long time, but what Hamfast doesn't know now won't hurt him later. ;)

Seems Sam always knew where he was meant to be. ;)

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/19/2008
Such natural dialogue! Poor Bilbo feeling so guilty, and practical-and-loving Hamfast gently reintroducing to him concepts such as naptimes and how to care for a young lad. A very gentle and sweet little tale.

Author Reply: Oh, I'm sure Bilbo will get used to "losing" his wee charges! lol. They do move rather fast and as they're hobbits, they'll be even more quiet than human tots. Hamfast has much to teach him about taking care of little ones, as I don't think Bilbo would have much, if any, experience. He'll catch on quick. :D

Thanks for reading!

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