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The Way Things Are  by Lily Dragonquill 4 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/23/2006
I found, growing up raising chickens, I couldn't eat a bird I'd known personally. But it's never stopped me enjoying a good drumstick.

Author Reply: I found my grandfathers bunnies difficult to eat but soon got used to it because neither of them had a name and all of them where rather shy - except for the young ones of course.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/23/2006
"Of course, if you keep a bunny as a pet, it's different, but the few farmer Cotton has are for breeding only. Yet, while they are in his care, Mr. Cotton does everything to keep them happy."

"Really?" Pippin asked with sad hopefulness, his eyes searching Frodo's.

Frodo smiled. "You saw them today, didn't you? They seemed quite content to me."


Well, I agree with Bilbo that is was Frodo's own fault that brought him to this situation. But Bilbo's choice of words was a little ... um, gruff. Don't you think so?

However, Frodo managed the situation smoothly, with the right amount of pity for the bunnies, sympathy for his little cousin and the right attitude towards "the way things are"!

Thank you :)


Author Reply: Gruff? Well, I could imagine Bilbo not being too happy about Frodo lying to his young cousin. And even if they sounded gruff, Bilbo only pushed Frodo into the right direction. Frodo is a tween, after all, I'm sure he needs some pushing from time to time :)

Glad you still liked it.

demeter dReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/23/2006
Very nice. Frodo has a chance to learn some grown-up responsibility, dealing with the consequences of his choices. I like the interaction between the cousins. For his cousins to have grown to love him enough to follow him into danger later on, Frodo must have been a very special cousin indeed. It is enjoyable to see the moments which built those relationships. Well done!

Author Reply: Choices are wonderful but as for the responsibility I fear Frodo still has to learn a lot. But at least he is on the right path.

Thanks for reading.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/23/2006
Aw...Lily, that's adorable.

Of course Pippin doesn't realize the bunnies are the same as the sheep. They are small and furry and he can hold them in his little hands. And of course Frodo did not want to see the look of hurt and horror that would have come over his face when the bunnies' ultimate fate was announced. The outcome was inevitable.

Wise Bilbo--he knew Frodo didn't mean to hurt Pippin--quite the opposite--but it *was* Frodo's fault, and he knew that Frodo had to be the one to mend things.

I like this--I love Frodo interacting with little Pippin so much!

Author Reply: Thank you so much, Dreamflower.

Frodo would never intentionally hurt Pippin, but lying to him wasn't the best way of keeping trouble at bay. Pippin is clever, sooner or later he would have found out anyhow - so, in the end, I think it was quite good that Bilbo chose to make rabbit stew on that very evening.

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