Due to the popular LOTR films there are some facts about the timeline that get overlooked. Frodo's parents were killed in a mysterious boating accident when he was 12. He then spent the next 9 years living with his Brandybuck relatives in Brandy hall before being adopted by his cousin Bilbo who made him his heir. Hobbits come of age when they are 33 years old. So in human terms Frodo is a young teenager. Another interesting fact many people do not know is that Frodo does not appear in the early drafts of the first chapter of The Fellowship of the Ring called an unexpected party and when he does appear he is sometimes called Bingo. I have a theory that Tolkien was jotting down his impressions of what he was learning of the Shire and Middle Earth and changing his drafts as he learned the facts while he was there for longer periods of time. Let's see if this theory holds true while I piece together Tolkien's story.... And Oh my. I am yet to tell you any thing of C.S Lewis and his Brother Warnie who have adventures of their own, but they will have to wait for another week to start their tale.
Now where was I.... Oh Yes. It was early morning in Bilbo's kitchen. It had been a whole day and a night since Tolkien had appeared in Bilbo's garden. Bilbo, Gandalf and Tolkien had talked all the while about the Shire and Middle Earth and the strange place called England. Tolkien interrupted Bilbo who was on his third recounting of his adventure with the dwarves and Smaug the dragon. Gandalf noted with relief that Bilbo was leaving out the part about his magic ring and how he came to have it. Gandalf was not yet sure who this Jar Tulkeen was and while he seemed to be a very likable fellow he could still end up to be quite dangerous. Tolkien stopped Bilbo in mid sentence and asked if he could borrow a fountain pen and some paper to right down some of what he was hearing to keep it all straight in his head. Tolkien feared he would wake up at home with no memory of this.
"A fountain pen. What is that asked Bilbo?"
"It is a cylinder filled with ink that has a fine nib one one end. It is used for writing." said Tolkien.
"what a magical land you live in." replied Bilbo. "Next you'll tell me you can carts pull themselves without ponies and people can fly in your magic land called England."
"Well yes." Said Tolkien. He pulled a photograph out of his vest of his brigade in France during WWI standing in front of a biplane. Bilbo was silent for a moment and Gandalf looked all together worried. Who was this man and what sort of danger would follow him if others from England started showing up all over the Shire. He decided right then not to share this information with Saruman the White Wizard. Bilbo turned to the young hobbit in the corner who had gone unnoticed until now. To Tolkien he appeared twelve or thirteen. "Bingo be a good lad and fetch Mr. Jar Tulkeen a quill, a bottle of ink and some paper." Said Bilbo. That is my nephew Frodo, he is called Bingo by his friends. He is an orphan, his Parents drowned oh maybe ten years ago. He's still a young lad only 21, but when he comes of age at 33 he will inherit and become master of Bag End. He'll need to grow into the name Frodo and be a solid hobbit to inherit but there is still much time for that." Tolkien was growing fonder of these little people called hobbits by the minute and could not wait to share this Tale with Jack and Warnie at the Bird and Baby over a pint of mild or two, but how was he to get back. Sensing Tolkien's weariness Gandalf suggested he get some sleep and the would wake him for supper later on. That's a good idea thought Tolkien. I will get some sleep and wake up in my own bed or at my desk in my office.
Next week's story - Still in the shire let's walk around and see the countryside. I will reveal how Tolkien learns to control talisman (coin) and travel back and forth to the shire at will. His visits over the months and years would be more often and last longer. So much so that in twelve years time it will be Tolkien who accompanies Bilbo on his walk to Rivendell after his 111th birthday party. The same day was of course Frodo's 33rd birthday as they shared the same Birthday September the 22nd. The adventures that Tolkien and Bilbo share getting to Rivendell are a great tale in themselves and will take up several weeks of stories, but that will have to wait because we have to start learning about CS Lewis Soon too. There is so much story to tell. This could go on for years before I decide to start putting all the lose bits together. I must say on a personal note it is 2:06am in Tuesday so I missed my self imposed Monday deadline. I was going to wait until morning to write this but the ideas were swirling in my mind and I wanted to get them into a post before they vanished over the hill like so much smoke from Gandalf's pipe. Until Next week.
