[piosenniel]

Marigold, Pearl, Hamson, Ban, Rollo and Randy at school

Rollo and Randy Butterbur were dressed identically, except for the vests they wore. Rollo’s was yellow and Randy’s was green. At least that is how their mother had explained to Miz Andreth she would be able to tell them apart. They were identical twins, right down to the dimple that creased their left cheeks when they smiled. And they were smiling now.

Unbeknownst to Andreth, they had exchanged vests just before class started – asking, would she please excuse them, they needed to visit the privy. Now whenever she called on one or the other of them, they would smile and laugh at their little joke before answering.

Andreth had put the two at one of the larger tables, grouping little six year old Hamson Comfrey with them as well as Ban, the older lad from the stable. Hamson had worked up the courage to ask why they laughed and Rollo leaned down conspiratorially, whispering in the Hobbit’s ear. Hamson’s eyes went wide at the ‘joke’, which he thought quite funny. And soon he was joining in with a small giggle whenever Andreth called on one or the other of the twins.

Hamson’s older sister, Pearl, glared at him, from the table where she sat with Marigold Woodruff, one of the Hobbits who had a fair knowledge of letters and numbers. Marigold’s Da was a tinkerer and her Ma kept simple accounts of what item was whose and what had been promised in payment.

Marigold rolled her eyes at Pearl, when Hamson, as soon as Miz Andreth had turned her back, stuck out his tongue at his sister then turned away ignoring her. ‘Brothers!’ whispered Marigold to Pearl. She had older brothers, herself, and knew what a pain they could be!

‘I’m telling Mami!’ mouthed Pearl to her little brother as he glanced her way briefly. He stuck out his tongue once again, and scooted closer to his new friends.

[ October 21, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]