[Child of the 7th Age]

Kali:

All during dinner, Kali squirmed nervously in his seat as he pushed his food from one side of the plate to the other but without actually putting much into his mouth. The young lad said little, staring down at the checkered cloth that his mother had spread out over the board. He occasionally glanced up to peer out the window and see if it was getting dark ouside.

The supper conversation was continuing among the other members of his family, with Rosco and Berilac dropping in to say hello and accepting his mother's invitation to stay and eat. Most of the discussion focused on the work the hobbits and men had done in gathering up the last of the crops and plugging the holes in the hedge. There were only two times when Kali glanced up from his plate and listened more carefully to what was being said. Once, he heard Berilac mention that Will Farroweed had become a serious worker who wasn't afraid of a hard day's labor. That didn't sound like the Will that Kali knew. For, to be truthful, he was still a bit afraid of the older lad. The second time, his mother had observed how foodstuffs were in such short supply that all the townsfolk would have to dig down into their larders and chicken coops to turn up enough provisions to keep everyone fed.

Kali's heart began to thump frantically when he heard these words. He had an irresistable urge to get up from the table and run out the door to make sure that no one would steal off with the conies. With great effort, he kept quiet and did not stir from his seat. For, if his mother had any idea of what he was about to do, she would never agree to such a foolhardy scheme. Kali kept glancing at Ella and Mondy, wondering if they had overheard the conversation in the schoolyard and would decide to disclose exactly what the younger children had planned. After what seemed like a very long time, dinner came to an end with a special treat of bread pudding and treacle. Kali left his pudding sitting on the plate, while his brother and sister bolted down their portions and ran off to throw themselves down on the rug beside the hearth and listen to Berilac's stories.

Kali backed away from the table, politely excusing himself from the others by explaining he was tired, and then scampered down to the room where he and Mondy slept. He dug deep under a pile of dirty clothes drawing out two limp carrots he'd rescued from the school larder earlier that day, hiding them under his pillow. The carrots wouldn't be enough to feed the rabbits for very long so he hoped others would remember to bring some food. Slipping under the bedclothes fully dressed, Kali drew the covers over his head and curled up in a warm ball, waiting for the visitors to leave and his family to go to their beds. Despite his excitement, he found his eyes growing heavier and gradually closing as the grey shadows lengthened and the lantern by his bedstead burned low. Two hours later, he suddenly awoke. His brother had padded down the corridor and jumped into the adjoining bed. Mima followed just behind, tucking in blankets and planting a kiss on both of her lads' curly heads.

Kali listened while his mother's footsteps retreated down the corridor and disappeared inside her room. His heart was pounding so fiercely that he was afraid the noise would disturb his brother. Sliding out of bed and stuffing the carrots in his pocket, Kali tiptoed back to the small parlor that looked out over their garden. No one in the burrow was awake. He pushed on the door and watched it slide open an inch or two. Then he pushed a little harder and slipped his body through the opening, hurriedly unlatching the garden gate and scampering down the darkened street in the direction of the tree that stood near Bree's north gate. As he approached the agreed upon meeting place, he could see several children, Big and Little, already gathered beneath the shadow of the tree holding rabbits and small hutches in their hands.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 6:53 PM December 30, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]