[Child of the 7th Age]

When Cami had returned home, she'd received a stern warning from her parents about how, for the past two days, she'd forgotten to do her farm chores and errands. Wagging a finger in the air, her mother had made it perfectly clear that, as much as they admired and respected Mister Bilbo, Cami would have to do her share at home, or she wouldn't be allowed to help out with the party plans.

Faced with this grim possibility, Cami spent the next three hours industriously mucking out the barn, currying the cart horse, and turning the house upside down to chase every dust bunny out that she could manage to track down. When she finally finished all that, she quickly regrouped in hopes of racing back to Bag-end and joining the others for the trek to the mill.

But, before Cami could slip out the door, she heard her mother's voice calling once again, "Just one more thing, dear. I need you to run to the market, and buy two loaves of bread. I just haven't had time to bake today, since I've been too busying finishing up all the work that you were supposed to do from yesterday."

Cami inwardly moaned, then took the copper pennies her mother offered, promising to run down to Mistress Hornblower's and return immediately with the needed baked goods. She tucked the money into the same purse where she had hidden Bilbo's coins. She wasn't sure how she'd make it to Bag-end in time, but she thought it best not to upset her mother any futher.

With a hope, skip, and a jump, Cami was out the door, running across the fields, taking every shortcut she knew to get her to the baker's in short order. As she approached the Hornblower's shop, a terrible sight met her eyes. There was a long line of hobbits snaking out the door, all waiting for the next load of bread to come piping fresh from the oven. The baker had just sold her last two loaves, and everyone else would have to wait an hour or more if they wanted to get fresh bread.

Cami groaned. She'd never make it to the miller's on time, if she had to wait in line until everyone else was served. Then she had an idea. Perhaps, she could ask the hobbit who'd bought the last two loaves for a very big favor.

But when she ran up to the front, her heart quickly sank. There was Lotho, about to walk away with two fresh loaves that he'd just bought. Still, she wouldn't give up without trying. Without mentioning anything about a birthday party, Cami explained how she had a purse with Bilbo's money in it and must get down to the miller before he closed that afternoon for a very large order.

To Cami's amazement, Lotho agreed to help her. He handed her the two loaves and asked for payment, not a penny more or less than what he himself had spnt. That seemed like an eminently reasonable arrangement.

Cami paid Lotho the pennies, then let him hold her purse while she stuffed the two loaves inside the cloth bag. When the lad inadvertently dropped the money, he insisted on picking up the coins and replacing them in the purse, treating Cami as if she was a real lady. Cami began to think that she had misjudged Lotho, and was feeling sorry for her earlier words to Bilbo.

Then she thanked Lotho, ran back across the field, and handed the bread to her mother, before taking of again. She caught up with the pony and wagon, just as the cart was rounding the bend to go down to the miller. The other children good naturedly teased her about being late, but she herself was quite proud about how she'd managed to handle things.

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Lotho had to wait in line a very long time to purchase his other two loaves of bread. He really didn't mind as he looked down at the silver coins that now nestled securely in his hand. After all, he reasoned, any hobbit could make such a mistake when picking money up from the floor, replacing one coin with another of a slightly different value. Anyways, he deserved some receompense for his time spent in line.

Still, he laughed as he thought of his little trick. Copper coins, silver coins....they were all the same to Lotho, since the Sackville-Baggins family was one of those in the Shire who enjoyed considerable resources. He never gave it a second thought as he left the market, heading home to have a pot of tea and buttered scones in the company of his mother.