Of Rats and Stewed Rabbit
Frodo woke with a start. After the hobbits had celebrated their triumph over the troll with some Dorwinion wine, he had fallen asleep at the kitchen table. The sounds of boiling water had awoken him. Looking about, Frodo saw Sam, Merry, and Pippin clustered about the fireplace, making a stew out of rabbit meat and something else, something bright red and round.
"Can I have some meat?" Pippin asked.
"Okay," said Merry. "Want some tomatoes, Sam? Great tomatoes."
Frodo leapt up. "What are you doing!" he cried.
"Tomatoes, rabbit, nice crispy bacon."
"We saved some for you, Mister Frodo," added Sam.
"Put it out, you fools, put it out!" Frodo ran to the hearth and doused the flame with a pitcher of water.
"Oh, that's nice!" said Pippin. "Ash on my tomatoes!"
"Tomatoes? They're not even canon!" said Frodo angrily. "Where did you get them?"
"Some hobbit," said Pippin, wracking his brain for a name. "Jeter Packson, that may've been it!" he said.
"Doesn't sound like a hobbit-name," said Frodo disapprovingly.
Their conversation was interrupted by Chief Mechanic Ted Sandyman rushing into the room, blowing a horn as loudly as he could. When he saw Frodo, he stopped and bent over to catch his breath.
"Rats! Rats in the engine room!" he cried. "Disruptin' the fireworks, they are, and we won't be able to start back up 'til we've got rid of 'em."
The hobbits looked at one another. Finally, Pippin broke the silence.
"I hope they've not got in the food!"