A Day of Memories

A Story by Big Al

Folco Boffin, a hobbit of the Shire, recalls many memories of his father who recently passed away.

Folco’s study was almost like another world with the late day sunbeams streaming through the window while he sat quietly staring ahead with thoughts full of his papa Vigo. There had been reminders of him everywhere through the day and it all began when Folco journeyed out for a morning walk. Strolling silently along the lanes of Crickhollow, he found himself at the bank of a pond where he had gone swimming with his father on many occasions. The two of them thought nothing of stripping down to nothing and taking a dip in the waters without a stitch of clothing. One particular day came to mind as he studied the ripples moving across the surface of the water which were caused by a light breeze that made the morning cool.

Folco was all of twelve years old on a hot summer day when he had labored all afternoon with his father repairing fence posts around the perimeter of the Boffin property. The two were pouring in sweat and after the last post was mended Folco begged his father to go swimming. Of course, there was no way Vigo was going to turn down this offer and both took off running to the pond while they shed their clothing along the way. Each in turn dove beneath the surface of the water and then back up for air followed by a splash war which turned out to be epic in nature. Their playfulness was interrupted by the giggling of lasses nearby. Both stopped and looked toward the shore where the lasses were perched teasingly. It was obvious that these lasses were too old for young Folco and too young for his father and they were full of mischief as they scurried about collecting the clothes that were shed by the swimming lads. “My, oh my…it looks as they someone has made a big mess out here!.” one called out. “Indeed they have! Someone really should tidy up this area!” replied the other. A mortified Folco hid bashfully behind his father who spoke up in hopes of saving their clothes and their dignity. “Pardon me, miss. Those would be our clothes. Would you be so kind as to just pile them up at the bank?” The giggling continued as they did exactly as Vigo had asked, but they insisted they could never leave in good conscience without knowing that the swimmers had collected their clothing. They sat next to the clothes and invited them to come on out. After several minutes of teasing, the lasses decided to move on to other adventures with lads closer to their own age.

He wasn’t exactly sure how long he had sat by the waters reminiscing but he knew he needed to be moving on. Trudging up a hill, he walked passed a large oak tree and recalled the day when they were climbing that very tree and Vigo’s foot slipped on a branch and he fell to the ground, breaking his leg in the process. At 25, Folco was still very much in his tweens, but papa Vigo needed him more than ever to show maturity beyond his years. Folco took off his shirt and cut it into several strips using his father’s knife. Afterward, he found a couple of sturdy sticks nearby and used these along with the strips of cloth to make a splint. This would work to immobilize Vigo’s leg temporarily but Folco knew he needed to get his father home where he could receive better attention. It took the rest of the day for him to craft a make-shift mat out of reeds, branches and twine but once complete, Folco carefully picked his father up and placed him carefully on it. Picking up the handles that extended out from one end, Folco drug his father back home. After arriving, Vigo spent several weeks in recovery and Folco had to run the family affairs while taking care of his father at the same time. Once Vigo was back on his feet, he presented Folco with a gift a new pony and cart and told him that even though he was still a few years from being recognized by others as an adult, he had already proven his maturity to Vigo. He would never forget the honor he felt as his father told him how proud he was to have him for a son. Over the years, Folco would return to that tree many times to read, to think…and even to propose to his beloved. He smiled as he noticed the carving at the base of the tree: F.B. + D.T., with a heart around it.

The carving brought his thoughts away from Vigo and to his wife which caused him to quicken his pace toward home. He was still a few hundred yards away but the aroma of steak filled the air. Since his papa’s passing, Diamond had been diligently determined to spoil her husband and she knew that steak was his absolute favorite meal in the world. In fact, it was what Vigo served at Folco’s 33^rd birthday party; a celebration whose magnificence was only outdone by Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday party. Hobbits from all around journeyed to Crickhollow for the celebration and each one ate a succulent steak for dinner. Folco protested that Vigo was going to bankrupt the Boffin family, but Vigo would hear nothing of it. “Don’t be silly boy! We’ve got plenty and I am not going to fudge anything on this party!” It was Folco’s night and Vigo obviously got a tremendous amount of pleasure in making it so. It was later that night when Folco told his father that he planned to ask Diamond to marry him and Vigo said the greatest night of his life was made even more complete.

“Darling, aren’t you hungry?” Is the steak not to your liking?” He didn’t realize that he had fallen into a trance while eating and Diamond’s questions brought him back to reality. He blinked and smiled and reassured his wife that the meal she had prepared was mouth-wateringly good. He finished off his meal and helped Diamond in the kitchen getting the dishes cleaned. Afterward they spent a little time sitting on the bench swing in the back yard. Being pregnant, Diamond fatigued easily and in the peacefulness of the moment along with the fullness of her tummy, Diamond rested her head on Folco’s shoulder and was soon asleep. The swing rocked slowly back and forth and Folco gazed ahead at the flower garden beneath the kitchen window. His mama Ruby had planted the garden when she first learned she was pregnant with Folco and she made no bones about the fact that that small plot of dirt was her pride and joy on the Boffin property. One of his earliest memories was when he was five years old and Vigo was away on family business and mama Ruby prepared a picnic lunch for her and Folco. She spread a blanket out right next to the flower garden and the two of them ate banana sandwiches and drank glasses of tea. With a flair of drama, Ruby told Folco that this was a special meal reserved only for lads who were destined for amazing adventures and great deeds. They finished off the sandwiches and then galloped off on imaginary horses to protect the boundaries of the Boffin fortress from an invisible but evil army of orcs and goblins. Later that night, an exhausted Folco would fall asleep on the sofa with his head resting against his mother…much like Diamond was sleeping now.

With same care he would give a sleeping baby, Folco carefully picked up his wife and carried her to their bed and laid her down. Afterward, he went to his study where he sat and thought about the flood of memories he had experienced during the day. He had been raised by an incredible father who was inspired by the memory of a loving mother who did much too young. In a few months, he too would be a father and he believed it would be an insult to the memory of his parents to be anything less for his own children. The thought of this brought a strange mixture of thrilling anticipation along with an equal dose of paralyzing fear. The sun was setting outside and the room was growing dark. He was about to light a candle when he was suddenly startled by the sight of his father nearby. He exhaled heavily upon the realization that he did not see his father but, rather, his own reflection in a mirror on the wall next to his desk. In that instance a feeling of peace washed over him as he realized that the very things that made Vigo such a wonderful father were all living in his own heart. He smiled at his reflection and raised an eyebrow as he spoke to the image of himself. “You’ve got a pretty big job ahead of you boy.” He could even hear his papa in his own voice and this made him laugh a little.

He quietly lit a candle and began walking to their bedroom when he stopped at Vigo’s old room. For the first time since he passed, Folco stepped inside and walked about reverently. He had avoided this room out of fear and sadness, but in walking inside he was immediately struck with the overwhelming feelings of joy and peace and he suddenly knew exactly what he wanted to do. With a little bit of excitement he walked on down to their bedroom where Diamond was beginning to wake from her sleep. While she lingered for a moment in the surreal world between waking and dreaming, he lightly stroked he hair until her eyes were fully open. With a lump in his throat and a smile on his face, he kissed her softly on the forehead. “Hey baby. Do you think we could turn papa Vigo’s old room into the nursery? I think that’s the room where I’d like our child to grow up.