There and Back Again Story Scarf

When her Uncle Bilbo returned from his grand adventure, young Peony Took sat at his feet and listened to his stories. She did not laugh like the others at his wild imagination. She went home and knit his entire story into a scarf, starting from his green door at home straight on through to his legendary treasure chest, and gave it to him for Christmas. Bilbo treasured that scarf and wore it every winter until it was practically in tatters, though his neighbors laughed to see his silly, impossible tale hanging round his neck. Peony, encouraged by her uncle’s appreciation for her art, grew to become known far and wide as an expert with a pair of needles, and her bright and beautiful scarves, hats, mittens, socks and sweaters were highly sought after. Years and years later, when Frodo Baggins’ parents died, Peony would have taken her young cousin into her home, though by now her own children had children of their own. But Bilbo wanted the lad. “Let it be,” she said to her family. “Uncle Bilbo has been alone for many years. I won’t leave him lonely. Besides, maybe taking on the responsibility of raising the child will help steady him.” And feeling nostalgic, she pulled out her old, crackling paper pattern, and once again knit the scarf she had once made for Bilbo, and wore it for herself.