What
Elias Chubb wreaks havoc on dinner at Chubb Circle.

Who
Tommy Chubb (#24137)...himself, Edumnd Chubb, Drinno Chubb, Otto Chubb, Bibo Chubb, Sanicle Chubb
Filby Pott (#29680)....Elias Chubb

Various Chubbs scurry around the circle, some setting a table out in the garden in the center of the smial. A sturdy-looking middle-aged hobbit, accompanied by two young lads, pull the table into place and signal to a hobbitwife, who bustles in with tablecloth and plates. One of the young lads steps out of the garden, walking around the periphery of the circle. "I'll get Grandma, Edmund," he calls to the other one. "You get Uncle Drinno." Then he raises his voise, standing on tiptoe so he can be heard above the other Chubbs. "Dinner's ready!"

One of these 'various Chubbs', Mister Elias Q. Chubb IV, Esq., is seated at the aforementioned table, ordering his fellows about like he runs the place (he does, in fact, not). "Bonobo! Bring me the turkey! Blasted idiot... Cosimo, where's my taters? Edmund, my tea!"

"Now, now, Elias, calm yourself," says Bibo, as he passes a plate of turkey around the table. "Garn you all, blasted ingrates..." mutters Elias under his breath. "Edmund! Tea! Now!"

Tommy sits himself between his Grandma and another hobbit, the middle-aged one who was helping with the table. This older hobbit stands, motioning to Edmund to take a seat. "I'll get the tea, lad," says he, and a relieved look passes over Edmund's face as he sits next to Drinno. "Thanks, pa." Otto Chubb, said father of Edmund and Tommy, pads to where Edmund has set the tea down, and producing his handkerchief, tries his best to wipe it from the sides of the cup and mop it up from the table cloth. "We'll have to clean this, Sanicle," he calls to the yet another hobbit, the one who set the table in the first place. Sanicle nods, taking a seat herself as Otto passes Elias the tea with a bow. Is he mocking?

Snatching up the tea from Otto Elias fumbles and spills the piping hot liquid all over himself. Jumping out of his chair and staring madly at his cousin the irate Chubb yells, "Garn you, you idiot, what's you do that for?!?" Bibo stands up and adresses Elias firmly, "Now, now, Elias, there will be no such foul language used at my table. Either sit down and behave or leave." Sitting down again the Chubb mumbles, "I swear, some day I'm going to disown that hobbit..."

Otto's eyes flash, but outwardly he keeps his cool. Whatever he has to say had alredy been said by Bibo, so Otto returns to his place at the table. He nudges Tommy, who is digging into his turkey and taters with a good youthful appetite. "Tommy lad, could you spare a moment? I'd ask Edmund but he hasn't got your brains and is sure to mess this up. I want you to save your dinner for later; your ma'll keep it hot. Run out to Needlehole for me and ask your Grandpa Boffin to join us. Your Great-uncle and I have matters to discuss with him, and you can sit in if you like." Tommy springs up, glad to be doing such an important chore. He smiles and salutes smartly. "Yessir." And he is gone like dust on the wind.