Journal 378th entry: A Night to Remember, Renewed Hope

Dear Mother and Father, Tonight I managed to be at the Green Dragon Inn again. I arrived quite early and was there in time to see most of the others arrive. What a to do! I don't think I've ever seen so many hobbits in one place before except maybe the Party Tree during the Lithe Days Festival! It made me feel quite shy. Lina was there and Bootsy, Simbo, Cordula and Talera, who left quite early. Patula was looking particularly pretty tonight a red, white and yellow dress and she told us a very exciting story about two hobbit lads who got caught by spiders. Luckily they got rescued by one of the lads' younger brother. Oh! and the redheaded fellow was there again too. After he left I found out that his name is Huff. Anyway, later on in comes Lothilia again, I couldn't catch all she was saying as I was too busy watching all the hobbits in the room, I didn't recognise all of them and there were too many to get introduced to!, but I heard wolves mentioned and that she was still missing her chicken. Well, these things happen. Sad, but there it is. She left soon after. I had planned to write Rowana a letter after my last visit to the Green Dragon but hadn't yet got up the courage to. So when I saw her arrive, I was a bundle of nerves. She was very kind and friendly though! I told her I hadn't had the courage to write a letter to her yet and she was kind enough to take me outside where we could talk in private. When we got there, I took a deep breath and asked her if she had ever heard of any hobbit babies going missing about twenty eight years ago. She looked thoughtful and mentioned something about Stock. She said she would write some letters and ask around for me which I am indescribably grateful for. Perhaps there is still hope after all! Then we went back inside to the warmth and music. An odd looking hobbit then arrived. He had the strangest hat on. It covered his whole head and the lower part of his face. It wasn't until he took it off that I recognised him. It was Jiro. I don't know if he recognised me. It has been a very long time since we met. About the same time a couple of Shortfellow's arrived. They played us some interesting tunes at the end of the evening. I'm not sure everyone liked the music, but they were well executed. I had so much fun. Simbo asked me to dance three times! He taught me a new dance and one we danced Rua had taught me. I was very good at that one! I enjoyed myself so much that I had a little too much to drink. Simbo recited a poem about ale and I was so tipsy I actually inserted comments here and there! I hope he didn't mind too much. I think I may even have danced on a chair, but I can't quite remember. I don't remember what time I left or even how I got home. Zara you bad girl! Your loving Zara