Friday, November 03, 2000
Fan Watch: A Sad Halfling Story - Calisuri @ 12:58 PST
Ringer Fan J.S. sent us this story a while ago. Be prepared to smile and maybe even cry a little:

A few years ago my mother was given a tabby kitten, which after much wrangling was named Bilbo (the family are all Tolkien fans). Poor little Bilbo promptly had an unfortunate accident, wherein his tiny cranium was squished beneath a recliner. Incredibly the kitten survived this ordeal, though the vet assured us he was brain-damaged, would require medication, and would not live long. Undaunted, we nursed him back to health, assisted by his stubborn and ornery nature.  Here comes the strange part: Due to his brain damage, Bilbo never grew beyond the size of a three month old kitten. He was literally half the height and half the length of a normal sized cat; in short, a halfling. Most cats like to curl in one's lap; this one was happiest perched on one's knee, where he fitted quite nicely. We wonder what would have happened if we'd named him something like Goliath instead... Anyway, hope that made you smile, and keep up the good work!

Cheers

J.S.
Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia

ps. The grouchy little cuss lived fully twelve months longer than the vet predicted, but alas is no longer with us. Still, we will never forget him- he was a genuine character, though rather more irascible than his namesake.