Bilbo was a regular hobbit. She was always on time, always well groomed, and she was never rued, or crass, or undignified. Bilbo was by all meanings and definitions normal. Bilbo was the granddaughter of the Thain, and although hobbits by a rule were never power hungry or greedy, they did enjoy standing. Standing, in Hobbiton society, was the most important thing to all upper-class hobbits. The second most important rule, was tradition. Respecting and following tradition were the markings of a respectable hobbit. Such an example of these traditions was the Calling Celebration.

Taking place during the 25th year of an adolescent hobbit (eight short years before adulthood), the young hobbit is required to declare their intentions for a trade and career, that will aid in the continued development of Hobbiton society. Originally, this practice was absolutely necessary for the continuation of the shire. After the great walk, when the hobbits of the shire had first settled in these lands, the Thain was worried that if the hobbits were allowed to pick what they wanted to do, nobody would do what must be done. The Thain made the decision to assign all the young, upcoming apprentices' to a trade. As the shire's technology and population increased and progressed, the need for the calling ceremony declined until it was only a tradition and a formality at best. A tradition, that allowed for an excuse to show off standing and class to the entirety of the shire. Naturally, the higher up on the social hierarchy you were, the sooner your party was expected to be. And during this season, Bilbo's party was expected to be the first and finest of the season.

April 17, 2914-The Third Age

"Do I actually have to wear this dress? I mean, look at the color, it's horrid." Bilbo rolled her eyes. Bilbo's mother stared at her exasperatedly over the seamstress stitching at the horrid clothes covering Bilbo's body. Although Belladonna Baggins didn't say a single word, Bilbo received her message loud and clear, Bilbo was not to say another word. "Fine." Bilbo grated out, and continued to look around the familiar tea room where the seamstress had set up her spools of multicolored thread and bits of cloth. The large window in the ceiling allowed the bright afternoon sun to stream beams of light into the well-lit, airy room. Painted in creams and yellow, with white cloth couches and arm chairs littering the sides of the room, the room was beautiful. Large enough to host a tea party of over 25 hobbits, the room was something to be admired and praised. As Bilbo looked around boredly, she wondered when she would be allowed to leave. She was quite done with people for the time being and could not take seeing one other party related persons. Today alone, she had seen the seamstress, the caterer, the music coordinator, the tent crew, and many others. Normally, the attention would please her, but today she couldn't shake the feeling that something absolutely horrid would be happening very soon.

Bella looked pointedly at Bilbo, noticing her wondering eyes and bored expression (a habit she long ago picked up, never let them see your true emotions, hobbits may never physically harm each other, but gossip could be lethal in its own way). Belladonna, with her sharp forest green eyes and tumbling blonde hair, who was still considered a divine beauty around the shire, took in her daughter's bored visage. "You know, when my party was being planned, you couldn't get me to stop talking about and planning each minute detail. I was thrilled to plan something as important as this, why I still think I have my planning book somewhere around the house if you want to look at it with me! It was said that my calling celebration was even grander then my wedding to your father. Maybe we could look through it together, it might give you some ideas!" Bella wore an overjoyed smile on her face, looking at her daughter in her calling celebration dress.

"No, I don't want to look at your book! It's probably outdated and wouldn't be much help anyway. Do you want me to be the laughing stock of the entire shire?" Bilbo harrumphed grumpily, before yelping as the seamstress poked her yet again with a deadly sharp needle.

Belladonna looked disappointed. "Yes, you're probably right. You shouldn't have to use your mother's calling celebration ideas. I apologize, please forget I said anything." Bilbo felt a small spark of remorse for her sharp words but brushed it off quickly. She looked away from her mother's disappointed features.

"Do you know when this dress will be done?" Bilbo complained, her feet hurt and she didn't want to stand here any longer, staring at boring walls, being poked and prodded by incompetent seamstress'.

Belladonna sighed, "Fine. Miss Greenfoot, would you care for some tea? It is about time for afternoon tea anyway."

The seamstress smiled brightly, happy for the break in the tense atmosphere that had erupted after Bilbo's comment and elated that she was being invited for tea at the Baggin's residents. Her friends were not going to believe this! "That would be lovely Mrs. Baggins! Let me help Bilbo out of this and give the poor dear a break." the seamstress stressed "poor dear" enough for it to be considered condescending. Bilbo glared at the incompetent seamstress once again.

"I am not hungry, I am going to take a walk outside. I won't be long." Bilbo spoke directly, looking at her mother.

"Yes, that's fine. Please be sade and don't stay put past dark please." her mother said attempting to get Bilbo out of her horrid green mop of a dress. Bilbo thanked her succinctly, and as soon as she was proper again, Bilbo was out the front door and down the front path. The door was still painted a beautiful maroon color that matched the flowers surrounding the smial that it had been in her childhood, and Bilbo desperately wished that something would change.