Clever misdirection I agree :) I really thought that this person was Frodo, couse in many stories he is the one to be bullied enormously for he is different, and although I like it as it is usually, I can see the need to change the usual model of such story (from the childhood of hobbits). But I'm thinking now that in your story Frodo is not so well-behaved as usual he is portrayed, couse he just walked away to play with the same bullies who tormented his cousin! And I think this is clever idea - our fav hero not to be so kind and noble at the begining. He even shows Lotho too little attention, too little interest for his troubles - he could be more toughtfull and interested in the live of his cousin but he ist'n. Maybe it is so, couse he is the winner. He is used to that situation now - the real Fortune's child. Maybe it is so couse he is not knowing, not realising that he is not the only one who deserves something better. He is not bad child of course, he wants to include Lotho in his friends, he is only too entraped in his own good fortune and not see another's lonelines and misfortune. I very like how you portrayed the fact that young Frodo was seen as bold by other children just becouse he acted it. He was shy but he propably very much wanted to have some friends and so he acted for it. It was an act. I've translated this story to polish just while ago and posted on my page.
Hope you don't mind? :)

*sigh* I keep waffling back and forth; do I feel sorry for Lotho, or do I want to deck him a good one? I suppose in the end, one really has to feel sorry for him, for he is as he was made and bred, isn't he? Still , there is that voice within that says, 'You could have been more, if you would only put away the ugliness.'

I love Frodo here (I know, you're shocked), with his almost-clueless good will, his sincere wish to include Lotho and his inability to 'get' why Lotho refuses. In order to really understand Lotho, he'd have to be able to think like him, wouldn't he, and that would be as foriegn to Frodo as generosity to Lotho.

Wonderful job with this one, though it's no surprise, of course. (And see? I'm usually late but I do eventually get here! *grin*)

*sniff* I feel like a proud parent. Or maybe a proud aunt, since you did all the hard work raising this bunny. I love seeing the ideas we talked about coming to life -- Frodo NOT being a bully-magnet or shy scholar. THIS is the Frodo we can see saving the Shire. THIS is the Lotho we can see destroying it. I especially liked Frodo running off to play instead of doing his homework, Lotho smashing the duck eggs (br), the glimpse of Lotho's unhappy homelife, and Lotho's jealousy making him spurn his cousin's friendly advances and wallow in his self-hatred. Not to mention the clever misdirection at the very beginning of the story. (BTW, congrats on your MEFA wins for Terror of Buckland and All's Fair!)

That was intriguing. I like how you portrayed Frodo's character and Lotho's rejection of kindness and how you got into his head. Very nice!

What a great take on how the animosity developed between the two characters. I really enjoyed this one.

i LOVE IT!