Merry looked around him and wondered when he had lost control. He was having breakfast with his grandchildren this morning--alone, since Éowyn was at a birth. This shouldn't be difficult, right?
The younger children were clapping with glee, watching Bori and Ari tease the old kitchen tomcat. They were holding pieces of bacon just out of the cat's reach and making him jump.
Willow was scolding them for it, in a voice that reminded Merry of Ivy. Her brothers were pointedly ignoring her.
Merry sighed. He could sympathize with Ivy and Pippin needing a week to themselves at Crickhollow.