Dorothy's Mystical Adventures in Oz

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  Chapter Two:

  Dorothy Reminisces on Oz

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  As Dorothy rested, she thought about Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, and howupset they were with her for daydreaming so much. But with the realityof her Oz adventures so fresh in her mind she could not help but dwellon them.

  A smile came over her face as she recalled the first time she met theScarecrow, and how surprised she was when he first spoke to her. When hesaid he did not have any brains she agreed to take him with her to theEmerald City to ask the Great Oz to give him some. Of course, as itturned out, the Scarecrow did have a brain after all. But, because hedid not believe that he did, the Great Oz had to go through the motionsof presenting him with one.

  Then there was the Tin Woodman: Dorothy and the Scarecrow were greatlysurprised when they first came across him in the forest. He was standingperfectly motionless with an uplifted ax in his hands. Apparently, he'dbeen caught in a rainstorm and had rusted solid. After Dorothy had foundan oil-can and oiled his joints, he was just fine. She recalled howanxious he was to accompany them when he found out their destination,for he insisted that he did not have a heart, and was certain that theGreat Oz could provide him with one.

  Just then, a slight breeze blew at the curtains, awakening the girl outof her dream-like state. She sat up and looked at Toto. He was stillsound asleep. She lay back again as her mind drifted back to when thebrave little dog tried to defend her and her friends from the CowardlyLion. It had scared them all half to death when they heard the terribleroar as the Lion bounded into the road in front of them. Of course, theydid not know he was cowardly at the time. That is, until Dorothy punchedhim in the nose for attacking her little dog. Then he cried like a baby.When he found out about their mission, he asked if he, too, couldaccompany them in the hopes that he would be able to obtain courage fromthe great magician. Needless to say, he was a welcome addition to thelittle group.

  The Lion actually proved himself to be quite brave during their journey;but like the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, he thought he needed themagical powers of Oz to give him what he felt he lacked.

  Reliving her recent adventures in Oz caused Dorothy to feel quiterestless. She missed her friends terribly.

  She got up again and walked over to the window. The room grew dark asrainclouds gathered. A summer thunderstorm seemed imminent. She closedthe window and shivered as she recalled the Wicked Witch of the West.She couldn't imagine her to be cowardly in the least. Perhaps peoplelike her were mean because no one loved them. If that were true, theirbitter attitude only made matters worse. Well, thank goodness the witchwas dead. It seemed wrong to wish someone dead, but the Land of Oz waswell rid of her for she had brought fear and misery to everyone who cameinto contact with her. The little Munchkins were no longer afraid nowthat she was gone, and could enjoy a peaceful life once more.

  "Even outside of Oz," thought Dorothy, "there are certain leaders whokeep their people in fear." She wondered how they had behaved when theywere children.

  She began to think of her friends again. She could not help but wonderhow they were and what they were doing right now.

  She thought of Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. How /could/ they disbelieve herstory? It made her sad to think that no one believed her. It couldn'thave all been a dream -- of that she was sure. Everything was so real andvivid in Oz. All the events that occurred there couldn't have been herimagination. Why, even the colors of the flowers were ten times moreintense than in Kansas. The flowers in her garden -- pretty as they were-- couldn't compare. They seemed faded in comparison. In fact, Kansasseemed faded in comparison.

  A strange thought suddenly occurred to her: What if Oz was the realworld, and Kansas but a shadowy dream world? Oz her real home and Kansasjust a place she was somehow visiting in her dreams...? No, thatcouldn't be. Aunt Em and Uncle Henry and the others were all a very realpart of her life. But then, the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and Lion were alla part of her life, too. And so were the Munchkins, the Good Witch ofthe North, and Glinda -- even the Wicked Witch of the West. They were allas real as anyone

  in Kansas.

  A feeling of utter confusion came over her. "Oh no, what if I can'tdistinguish between the real and the unreal?"