*
Chapter 4:
The Pinheads
*
The following morning, bright and early, Dorothy and her friends startedout for the forest where the Cowardly Lion lived. The Lion had stayedthere to help all the animals who lived in the forest to fight a fiercemonster, and was now King of the Beasts.
"Perhaps we should order a Pinhead river and raft to take us as far asthe Dainty China Country," said the Scarecrow.
"But I can't swim," replied the Tin Woodman. "What if I fall overboard?"
"Oh, don't worry about that," said the Scarecrow. "Pinhead rivers areonly a couple of feet deep. The worst that can happen to you if you fallin the water is a rusty joint or two."
"Well, I'd better pack my oil-can then," replied the Tin Woodman seriously.
"The Pinheads," explained the Scarecrow, turning to Dorothy, "are almostan extinct breed. You'll find them very interesting. The few that areleft live in a small village nearby."
Dorothy looked completely perplexed. "But order a river? You mean youcan order a river on demand? Just like that?"
"Just wait and see," replied the Scarecrow, with a knowing grin.
As they approached the Pinheads' village, a few Pinhead children ran outto meet them. Dorothy could see why were called Pinheads. Their headsreally were the size of a pin, and when they spoke, their voices werehigh and squeaky.
"Have you come for R and R?" squeaked one of the Pinhead children.
"R and R?" questioned Dorothy, "You mean rest and recreation?"
With that all the pinhead children burst into a fit of high squeakylaughter.
"That's river and raft," explained the Scarecrow, trying to easeDorothy's obvious embarrassment. "The Pinheads make their living fromsupplying rivers and building rafts." Then, turning to the Pinheadchild, he asked, "How much will it cost?" Just then some adult Pinheadsapproached.
"That depends," said a Pinhead male who appeared to be their leader.
"Depends on what?" asked the Scarecrow.
"On whether or not you have a pin cushion," the leader replied. "If youdo, the R and R will be free."
"Well, I don't have one," said the Scarecrow.
"And neither do I," said the Tin Woodman.
"I have one!" exclaimed Dorothy, digging into her purse. "But what onearth do you want a pin cushion for?"
"Well, as you can see," replied the Pinhead," our feet are pointed; andsince we sleep standing up, pin cushions make wonderful beds. We justhold our feet tightly together and jump onto the pin cushion and sinkdown to our heads. It is so cozy and warm, you wouldn't believe it."
"I don't understand how that can be," said Dorothy. "I know you are notvery big, but this pin cushion seems far too small for you to stand on,let alone sink down to your head."
"Oh, that's not a problem for us," replied the Pinhead. "You see, wehave the ability to make little things big. How do you think we couldmake a big raft for you giants? We just make the raft out ofmatch-sticks and thread, and when it's enlarged it looks like it's madeout of big logs and rope."
"But how do you do that?" exclaimed the girl.
"Oh, that's easy," replied the Pinhead. "You see, after the object ismade, we look at it under our big magnifying glass. This magnifyingglass is no ordinary magnifying glass, but has the ability to magnifythings permanently. It was given to our ancestors by a male witch whohad no further use for it."
"Why don't you look at each other's heads with it?" asked the Scarecrowseriously. "Then you'd all have bigger heads."
"Oh, it won't work on living things," replied the Pinhead. "Besides, welike the way we look. How would it be if everyone in Oz looked the same?All skinny or all fat, all tall or all short, all white or all yellow,all blue or all green, all --"
"All right, all right! You've made your point," said the Scarecrow. "Mybrain is fairly new and it's just not used to thinking that much yet."
"I agree with you, Mr. Pinhead," said Dorothy. The world would be a verydull place if everyone looked the same. Imagine what it would be like ifeveryone looked exactly alike, thought exactly alike, and talked exactlyalike! There would be no point to existence."
"My sentiments entirely!" said the Pinhead.
"Getting back to the business at hand," said Dorothy. "I'm stillmystified as to how you create a river to order?"
"Well," answered the Pinhead. "It's quite simple, really. We have thishuge reservoir that was created by building a dam to capture the tearsof a giant that was a bit of a cry-baby, to say the least. The slightestlittle hurt would set him off on a crying spell. We turned his excessivecrying into a cottage industry by utilizing the stored up tears for ournew company, /Rivers on Demand, Inc.,/ and since the tears have magicalqualities we can direct the river to and fro', uphill or downhill,exactly as we wish to suit the customer's order. The river even knows toavoid dwelling places and other inhabited areas, and to returnimmediately to the reservoir when its passengers have disembarked."
"Remarkable!" replied Dorothy. "Just remarkable."
With that, they all went down to the newly created river to board theraft that had just been completed for them. After stepping aboard theybarely had time to wave goodbye to their new friends as the riverquickly whisked them on their way.