CHAPTER FIVE:
THE BEST LAID PLANS
It should be understood that, although the creature was really littlemore than an unstable life-form produced by a one-of-a-kind series ofaccidents, she believed that she was indeed the Wicked Witch of theWest. And as long as she suffered under this delusion, she was dangerousto all of the Witch's enemies. Especially Dorothy, as her primary memorywas based upon the scene on the float, rather than any history before orafter the event depicted thereon. She was angry and afraid, these beingthe emotions that were depicted in the sculpture. And these emotions, aswe all know, can lead one to do things that are not particularlywholesome. Now, it was not too many seconds before the false Witchhopped onto her broomstick and zoomed away from the jeering crowd. Shewas a creature of resentment and hate, so she did not feel safe in thatenvironment. Instead, she determined to find a way to reach her goalselsewhere. Knowing about the castle where the real Witch had lived, shehid herself there to get her bearings. Because she was not really WitchAllidap, she did not know much magic. But, because of the magic in thecolored lights, she knew just enough to keep her from realizing thetruth about her identity. Her appearance was quite different from thatof the real Allidap. There was a reason for this, however. It seemsthat, at the very millisecond of her being brought to life, someone whobelieved in her had thought about her. And that someone had had adifferent impression of her. It was a silly impression created not somuch by the book as by a movie musical that was televised annually. Sothat was the way the thinker imagined her to look. Because of this, hehad projected his impression onto the false Witch. It also created anumber of Allidap's memories in the mind of the sugar-creature. And italso caused her to remember the thinker--a little boy named Graham. Hehad been thinking about the original book but visualized the Witch asshe had looked in the movie. And because he had an inordinate amount ofhomework to do, he was also feeling quite resentful. Little did he dreamthat this combination of negative emotions and vivid imagination wouldbring into manifestation a very unpleasant creature! One that no decentyoung person should ever have to encounter. But now Graham found himselfface to face with the Wicked Witch!
She was in his home, and she was hardly filled with joy. She dragged himto her castle and laughed at his utter helplessness. "You're just afraidof what I might do to you," she said. "Look at you. You're shaking inyour boots!"
"I am afraid, yes," said Graham. "Really afraid. But I don't thinkyou'll harm me after you hear what I have to say."
"Oh," replied the Witch. "Really? And what might that be?"
"Listen carefully," said Graham. "I know where there is a book of magicspells that can make mincemeat out of Dorothy and the Scarecrow andthose guys."
"You do?" the Witch said, skeptically. "And what is a book?"
"Why, it is a bunch of pieces of paper stuck together at one side andthat has words printed inside of it."
"Oh, yes," said the Witch. "I know what words are. I had some words ofwarning printed on some signposts to keep away strangers. And I oncewrote 'SURRENDER DOROTHY' in the sky. But my memory doesn't include abook. Where is it?"
"Only I can get it," said Graham, realizing that he now had a perfectway out of the dilemma. "It is back at my home in America." (He was surethat he could break away from her once he was back home.) But not to beoutsmarted, clutching the boy by the hand, the Witch immediately pulledhim back through the mirror without letting him free from her vise-likegrasp. "Where is this book?" she said angrily. Then, seeing Graham'smath book on the table, she felt a tinge of recognition. There had beensome of these on a table in her castle when she had demanded thatDorothy give her those magic shoes. So these were called books! "Is thisthe one?" she asked, picking up his math book with her free hand. "Whatare these words on it?"
"What's wrong?" asked Graham. "Can't you see? Don't your eyes work?"
"I do not know these words," said the Witch. "My memory has becomeclouded on some things. I know the words 'SURRENDER DOROTHY' and theones I had on my signposts, but these are unfamiliar. What do they say?"
"It says," Graham lied, "_The Best and Most Complete Book of WitchcraftEver Written_. It has every spell ever invented in it! Would you like tohave it? If you go away, I'll give it to you."
"I'll take it, but I'll need a reader to read it to me. That shall beyou, my little FOOL!" So saying, she took him back through the mirror,sealing off the opening behind them forever.