Credit: Bruno via Unsplash
Fire in the sky, fire in the mountains grey with speckled trees; fire neared the field’s of grain. Dorothy squealed as they skipped closer to a gated city of emerald jewels and verdant brick. A knocker lay against the door and Dorothy jumped as the Tin-man lifted rapped on the gate three times.
“Who’s there?” A man dressed in armor in a kelly green helmet peeked through the door.
Dorothy approached. “Good afternoon. We’re here to see the magician — your magic man. The four of us have been travelling a far way and need help to end the fires caused by the wicked witches across the land’s of Oz.”
Chloe the lab pup lay against Dorothy, her head buried in the girl’s’s shoulder. Dorothy turned towards the guard. “Please sir let us in.” The Tin-man and Straw-man stood beside her in solidarity.
The Tin-man leaned against his ax. “We’d be grateful; we know we can aid everyone in ending the fires.” The Straw-man and Lion-man crossed their arms attempting to appear serious.
The guard lifted the visor on his helmet. “Well, we’ve had a lot of refugees with the fires. But, the magician has men out fighting the blaze and keeping it from consuming the city — razing the fields. Tell me more about why you seek our magic man?”
Dorothy stretched her arms and Chloe slid to the ground; she pointed to her ruby shoes. “Well you see, these are the first wicked witch’s shoes; my house fell on her. Both witches started the fires and I need these shoes off to go home.”
“We require the remaining witch’s broom to end the fires.” She spread her arm out towards her companions. “These are my friends, they need help too — a heart for the Tin-man, intelligence for the Straw-man, and courage for the Lion-man. Chloe, my dog and myself (Dottie), need to return to a place called Kansas.”
The guard (gatekeeper) twirled his bottle green beard. “I can let you in. There’s a long line-up to see the magician. A lot of people need his help; especially, with the fires destroying livelihoods and enslavement due to the witch’s. It’s not going to be easy to see the great magician, few do.”
Then, the gates opened with a boom. Dust rose and Dorothy and her friends entered. Chloe bounced around their knees and greeted the guards inside the city gate. As they meandered they were overwhelmed with the amount of people inside. Some wore all green, and some wore clothing in charred red or yellow, depending from where they originated.
The straw-man decided to halt for a rest. He leaned against a stone-wall, arms crossed and hand under his rosy cheek.”So, where to do we find this magician?”
“They’re posters along the city walls. A lady back there said to head to the centre of the the city, that we couldn’t miss the magician’s black building.” The Tin-man gazed around the bustling city’s where people of all kinds shopped and chatted. “Let’s keep going. Oil my joints first, would you, Dottie?”
Dorothy aided the Tin-man. She regarded Chloe as she plodded along, yawning in sleepiness. The journey was a lot for a puppy, even a growing Labrador. Her companions were sleepy too. “Perhaps we all need to find an inn first? Then, we can continue after food and rest.”
“Good idea, Dottie; my paws ache.” The lion-man yawned roar-like. “After, we can get courage and whatever else from the magic man.”
Hours later Dorothy skipped towards the city centre with her friends, noting the jewelled emerald stones in the city walls as sunlight bounced off them. Oz had a unique green-hued beauty and the people were kind and welcoming. The city’s ambience of ingenuity was diverse from the surrealism outside its walls.
She straightened her red bow, and patted chestnut curls half-dry from a recent bath. “Okay boys, let’s find us the great magician.”
They followed a path marked by many white and lime-green posters advertising the magician’s ‘awesome’ power. The posters led to a gleaming onyx building with open doors. The group joined a line to meet the mysterious magician.
“I hope he’s a good magician,”Dorothy mused. She bent to scratch Chloe’s ears.
“Oh he is, I’m certain.” The straw-man squeezed Dorothy’s hands. “They’re tales far and wide of his talent. He’s not evil; in fact, he’s infinitely good.”
“I hope so.” The Lion-man shook and quivered.
Noticing his constant fear, the Tin-man patted the lion’s back. “You don’t have to be anxious here, we’re safe now. The fire fighters keep the smoke away from the city, along with the magic fighters. You’ll get your courage soon.”
Still, the Lion-man shook and Dorothy tapped her chin in thought. “I think the Lion-man can’t help his anxiety or fear.” She turned towards him. “Am I right?” He nodded, head hidden in his neck.
Dorothy twisted to face her other friends. “Some people are afraid of the unknown, and even the everyday. I don’t think the Lion-man can stop his anxiety. I imagine having his home destroyed like the Tin-man hasn’t helped.”
The Tin-man nodded. “You’re right, for some creatures the loss of home, their livelihood, and especially, freedom causes trauma. I’ve met many people who’re anxious and sad, a permanent sickness they deal with on-top of everyday troubles and responsibilities.”
He patted the lion-man’s arm. “I’ll remember you need understanding and remind the Straw-man too. I’m a happy-go-lucky guy, but I can’t sympathize with others to well due to my lack of heart.”
The Straw-man patted the Lion-man too. Bits of straw stuck to his fur. “I can’t often think as others, but I’ll remember to reassure too.”
“I appreciate that.” The lion-bowed. His quivering ceased and he peered ahead of them.
The line inside the magician’s castle had lessened and they we’re almost at reception. “Look we’re next to be helped.” The Lion-man pointed ahead.
Dorothy smiled at her three friends and petted Chloe. She approached the receptionist feeling out of place in her dirty blue and white dress.
The receptionist wore a shiny emerald jumpsuit. She chewed a wad of gum and peered at Dorothy with bored moss eyes. “Names?”
“Dottie, Tin-man, Straw-man, and Lion-man.”
The receptionist tapped long nails against her lips. “Hmmm, it’s going to be awhile. I’d sit and get comfy if I were you.” The receptionist pointed to the start of another long line where people sat, stood, and chattered.
Chloe plodded in-front of Dorothy, hair on end. She growled in protection and the receptionist stepped back.
Dorothy marched forward. “Listen lady, we need to see the magic man as it’s imperative to ending the fires. We’re tasked with defeating the last wicked witch. The magician — whoever he is — needs our help to end the carnage. Not to mention, we’ve personal problem’s to be solved to aid everyone in Oz and beyond.”
The woman smirked. “As I said, take a seat over there where the new line starts.” The hard black floor waited for the four of companions and Chloe. Dorothy groaned inwardly, but noted the receptionist’s name tag.
“Wilma, we need to see the magician now.” She glared at the woman and pointed to her ruby shoes.
Wilma’s moss eyes widened. “Those were the first witches. Everyone knows those shoes. How’d you get them?”
“Gertrude the good fairy (witch) fastened them on my feet and they’re stuck. I need them unfastened. I also need to kill the remaining witch and retrieve her broom. Understand now ?”
Wilma pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head. She left her booth and her heels clicked against the floor. She disappeared behind a large silk-blue curtain and a door slammed.
Ten-minutes later she returned to reception nibbling het manicured nails and rubbing her arms. “This never happens, but you can follow me to meet the great magician. He never gives out-of-turn appointments, so I would make your point quick.”
Dorothy smiled at Wilma in thanks and turned to her companions. “Ready?” They followed the receptionist behind the silk curtain.
As they walked, Dorothy closed her eyes. “I wish this whole thing wasn’t so weird. I wish I was home. There’s so much way to go to get there.” She squeaked, she hadn’t met to say those words aloud (beneath her breath at most).
The Lion-man patted her head. “Soon Dottie, soon. We’ll fly away home on eagles wings soon.”
“You think?”
The lion patted her once more. “We’ll get through this. As you told me, we can’t help but be scared, but in the end we’ll conquer despite fear.
Dorothy grinned; they walked on following Wilma through a door and up an ominous staircase. Here goes nothing!
(Thanks to Frank L. Baum, The Wizard of Oz).
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