ONE
Dorothy opened her eyes and saw a golden haze around her. She blinked and the golden haze focused into a wheat field. Where was she? How did she end up in such
a golden field? The last thing she remembered was that she was with her aunt and uncle in the grey world of Kansas.
She slowly got to a sitting position and looked around her some more. Above her was a brilliant blue sky with light fluffy clouds, around her, on the far sides of the
field, was a lush green forest.
She rubbed her head as she turned to look behind her. There she saw a little woman walking her way. She wore a light blue dress and had a kind face. Dorothy stood
to her feet and watched as the woman came up to her.
"Oh my goodness!" the woman was saying to herself. "What a fall that must have been! I'm surprised she even survived."
"Fall?" Dorothy asked. Her voice came out hoarse and cracked with surprised her and the old woman.
"Oh dear me!" the woman said. "Yes, you came falling out of the sky!"
"I did?" Dorothy asked rubbing the back of her head again.
"Yes, yes you did. Somehow you landed safe and sound in the middle of this field," the woman smiled.
"Oh," Dorothy rubbed her eyes as she tried to understand what the older woman was saying. Her mind felt so foggy and she couldn't remember how she ended up
here, or wherever she was. "If you wouldn't mind telling me, where am I?"
The old woman chuckled. "Where are you? What a silly question." When she realized that Dorothy was serious she quickly cleared her throat and replied, "Why, my
dear, you're in Oz."
"Oz..." Dorothy whispered.
A low growl came from next to her and a giant black dog leapt out in front of Dorothy, his hackles raised and teeth bared. The old woman jumped back surprised and
Dorothy instinctively grabbed the dog's blue color, holding him back.
"Toto, Heel!" Dorothy shouted.
The dog, who was about the size of a wolf, obeyed and sat next to her, wagging his tail.
"I'm sorry," Dorothy said.
The old woman brushed her apology away, "No, that's a good thing. You're dog protects you very well, you'll need a good guard dog here."
"Why's that?" Dorothy asked looking nervously around her.
"There are wicked witches about," she replied.
"Witches? Like flying on a broomstick witches," Dorothy asked.
The woman nodded, "Witches, wizards, wild animals, you name it."
"Oh, I don't like the sound of that," Dorothy placed a hand on her dog's head. "I don't suppose you know where Kansas would be would you?"
"Can Sauce? No, I don't know anything about Can Sauce," the woman shrugged.
"Not can sauce, Kansas."
"I don't know what a Kansas is either, dear," she replied with a shrug.
"Oh, well I need to get back home, Aunty Em and Uncle Henry will be worried," a sudden flash of her aunt and uncle in front of their old farm house appeared in
Dorothy's head and she frowned.
"Well, I'm sorry I can't help you find you aunt and uncle, but I think I know someone who could help you," the woman said, her blue eyes twinkling.
"Who?"
"The Wizard of Oz," she replied wiggling her fingers in the air mysteriously.
"The Wizard of Oz? But aren't wizards evil?" Dorothy asked.
"Not all wizards or witches are evil, my dear," the old woman winked. "The Wizard of Oz is a good man, a kind man. And I'm sure he'll help you find a way back to
you aunt, uncle, and can sass."
"Thank you, but how shall I find him?"
"Oh, that's easy, all you have to do is follow the old main road, called the yellow brick, all the way down to the Emerald City, and there you'll find Oz in the palace. Ol'
Yellow is just a few miles to the north," she pointed past Dorothy's shoulder.
"Thank you," Dorothy said and started to turn around when the woman grabbed her wrist.
"Now, wait just a moment, young one," she said. "The world out there is dangerous and you'll need something a little more than that dog of yours, no matter how big
he may be."
"What else can I do?" Dorothy asked
"Bend down," the old woman commanded.
Dorothy, puzzled, did as she was told and the old woman kissed her on the forehead.
"That kiss will protect you," the woman said, crossing her arms.
"Protect me? So... does that mean you're a witch too?" Dorothy asked.
"Indeed," the witch said. "My name is Gwendolyn the good."
"Gwendolyn?" Dorothy echoed.
"I have three other sisters, but only two of them are wicked, so watch out for them."
"Okay, I will thank you again," Dorothy said starting to head off toward the north.
"Watch out for yourself, Dorothy!" Gwendolyn shouted after her.
Dorothy gave a wave, called to Toto, who bounded after her, and started walking toward the wood in the north. She gave a slight pause before heading into the
woods and looked back to see Gwendolyn watching her with bright sparkling eyes.
An uneasy shiver ran up her spine as she realized she never told the witch her name. Maybe it was a witchy power of hers? She shrugged the feeling off and started
into the forest to find Oz.