Chapter 1

DOROTHY AND THE FARM

The farm life never was for Dorothy.

She always dreamt as a young girl that her Momma would come and get her and take her away from dreary prairies. In her dreams her mother was a glorious adventurer, planning expeditions through the Australian outback. She was sure that every morning Aunt Em would pack up her small bag and tell her that Momma would be there soon.

She was 18 now, and her Momma never did come. Aunt Em finally confessed that Momma died when Dorothy was 3. In some ways, she always knew.

Now that she was grown, she could set out on her own expedition, but she didn't know where to start. She never knew anything else, anything other than farming.

'Now that's not true…' She thought to herself. She sat on the front steps of the only home she'd ever known, with her packed bag. She quickly pushed the thought to the back of her mind. The thoughts of a man made only of straw, and a pair of sparkling ruby slippers.

She stood up purposefully and spun around, surveying her options. Either way, it would be a long walk to any destination.

"You're no stranger to that Dorothy." She thought again, of a road paved in yellow bricks.

She had put her strange journey away in her thoughts years ago, though it did poke through from time to time.

Once, while tending the chickens, she was absolutely positive that one introduced herself as Bellina. On another occasion while feeding the pigs, she was sure a large beetle bug was standing up straight and was squeaking on about 'Woggle's T.E' something or other. That same bug appeared in her bedroom upon her bookshelf, seemingly scanning her small novel collection.

She shook off all these things as pure tricks of the mind, old memories of a stranger time and place trying to seep through.

Finally after thinking all of this through, she simply chose a direction and started walking. As she slowly started her march the only thought on her mind was if there would be any adventure in her path.

-….-

After walking for a great long while, Dorothy had lost track of time, her legs became very sore. The wind was picking up and sending sand in her eyes from all around. She sat down for a moment to shield her eyes and began to try and rub the dust out of them. She opened her eyes after a moment and shut them again very fast.

Her eyes were deceiving her again, she was sure.

She opened her eyes once more, but slowly this time.

This was not the open prairie she had just sat down on. The floor was hard now. The path in front of her was paved in yellow brick, and there was grass on either side. There was no more dust trying to force its way into her eyes, and straight ahead she could see an archway made all of brilliant emeralds.

'Well, I guess I'm back!' She thought, standing up, and wishing she at least had Toto here with her to share her thoughts. She started a slow march towards the archway, wondering who she would encounter on this visit.

-….-

[Based off the 1939 movie, but inspired by the novels!]