Fire and Tears
Before I met Dorothy,I thought fire was the only thing that could destroy me.
I heard her before I saw her, the small girl known to most as Dorothy. But I was fortunate to call her my friend. Not that I knew it then. I didn't have the intellect to contemplate such a notion.
So I merely listened curiously as she made her way along the yellow-brick road. Skipping and humming to herself,she came closer and closer to my field.
I did have the sense to know I as a lowly scarecrow had no reason to think the renowned newcomer would have any reason to talk to me. So I was surprised when she stopped at my fence.
Dorothy wasn't much to look at,just a small farm girl and an odd little animalshe called Toto. But she smiled at me,something most never did.
I suppose that's why I spoke to her.
She smiled at me, and in that moment,I felt like I might come to matter to someone.I might have a friend.
For a shining moment I felt like I was perfect just the way I pulled me down and took me with her. She even got me a brain.
And now she was leaving us. Leaving me.
I knew even when we met, I could never keep her. But now that I had my brain, I came to realize Id miss her something terrible.
There was a knock at my door.I opened it to find Dorothy crying. I pulled her in and hugged her tight.
Tears were a bit of a mystery to me,being of straw and rags. But I knew they meant Dorothy was sad. And it distressed me terribly to see my friend so very upset.
"The balloon is ready." She said quietly. "We leave tomorrow."
"So you'll be going home soon. That's what you want, isn't it?"
Dorothy shook her head. "I miss Auntie Em so very much. But if I go back to Kansas, I'll miss all my friends here. "
"We Will miss you too!" I hugged her close. "You're my first friend."
"I'll stay if you want" Dorothy whispered. "Just say it."
"You don't belong here,Dorothy. You said so yourself."
"Don't you want me to stay?" She asked tearfully.
"No." I lied. She would be happier this way. And I-I 'd get over my broken heart.
Eventually.
I used to think fire was all that could destroy me. But that was before i knew the power of one small girls tears.
She would leave me soon. And live happily ever after in her Kansas.
All that mattered was Dorothy's happiness.
Even if it meant my end.