Miss Gulch appeared by the drive on her bike.

"Afternoon, Mr. Gale," she said sternly to Uncle Henry who was whitewashing the fence.

"Howdy, Miss Gulch."

"Is your wife here? I wish to speak to both you and her right away about Dorothy."

"Dorothy? What has Dorothy done?"

"What has she done? I'm all but lame from the bite n my leg?"

"You mean she bit you?" said Uncle Henry.

"No," the woman said severely. "Her dog."

"Oh," said Uncle Henry. "She bit her dog eh?" he often liked to joke once in a while.

"No," said Miss Gulch crossly.

Uncle Henry called for Aunt Em and she came out.

"Yes Hen-Oh! Good afternoon, Miss Gulch. How me we help you?"

"You can help me by handing the kittle black dog over to me."

"You mean Toto?" asked Aunt Em.

"If that's the name of your niece's dog, yes."

Aunt Em called for Dorothy and she appeared with Toto in her arms and Gwen by her side.

"That's him!" she shouted, pointing at the dog.

"No, what seems to be the problem?" asked Aunt Em.

"That dog went to my garden his and this afternoon chasing my cat and then he bit me on the leg. This shall severe consequences."

"Now Miss Gulch," said Gwen in defense. "I'm pretty sure Toto just got worked up. Deep down he is a sweet little darling."

"That is the oldest excuse in the book, young lady," said Miss Gulch angrily. "Almost every day I hear excuses from people saying that their nasty little pets mean no harm, same said for that so-called sweet darling. That dog is a menace to the community. This is why I am here. I am taking him to the Sherriff to make sure he's destroyed."
Dorothy couldn't believe what she heard. Toto was only little. "Destroyed? Put Toto down? No! You can't! You mustn't! Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, you won't let her will you?"

"Of course we wont," said Uncle Henry. "Will we Em?"

At that moment, Hunk Zeke and Hickory entered.

"Hello, Darling," said Hunk to Miss Gulch. "Complaining about the dog being a menace to the community are we?"

Zeke cuffed him on the head.

"Be quiet, Hunk!" snapped Aunt Em.

"Hickory and me always keep telling you to think before you speak."

"Please Aunt Em," begged Dorothy who was trying to come up with a good excuse to spare her dog. "Toto didn't know he was being naughty; I should be punished. I let him go into her garden to chase her cat. You can send me to bed without dinner. Isn't that fair, Miss Gulch?"

Miss Gulch still had the look of merciless magistrate. "If you won't give me the dog, I will bring the damage suit to take away your farm. There's a law protecting folks against dogs that bite."

"How about if Dorothy bought him a lead?" suggested Aunt Em with a look of horror on her face after she heard. "That way he can't get into your garden anymore to chase your cat. You can hear how sorry the child is. After all, he is gentle, with gentle people that is."

Gwen snickered a little.

"That's the Sherriff's decision," said Miss Gulch. She went into her basket and brought out a small note. "Here's his order allowing me to take him, unless you want to go against the law and feed the chicken in prison."

Aunt Em took the note off her and she and Uncle Henry looked at it. They considered for a minute and Aunt Em turned to her niece with a look of guilt.

"I'm sorry child. We can't go against the law. You'll have to say goodbye to poor Toto."

"That's what I call common sense," said the horrid woman. She opened her basket. "I'm taking him in thisso he can't bite me again."

Dorothy loved Toto too much.

"No! I won't let you lay one hand on him! You go away or I'll bite you myself, you wicked old witch!"

"Dorothy! Said Aunt Em, surprised at her niece's courage to say such a thing.

"Oh, Aunt Em," sobbed Dorothy clutching Toto tight. "Please don't let her take Toto. Please don't let her. Hunk! Please! Stop her!

Hunk stepped forward. "Now see here Miss Gulch! Err… I forgot what I was going to say."

"You'd forget your own head if you could remove it like a scarecrow's head!" said Dorothy angrily. "Hickory! Please help me!"

Hickory slowly went up to Miss Gulch holding a pail of water. "Come now, Miss Gulch, can't you see how deeply you're upsetting the child? It almost breaks my own heart to see what you're doing."

"I have an order," she napped. Turning to Dorothy she shouted, "Let me have him!"

Dorothy was also angered by his failure. "Zeke! Don't let her take Toto!"

"I'll give you an order," he said to Miss Gulch. "See this?" he said raising his fist to her. But she threatened to slap him and he backed away.

"Put him in the basket, Henry," said Aunt Em sadly.

Uncle Henry guiltily took Toto off Dorothy and placed him in the basket.

"Give him back!" screamed Dorothy as she tried to lash out of Miss Gulch but the three farmhands stopped her.

Except for Gwen she shouted to everyone, "I hate you! I hate you all!" and she ran to he house crying with Gwen rushing after her.

"Almira Gulch!" snapped Aunt Em. "Just because you own half the county doesn't you mean you have the power to run the rest of us. For twenty-three years I've been dying to tell you what I've thought of you! And now…. well being a Christian woman I can't say it."

"Well I can," said Uncle Henry. "And if you don't wanna hear it, I would high recommend you get your carcass off my land."

"I do not take kindly to that kind of talk, Henry Gale," snarled Miss Gulch getting on her bike. "Just so you know, I got friends in high places."

"Then why don't you climb on your broomstick and go visit them."

And she cycled off.

Meanwhile, Dorothy sat in her room with pictures of Toto, his toys and his little kennel, crying with Gwen at her side. She didn't know what to ay to her heartbroken friend. Then she remembered about the twister. "I need to get home now. But you still have me as a friend. I'm always there for you, Dorothy. Bye."

And he left, not taking her eyes of her distraught friend.

"That wicked witch," sobbed Dorothy. "I hope Toto's found a way to escape."

Suddenly, she heard sweet barking and in jumped Toto from the window.

"Oh, Toto darling!" cried Dorothy joyfully. "You came back! You got away from her! Oh, I'm so glad, Toto. Wait. You here means, she will be back. We've got to leave. We've got to run away."

Dorothy founds some cookies, a bone for Toto, some dresses and packed some of Toto's toys, including a picture of Aunt Em and herself. It was her most favorite picture. She had it taken on her Aunt Em's Birthday last year. She didn't mean to say she hated her. She knew they had to obey Miss Gulch, but she was angry.