(A Boy named Button-Bright)
*June 15th, 1906*
A few minutes passed since Dorothy and Shaggy Man departed for Oz as The seventh road was good and curved this way and that—winding through green meadows and fields covered with daisies and buttercups and past groups of shady trees.
There were no houses of any sort to be seen, and for some distance, they met with no living creature at all.
"We're truly lost. I don't see any houses or people. This place is like the Deadly Desert" Dorothy spoke to herself while kicking a few rocks to the side while Shaggy Man nodded in agreement.
"Indeed but we must move on! If we find someone who has directions to Oz then surely we'll be saved" Shaggy Man responded while continuing to walk alongside Dorothy until they stumbled upon an interesting scene.
"A-boy? What in the world is he doing here all alone? He looks quite young.." Dorothy spoke out while observing the young boy sitting by the tree while Shaggy Man hunched over to gain a closer look.
"Well, I'll be! It seems we found someone who could have directions to Oz! Let's talk to him!" Shaggy Man responded while running over to the boy before tripping over and falling to the ground which was met with Dorothy running over to help him up.
"Slow down! We don't wanna scare him or anything. Let's approach him as slowly as possible" Dorothy advised Shaggy Man rather sternly as the pair began to walk over to where the boy was currently sitting.
The boy was sitting at a huge chestnut tree humming various tones to himself before this was interrupted by Dorothy, her dog Toto, and Shaggy Man approaching him which made him nervous.
"Excuse me, what's your name? You seem lost" Dorothy asked the boy curiously while having a smile on her face as she waited for a response.
"I'm Button-Bright" Button-Bright responded in a shy manner and this caught Dorothy off guard since she didn't expect such a name.
"Button-Bright? Perhaps that's a nickname? Either way, that's a nice name. I'm Dorothy Gale and it's nice to meet you" Dorothy responded with a smile while Button-Bright continued to look down.
"My Papa always said I was bright as a button so my mama started calling me Button-Bright. I don't remember my name so I don't know.." Button-Bright responded in a polite tone while Shaggy Man began to speak up.
"I see, now that's quite a name but we need your help, my lad! Do you have any directions to the Land of Oz? Any hint would be of great help" Shaggy Man asked the boy curiously in hopes of gaining an answer for him and Dorothy; however, Button-Bright shook his head in denial.
"Don't Know.." Button-Bright responded to Shaggy Man and this brought disappointment to his and Dorothy's faces.
"Oh, well, where are you from? Do you have any information on that" Dorothy spoke to Button-Bright with slight disappointment in her voice while the young boy began to speak once more.
"Don't Know" Button-Bright responded once more while this surprised Dorothy as her eyes widened.
"Really? What about the names of your mother and father? Do you happen to know that? The more information we get from you the better so please don't be shy" Dorothy spoke to Button-Bright yet again while sitting down next to him to give him a sense of comfort as she smiled.
"Don't Know.." Button-Bright responded with the same word yet again while Dorothy raised an eyebrow before speaking once more.
"I see, well, I guess you'll have to come with us. I know a good friend who may help you get back to your parents, okay? I know your parents are worried sick about you" Dorothy spoke to Button-Bright in response while getting up from the ground alongside the boy who also got up from the ground.
"Do you know your mama and papa.." Button-Bright politely asked Dorothy and the question caught Dorothy off guard as she turned around to face the boy.
"I don't know what happened to my mother and father but I'm being raised by my Uncle Henry and Aunt Em and they treat me quite wonderfully and I'll always be grateful for them for as long as I live" Dorothy responded while this made Button-Bright smile back as he began to speak.
"I'm glad…I would like to join you and your friend..if I must.." Button-Bright spoke to Dorothy politely while waiting for an answer as Dorothy began to speak back.
"Of course! If you also happen to remember anything about your past then feel free to tell us, okay? That's what we're here for but we should get going before it gets dark on us" Dorothy responded to the boy with a smile while beginning to walk toward the narrow path.
"She's right! We all have our reasons for going to Oz, my reason is to avoid Butterfield so you joining us would be splendid" Shaggy Man spoke to the boy while seeing him smile back.
"That would be..good.." Button-Bright responded in a shy manner as he began to walk with Dorothy, Toto, and Shaggy Man.
"I'm beginning to like this boy. He seems shy and quite sweet. I hope Ozma can bring him back home.." Dorothy thought to herself while continuing to walk alongside Shaggy Man and Button-Bright in hopes of reaching their destination.
The journey to Oz had resumed with Button-Bright joining the gang which led them to take the narrow path that led to who knows where.
"How old are you? You seem to be around my age." Dorothy asked Button-Bright while observing the boy while also continuing to walk the long and narrow path.
"Don't Know" Button-Bright responded with yet the same word which confused Dorothy as she had a look of surprise on her face.
"Really? If I had to guess then I would say you are around twelve to fourteen years old but I could be wrong" Dorothy spoke to Button-Bright once more while looking over to see Toto following Shaggy Man rather closely, followed by the dog sniffing his leg which made Dorothy smile.
"Toto sure seems to like him. He must be quite nice if Toto is willing to befriend him" Dorothy thought to herself with a smile while also feeling Button-Bright gently tugging her outfit which caught her attention as she looked at him.
"Do you have friends?" Button-Bright asked Dorothy curiously while waiting for an answer as Dorothy began to speak.
"I do. These people are very special to me. I was pretty lonely when I was a kid but that changed when I met my dear friends. Do you have any friends?" Dorothy responded with a warm smile on her face while also seeing Button-Bright smile.
"No, I don't have friends. only me.." Button-Bright responded while still smiling to himself.
"You don't? Well, I believe everyone deserves a friend. It's what makes us human. I can be your friend. if you want.." Dorothy spoke to Button-Bright while having the same smile on her face as this made the young boy have a look of surprise on his face.
"R-Really? You wanna be my friend?" Button-Bright responded in a rather surprised way as his face matched what he felt while Dorothy smiled even warmer.
"Of course. You seem nice and I wanna help you get back to your mother and father as well so consider this a token of my friendship" Dorothy spoke to Button-Bright once more as this made the young boy smile even more.
"T-Thank you, my friend.." Button-Bright responded once more. Dorothy and Button-Bright smiled at each other for a few seconds as this moment was interrupted by the sounds of Toto's barking which caused them to turn around to see Shaggy Man giving the dog an apple.
"Apples are a good source of energy! We've been walking for quite a while" Shaggy Man spoke out before taking a bite from the apple.
"Oh, Toto! You scared me for a second! I thought something was approaching us" Dorothy spoke out with a tone of relief while she and Button-Bright walked toward the pair.
"Say, do you want to go to Oz or a certain location in Oz? I would advise you to avoid that place if you happen to owe someone money" Shaggy Man asked Dorothy curiously before taking another bite from his apple while waiting for an answer.
"Well, the Emerald City which is located in the heart of Oz, and not just that, there are four countries within Oz. We have Gillikin Country, located in the North. Munchkin Country, located in the East. Quadling Country is located in the South. And finally, Winkie Country, located in the West '' Dorothy explained thoroughly while Shaggy Man stretched his head in confusion while Button-Bright seemed to be confused as well.
"That's Impossible! I thought Oz was a place but it sure seems like another country! We're in the heart of America! We'll never make it" Shaggy Man responded in a surprised voice while Dorothy began to speak once more.
"With Oz, anything is possible. It may be another world but it exists within our world and I've been there before '' Dorothy responded while Shaggy Man nodded in an understanding way but was rather still confused.
"I see, well, let's just hope we can make it to Oz '' Shaggy Man responded while getting back up from the floor before putting his finished apple back in his raggy clothes as he looked over at Button-Bright.
"Kid, do you have anything to drink? I must have dropped by orange juice when I was talking to Dorothy '' Shaggy Man asked Button-Bright with a rather parched voice while hoping for the answer to be yes.
"Don't Know" Button-Bright responded with the same words as before much to the dismay of Shaggy Man.
"You don't know? Well, no matter! It seems we have to tough it out until we reach another village or reach Oz but let's hit the road!" Shaggy Man responded in a rather confused tone before ending his statement with excitement as he, Dorothy, Toto, and Button-Bright resumed their walking.
"Dorothy seems nice.." Button-Bright thought to himself while letting out a smile as he continued walking with his new friends across the road filled with hopes of reaching the Land of Oz.
Unknown to our heroes, a young woman was watching them from afar.
"Oz? Maybe this place might just be the key to bringing me back to my father.." The woman spoke out before dancing her way out of view.
Who is this mysterious woman?..