Thank You L. Frank Baum!

Oh, you wonderful Wizard Mr. Baum! Would you have known that you created stories that have lasted for more than one hundred years? As a child growing up, I did not know that there was a whole series of Oz books. This did not come to my attention until much later in life. My focus however, is on one of the books in the series, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Mr. Baum you took my hand at the age of nine and turned the page as we stepped inside. It began with a farm in Kansas you see, not that unusual to me. My grandmother Lola lived in Oklahoma. The setting was a familiar one, flat, plain and glamour free. There, I lived with Auntie Em ( my grandmother to me). Hunk, Hickory, and Zeke my favorite male heroes three. Zeke once saved me from a mean ole pig. He was as pale as a ghost after that gig. Down the lane there was Mrs. Gulch, a spiteful ole crone who was really too much! She wanted to take my little Toto, a sweet mite of a dog, and send him down river under a log. I stomped and I stormed when Gulch came to the house and told her firmly she was quite a big louse!

Little did I know that bad weather was a brewing. a tornado was looming. I tried to run to the cellar safe, but that was not meant to be my fate. Into the house I ran as it lifted up and over into a deep spin. I bumped my head and down on the bed you set me free on the adventure that was soon to be.

Over the rainbow Baum you carried me. The house landed atop the miserable mop of a wicked witch. We exited out as quiet as a mouse entering the land of the Munchkin family. We were met with joyous glee for the Munchkins were now free of one miserable identity. A figure appeared, Glinda the good witch and none other. She gave me a warning and told me to leave. The victim had a sister who was twice as mean. It was beautiful here, but I wanted to leave. I had to get back to family.

Out of the sky "Oh No!" she was here the victim's sister in black did appear.

"Who killed my sister ?" she did announce and "Who was recklessly driving that flying house?"

" I am sorry", said I. "Dorothy is my name and I usually don't fly."

"Well DOROTHY you watch out for me, for little pretty as you please, I don't take kindly to anyone killing my family."

I jumped in fright and saw there was a bright light. Baum your silver slippers were now on my feet changing to ruby ones in the nineteen thirties. My magical slippers I must not remove for to do so Glinda assured me would be doom. The Yellow Brick Road would be my guide. I must follow to the Emerald City where the wizard resides.

The Yellow Brick Road led me to friends. This odd trio of three, a scarecrow, tin man, and lion. There was of course me. Each of them felt a wreck. I warned my trek would lead them to danger up to their necks. The Witch of the West was sorely vexed. Brains, Heart and Courage were the wizards for giving. On with me, came my three, bravely except for lion who had to be quite encouraged on this pilgrimage.

We were doing well. The end was in sight. Then out of the blue Baum you created monkeys in flight. Off to the castle went Toto and I, the others left there surely to die. Locked in the castle the witch was a terror but in her eyes she had never been fairer. My trio of three did surely revive, onward they came so I might survive. Wits, Heart and Courage they did not know they had. Out of my prison, I surely was glad. Down the stairs, we thought we were free but alas the witch was upon us one, two, three. She lit her broom and threatened my friend but such a loss you can never mend. I grabbed the bucket and quick as a cat splashed her with water, gave her a bath. She melted there in front of our eyes lamenting the loss of her wickedness and sudden demise.

Now we were truly free and off to the Emerald City were we. Once there we learned a good lesson.

You can not get a gift you had already been given. The scarecrow had brains, the tin man had heart, the lion had courage and I could of gone home from the start.

Thank you, Mr. Baum, for the gift you have written, for witches and wizards and the good we've been given. I exit your story and take my leave, living on to tell others of Oz and its necessity.