Chapter 1

Market Day

*

It was a warm summer morning. Dorothy was sitting out on the front porch, gently rocking back and forth in Aunt Em's rocking chair. Toto, her little dog, lay sleepily at her feet. Aunt Em and Uncle Henry were hustling and bustling inside the house, getting ready to go to market. "Oh, Dorothy ..." called Aunt Em. No answer. "Dorothy, do you hear me?" Still no answer. Aunt Em marched out on the porch. Toto, sensing trouble, scampered off, while Dorothy -- hearing Aunt Em's heavy footsteps, turned to see what the commotion was. Needless to say, Aunt Em did not look too pleased. She stood in front of Dorothy with her hands firmly planted on her hips. "What is the matter with you, child? Didn't you hear me calling?"

"I'm sorry, Auntie Em."

"Were you sleeping?"

"Oh no, I wasn't asleep, Auntie. But ... well I was kind of thinking about things, and ... well ..."

Just then, Uncle Henry appeared. He was struggling with his collar.

"Would you help me with this, Em?" he asked.

"Just a minute, Henry," his wife answered.

She spoke sharply to the girl. "I'm afraid I don't understand you these days."

Dorothy looked up at her aunt with her big brown eyes. A hint of a tear appeared.

"I've tried to explain to you, Auntie."

Aunt Em just shook her head. "Now, I don't want to hear any more of your tall tales, Dorothy. Not right now."

"We're running late, Em," interrupted Uncle Henry.

"All right," answered his wife. She turned back her niece. "You'd better hurry and get yourself ready, young lady. We'll talk about this later."

Dorothy started to leave, then hesitated for a moment. "Auntie Em, could I stay home today?"

Aunt Em looked surprised, for Dorothy usually looked forward to market day.

"Are you feeling poorly?" she asked, putting her hand on the girl's forehead.

"I'm just a little tired," Dorothy replied weakly. "I don't think I'm quite up to walking around all day."

Aunt Em looked again at Uncle Henry who just shrugged his shoulders.

"Well ... all right," said Aunt Em. "But I want you to rest. Now, don't leave the house. We'll be home around eight, I expect."

After Dorothy went inside, Aunt Em began to help Uncle Henry with his collar. He could see by the expression on Aunt Em's face that she was very much concerned.

"Aw, don't worry, Em," he said. "The girl's been through quite an ordeal, with that twister an' all. She'll be fine bye an' bye. She just needs plenty of rest."

"But she looks so pale," replied Aunt Em. "And what about the strange stories?"

"You mean about Oz?" asked Uncle Henry.

"Yes, Oz." Aunt Em replied. "How did she ever think up such a name?"

"It does seem strange," agreed Uncle Henry.

"And what about all the funny characters she says live there?" continued Aunt Em. "A talking scarecrow and lion, and a tin woodman of all things -- not to mention a wicked witch! That must be where her mind is; it's certainly not here in Kansas."

"Now, Em," said Uncle Henry, "don't fret so. Dr. Gabriel told us not to worry, that she's temporarily confusing her dreams with reality -- something to do with that bump on the head, he said. She'll come out of it; she'll be her old self in no time -- you'll see."

Meanwhile, Dorothy decided she'd best do as her aunt had said, so she went into her room and lay down on the bed to rest. She was just drifting off when she heard the sound of horse hooves outside. She quickly got up and waved from her window as Aunt Em and Uncle Henry drove by in the wagon.

"Now don't wait up for us, Dorothy," called Aunt Em. "And be sure to get plenty of rest!"

"I will, Auntie," called Dorothy. "Have a good time!"

Just then, Toto jumped through the window into the girl's arms. She fussed over him as she carried him back to her bed. The little dog curled up at her feet and went to sleep.

*