Dorothy's Mystical Adventures in Oz Part 19

"Ohhh... What kind of thoughts do they think after dark?"

"How about this for the last verse?" said the Scarecrow:

"If you think a thought that you do not like, the shape of that thought must be a horrible sight!

What kind of thoughts do you think to yourself?

What kind of thoughts will you think tonight?"

Everyone sang the last line really loud:

"What kind of thoughts will you think tooo-night?"

"Well, we certainly cheered ourselves up, said Dorothy.

Just then, they came upon a clearing. In the middle of the clearing was a large sign, and beyond the sign, huge iron gates loomed. They were set within a ma.s.sive stone wall. As they approached the sign, they could make out large gothic letters which read:

BEWARE ALL YE WHO ENTER THE LAND OF THOUGHTS

FOR EACH AND EVERY THOUGHT THOU THINKETH,

A THOUSAND LIKE SHALT DESCEND UPON THINE HEAD.

"Oh, my!" Dorothy said. "We'd better think the nicest thoughts we can think of."

As they approached the gate, the Lion began to chant:

"Better think nice -- sugar and spice."

The others quickly joined in:

"Better think nice -- sugar and spice."

Dorothy gingerly touched the big iron gate. It swung open easily. "Well, here we go," she said. The little group chanted faster and faster:

"Better think nice -- sugar and spice.

Better think nice -- sugar and spice."

They looked about them as they chanted. There were flowers and trees everywhere -- and, of all things, a yellow brick road. A sign said:

STAY ON THE PATH AND THINK OF GOLDEN YELLOW DAFFODILS.

"Well, that sounds like sage advice," said Dorothy as she walked towards the path. To the right of the path were little signs which said things like:

SHARING AND CARING ARE WAYS TO BE DARING

KINDNESS AND LOVE ARE THINGS FROM ABOVE

LOVE IS ETERNAL AND NEVER INFERNAL

On the left side of the path were negative signs which read such things as:

JOY AND COMPa.s.sION ARE OUT OF FASHION

TAKING AND HATING GET A HIGH RATING

Circling all around the negative signs on the left were ugly blobs of dirty reds and grays, and dull brownish greens flecked with scarlet.

Some of the blobs were dirty brownish yellow with streaks of orange and black. All of the blobs had hooks around them. Some of the larger blobs descended and sat on the edges of the boards. Dorothy could almost see eyes in them glaring at her hatefully. She turned her head quickly to the positive signs on her right. Beautiful little forms were dancing and twinkling around them. The forms were made up of the prettiest, most delicate colors. Dorothy could feel a tremendous radiation of love emanating from them.

"Keep your eyes on the right," she told everyone. "And keep your thoughts pure. I have a feeling that these ugly things are just waiting for us to think a bad thought so they can attack us."

Someone started to chant again: /"Better think nice /--/ sugar and spice.... Better think nice /--/ sugar and spice...."/

"I hope that awful witch doesn't come here," said Dorothy. "I just hate her."

The minute Dorothy had the hateful thought, hundreds of evil blobs flew at her screaming the most terrible piercing scream she had ever heard.

Their hooks extended out, trying to grab hold of her and attach themselves to her. Some hooked onto her sweater and to her hair. Dorothy squealed hysterically. Her arms were flying about, trying to get them off of her.

"Dorothy! Dorothy!" said the Tin Woodman. "Don't show fear." But it was too late. From the sky came hordes of grayish darts, like fragments from exploding rocks. Everyone raised their arms to try to shield themselves.

Following the darts came the dreaded cackles of the Wicked Witch on her broomstick. The sky was filled with her piercing screams of horrible laughter.

"Well, my pretty, what say you now, eh?" She screamed again as she flew about them. Large jagged crimson red spikes flew from her hands towards them, also ugly blobs of brownish gray with red spikes sticking out.

From her eyes shot slithering snake-like pointed shapes with colored stripes of dirty green and yellow and muddy orange. They writhed about, trying to stick their sharp points into Dorothy's feet.

"Quick now," said the Tin Woodman. "Close your eyes and think nice thoughts."

Dorothy closed her eyes and thought of Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, and Toto and the little one-room farmhouse. A great love arose from within her and poured out to them. The minute this happened, a beautiful white light appeared around the little group huddled together. All of the horrible blobs flew back to their signs, while the barbs that had come from the Wicked Witch turned around and sped like bullets back towards her. Now it was her turn to scream with fright. She motioned her legs as if she were riding a bicycle and pedaled as fast as she could to try to get away. But the blobs caught up with her, hooking onto her clothes.

One hooked her large nose. The snake-like shapes attached themselves to her behind with their pointed heads. She pedaled furiously off into the distance, grabbing at them, trying to pull them off. Everyone roared with laughter.

"Don't forget," the Lion said, when the laughter had subsided, "what that first sign said: /Think golden yellow daffodils/."

So they all closed their eyes and imagined that they were surrounded by golden yellow daffodils. When they opened their eyes again, they were amazed to see miles of golden daffodils all around them.

"I have a feeling we are out of Thoughtformland," said the Tin Woodman.

Everyone heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness," said Dorothy. "That was too much."

Chapter Seventeen:

Americanindianland

As they walked through the daffodils, everyone felt immensely cheerful.