Once upon a time...

...in rural Kansas lived a beautiful 20-year-old woman named Tara Rose. Tara lived a simple life, working on a farm with her parents and their three farmhands Hunk, Hickory, and Zeke, who'd worked on the farm since before Tara was even born. Tara always had her head up in the clouds and her nose buried in her favorite book The Wizard of Oz, which was given to her by her grandmother when she was eight. Tara was the most beautiful young woman in the village, but lots of people found Tara odd because she gets distracted easily and is never part of any crowd in the village. Even though everyone in the village found Tara strange but special, they called her the Belle of Kansas.

It was summertime in mid-June, and Tara had recently graduated from Kansas State University on a two-year scholarship. Tara was walking down a dusty road to her parents' farm, reading her book and humming to herself Somewhere Over the Rainbow. "A place over the rainbow," Tara told herself. "I wonder if there really is such a place." Tara was very thankful for her simple life, her parents, and her farm. But she grew bored of her life and wanted more than her provincial life. She wanted adventure, and if she ever had a wonderful adventure, then her life would stay full of adventure and will never be the same again.

Soon Tara reached her parents' farm. "Hi, Mom," she said. "Hi, Dad." "Hey, sweetie," Mrs. Rose said. "Hello, princess," Mr. Rose said. They were gathering up a lot of their chicks because their old incubator is going bad. "Still reading that book, Tara?" asked Zeke. "Yes, I am," Tara said, blushing. "Well, I'm not surprised," Hunk said. "You've been reading that there book for years, and you've never, ever wanted to put it down." "Well, there's nothing wrong with reading a book given to you as a child," Tara said. "I can't argue with that," Hunk said.

Tara went over to the pigsty, where Zeke was getting the pigs inside. Tara began precariously tightrope walking on the pigsty fence railing. "Hey, get in there before I make a dime bank outta ya!" Zeke warned the pigs. "Listen, kid," he said to Tara. "Ever since your grandmother gave you that book when you were eight, you could never get enough of it." "It's the one thing I have that makes me think of Grandma," Tara said. "Well, I can't blame you for that," Zeke said.

Before Tara knew it, she tripped on her own two feet. "Oh!" she cried as she fell into the pigsty. She started screaming with fear. "Oh! Zeke! Help!" she cried. Zeke jumped into the pigsty to Tara's rescue. "Hurry, Zeke! Get me outta here!" cried Tara. Zeke cradled Tara in his arms and safely carried her out of the pigsty. Hunk and Hickory quickly ran over to help. "Are you alright, Tara?" asked Hickory. "Yes, I'm alright," Tara said calmly. "Thanks, Zeke," she told Zeke.

Tara felt a rub on her back, and her parents were behind her, relieved that she was okay. "Thank you, Zeke," said Mrs. Rose. "We're much obliged," added Mr. Rose. Tara decided to stay away from the pigsty to stay out of trouble, and she started to feel insecure about herself.

"Mom? Dad? Do you think I'm odd?" Tara asked her parents. "What? Our little girl? Odd?" asked Mr. Rose. "Where would you get an idea like that?" "I don't know," Tara said. "I'm just not sure I fit in here. I always imagine things." Everyone found Tara very odd because she always had her head in the clouds. Even Tara herself thought she was odd. "Honey, we love you just the way you are," Mrs. Rose said. "If those villagers find you odd, it's their problem, not yours," Mr. Rose added. "Thanks," Tara said. She went off to explore her farm.

"You know, honey?" asked Mrs. Rose. "We're really lucky to have a sweet little girl like Tara." "Yes, we're very lucky, my dear," agreed Mr. Rose. "I don't see how we'd get along in a place like this without Tara." Mr. & Mrs. Rose knew very well that Tara had her head in the clouds and her nose buried in her book, but they love their daughter very much. God made her like that for a reason, and He had a reason to give Mr. & Mrs. Rose a beautiful daughter. In fact, they were very happy to have been blessed with a beautiful little girl like Tara, and they didn't know how they'd be good parents if God hadn't blessed them with her.

While Tara was exploring her farm, she started to think to herself. "Is there really such a place?" she asked herself. "There must be. It's not a place you can get to by a boat or a train. It's far, far away. Behind the moon. Beyond the rain." She began to sing to herself Somewhere Over the Rainbow from 1939's The Wizard of Oz.

Somewhere over the rainbow

Way up high

There's a land that I heard of

Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow

Skies are blue,

And the dreams that you dare to dream

Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me.

Where troubles melt like lemon drops away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow

Bluebirds fly.

Birds fly over the rainbow.

Why then oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why oh why can't I?

Mr. & Mrs. Rose enjoyed hearing their daughter sing the song so beautifully on the farm. Tara started to get a little bored, so she decided to go out and explore the prairies. "Mom, Dad, I'm gonna go exploring," she said. "Okay, honey," Mr. Rose said. Tara gathered her art supplies and headed for the hills.

Tara was up on a hill, drawing whatever she could see from up there. "Hello, Tara," said a kind man. It was the Roses' very good neighbor Mr. Hartman. "Hi, Mr. Hartman," Tara said. "What are you up to, sweetheart?" Mr. Hartman asked. "Just sketching the hills," Tara said. "I'm doing the exact same thing," Mr. Hartman said.

Tara and Mr. Hartman sketched whatever they could see on the hill. Tara colored her drawings sepia just like Kansas in The Wizard of Oz. "You sure like to color and paint in sepia, don't you?" Mr. Hartman asked. "I do," Tara said. "Uh-oh." "What's wrong?" Mr. Hartman asked. "I think we should go," Tara said nervously as she got up. "Look at the sky and the clouds." The sky was turning gray, and the clouds were turning black. There was a strong breeze. "Oh, it's starting to get windy," said Mr. Hartman. The wind started to grow stronger, and every Kansan knew very well what that meant—a tornado! "I'd better get home," Tara said, gathering her art supplies. She put her messenger bag over her shoulder and started to run home. "See you later, Mr. Hartman, and be careful!" she called to Mr. Hartman over her shoulder.

Mr. Hartman gathered his art supplies. "We'd better get undercover, Sylvester," he said to his horse. "There's a storm blowing up a whopper, to speak in the vernacular of the peasantry." As he and his horse headed home, he said, "Poor little Tara; I hope she gets home alright."

Before Tara was even close to her farm, the sky turned grayer, the clouds turned blacker, and the twister had formed. "Hunk, get the horses up!" Mr. Rose called through the wind. "Where's Hickory?" "It's a twister! It's a twister!" Zeke exclaimed.

Mrs. Rose grew concerned about Tara and hoped she could make it home in time. "Tara! Tara!" she called through the wind.

Tara was getting closer to the farm. She was very strong, but the wind was stronger and slowed her down.

"Come on! Everybody in the storm cellar!" shouted Mr. Rose. "Tara! Where are you, honey?" Mrs. Rose called through the wind.

Tara ran as fast as she could, but the wind was so strong that she couldn't make it in time to join her family. If Tara doesn't get home soon, she could really get in trouble.

"Honey, we need to go find Tara; she's out there in the storm!" Mrs. Rose cried. "I'm sorry, darling, but we can't look for her now," said Mr. Rose. "Get in the cellar." He and the farmhands got Mrs. Rose into the storm cellar and locked the doors. Now Mrs. Rose was very worried about her daughter. Tara was in big trouble now.

Tara kicked the front gate open as hard as she could and got into the house. She dropped her messenger bag and looked for her family. "Mom! Mom!" she cried. "Mom!" Tara assumed that her parents were out in the storm cellar, so she ran outside. The wind grew stronger, and the twister was getting closer.

Tara tried to open the cellar doors, but they were locked. No matter how hard she kicked the doors, nobody could hear. "Mom! Dad!" Tara cried. Poor Tara was entirely alone and unprotected from the powerful storm, so there was nothing left to do but take refuge in the house.

Tara ran straight to her bedroom for safety—but then she realized that her bedroom was a dangerous place to be in this weather because it had a window. Suddenly the strong wind blew the window open. The window pane came loose and hit Tara right on the back of her head. "Ouch!" she cried. Tara lay on her bed and passed out.

A few minutes later, Tara regained her consciousness and woke up. She looked out her window and saw that there were many objects flying around: the barn, the chicken incubator, etc. Tara had no idea what was going on. But when she looked out her window, she saw that the twister had picked up the farmhouse! "I must be up inside in the cyclone!" she exclaimed. She quickly jumped back on her bed. Before she knew it, the wind suddenly died away, and the farmhouse fell quickly. The farmhouse had quickly fallen to the ground. The landing was so rough that if Tara hadn't been on her bed, she could've been seriously hurt.

The wind wasn't blowing anymore, so Tara decided to go outside and see if her family was okay. But when she opened the door, everything was so different. The grass was brighter green, and there were so many little houses and pretty flowers. Then Tara realized that the twister had completely taken her out of Kansas.

"Oh, dear," Tara told herself. "I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore. I must be over the rainbow." Just then, there was a big pink bubble flying down toward Tara. Inside the bubble was a beautiful woman in a pink dress with a tiara and a wand. "Now I, I know I'm not in Kansas," Tara told herself.  The woman walked over. "Hello, dearest," she said. "Hello if you please," said Tara as she curtseyed. "Oh, you must be a good witch because you're so beautiful," the woman said.

"Oh, thank you," Tara said as she blushed. "You flatter me, but I'm not a witch at all. Are you a witch?" "Yes, I am, my dear," said the witch. "I'm Denise, the Good Witch of the North." "I'm Tara Rose, and I'm from Kansas," Tara said. "So what is this place?" "This is the Land of Oz," Denise said. "It has four witches, and you, my dear, have just killed the Wicked Witch of the East. There's your house, here you are, and that's all that's left of the Wicked Witch of the East."

Tara looked at her farmhouse and saw that there were two legs sticking out from underneath! "Oh, my goodness gracious me! What have I done?" she cried. "You have done a very good thing," Denise said. "The Munchkins are happy because you have freed them from the Wicked Witch of the East." "Oh, but if you please, what are Munchkins?" Tara asked. "They're little people who live in this land. It's Munchkin Land, and you are their national heroine, my dear," Denise said. "It's alright; you may all come out and thank her," she told the Munchkins, who were hiding from Tara.

As the Munchkins came out and walked over to greet their heroine, Denise began to sing to the Munchkins.

DENISE: Come out, come out wherever you are,

And meet the young lady who fell from a star.

She fell from the sky.

She fell very far.

And Kansas, she says, is the name of the star.

MUNCHKINS: Kansas, she says, is the name of the star.

DENISE: She brings you good news.

Oh, haven't you heard?

When she fell out of Kansas, a miracle occurred.

Tara really didn't think this was a miracle at all, so she began to sing along.

TARA: It really was no miracle.

What happened was just this.

The wind began to switch,

The house to pitch.

And suddenly, the hinges started to unhitch.

Just then, the Witch,

To satisfy an inch,

Went flying on her broomstick, thumbing for a hitch.

MUNCHKIN MAN: And oh, what happened then was rich!

MUNCHKINS: The house began to pitch.

The kitchen took a stitch.

It landed on the Wicked Witch

In the middle of a ditch,

Which was not a healthy situation for the Wicked Witch!

The Munchkins began to sing and dance around. Now Tara knew she did a good thing for the Munchkins, who were grateful for her heroic deed. Some horses pulled a carriage, and the Munchkins carefully helped Tara get in. "We thank you very sweetly for doing it so neatly," said one Munchkin boy. "You've killed her so completely that we thank you very sweetly," said another Munchkin boy as he put a bright pink rose in Tara's hair. "Now let the joyous news be spread that the Wicked Ol' Witch at last is dead!" Denise exclaimed.

The horses pulled the carriage, and there was a parade to honor Tara's good deed. Tara never saw herself as a heroine, and she was happy to have done a good thing. The coroner had thoroughly examined the Wicked Witch of the East, who was sincerely dead, and the coroner presented the Wicked Witch's death with a certificate of death. The Munchkins told their heroine that she'll be history, and they'll glorify her name in the Hall of Fame.

But the Munchkins' and their heroine's happiness wasn't going to last any longer. There was a cloud of red smoke, and the Munchkins ducked. Tara ran straight to Denise. There was a wicked witch. Tara was shocked but confused. Denise and the Munchkins said that she'd killed the Wicked Witch of the East. It doesn't make any sense. "I thought you said she was dead," Tara said nervously. "That was her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East," Denise explained. "This is the Wicked Witch of the West." That certainly explained why there was a Wicked Witch still alive.

The Wicked Witch of the West had seen what had happened to her sister and walked over to Tara. "Who killed my sister? Who killed the Witch of the East?" she asked angrily. "Was it you?" she asked Tara. "No, no, it was an accident," Tara said nervously. "I didn't mean to kill anybody." "Well, my little pretty, I can cause accidents too," said the Wicked Witch. "Aren't you forgetting the turquoise slippers?" Denise asked the Wicked Witch. "The slippers? Yes," the Wicked Witch said, remembering the turquoise slippers.

The Witch walked over to her deceased sister to retrieve the turquoise slippers. But the slippers disappeared. "They're gone!" the Witch exclaimed. "The turquoise slippers! What have you done with them? Give them back to me or I'll..." "It's too late," Denise said. "There they are, and there they'll stay," she added, pointing her wand to Tara's feet. Tara looked down, and there on her feet were the turquoise slippers! "Give me back my slippers," said the Witch. "Give them back to me. Give them back." Denise whispered to Tara, "Keep tight inside of them. Their magic must be very powerful, or she wouldn't want them so badly."

"You stay out of this, Denise, or I'll fix you as well!" the Witch warned Denise. "Oh, rubbish," Denise scoffed. "You have no power here. Now be gone before somebody drops a house on you too." "Very well. I'll bide my time," the Witch accepted her weakness. "And as for you, my fine lady, I'll get you, my pretty, and those turquoise slippers too," she warned Tara. The Wicked Witch cackled evilly and disappeared in flames and smoke.

"It's alright," said Denise. "You can get up. She's gone." The Munchkins got up. "I'm afraid you've become the biggest enemy of the Wicked Witch of the West," Denise told Tara. "The sooner you get out Oz, the safer you'll sleep, my dear." "I'd give anything to get out of Oz," Tara said, "but how do I get home to Kansas? I can't go the way I came." "That's true," Denise said. "The only person who might know would be the Great & Powerful Wizard of Oz himself."

"Wizard of Oz? Is he good or wicked?" Tara asked. "Very good but very mysterious," said Denise said. "He lives in the Amethyst City, and that's a long journey from here. The Munchkins will make sure you safely cross the border of Munchkin Land. And remember: never let the turquoise slippers for even a moment, or you'll be at the mercy of the Wicked Witch of the West." She leaned over and gave Tara a kiss on the cheek.

"But how do I get to Amethyst City?" Tara asked. "It's always best to start at the beginning," Denise said, "and all you do is follow the Yellow Brick Road." Tara walked over to the beginning of the Yellow Brick Road. "But what happens if I...?" Tara began to ask. "Just follow the Yellow Brick Road," Denise said. She got into her bubble and flew away much to Tara's surprise.

"My, people come and go so quickly here," Tara said. Then she started to follow the Yellow Brick Road. "Follow the Yellow Brick Road," she told herself. "Follow the Yellow Brick Road." Then the Munchkins told her to follow the Yellow Brick Road.

MUNCHKIN MAYOR: Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

CORONER: Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

MUNCHKIN GIRL: Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

MUNCHKIN BOY: Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

Then all the Munchkins sang to Tara to follow the Yellow Brick Road and that she was off to see the Wizard of Oz.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the Yellow Brick Road.

Follow the Yellow Brick, follow the Yellow Brick, follow the Yellow Brick Road.

You're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!

You'll find that he is a whiz of a whiz if ever a whiz there was.

If ever oh ever a whiz there was, the Wizard of Oz is one because, because, because, because, because, because, because of the wonderful things he does.

You're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!

The Munchkins waved goodbye to Tara, and she waved to them. Off she went to the Amethyst City to see the Wizard of Oz.

It was a very long walk, and Tara was still miles away from getting close to the Amethyst City. She stopped at a nearby farm and told herself, "I wonder how much longer to the Amethyst City." Very tired from her journey, she decided to stop for a short rest. Tara felt lucky; the turquoise slippers felt very comfortable and fit her feet very perfectly. It's a very long way from Munchkin Land to the Amethyst City, and Tara's old farm shoes would've worn out by now if she'd still worn them instead of the turquoise slippers.

Just then, Tara heard someone. "Good day, my lady." It was a scarecrow! "Was that you who spoke?" Tara asked. "It was," the scarecrow said. "You can call me 'Scarecrow.'" "I'm Tara Rose," Tara said. "How do you do?" "How do you do?" Scarecrow repeated to Tara. "Very well. Thank you," Tara said. "Oh, I'm not feeling at all well," Scarecrow said. "Being up here just isn't fun." "Maybe I can help," Tara said. She got up a bale of hay and untied the ropes that were tying up the Scarecrow. Tara managed to untie the ropes and get Scarecrow down.

"Thank you, Tara," said Scarecrow. "No problem," said Tara. "Oh, do you know if the Amethyst City is near or far from here?" "I'd like to tell you, but I don't have a brain," said Scarecrow. "Just straw in my head." Tara felt bad that the poor Scarecrow didn't have a brain of his own. "Well, what would you do with a brain if you had one?" she asked. "Do? Why, if I had a brain, I could...," Scarecrow began to tell her. Then he began to sing to Tara.

Scarecrow: I could while away the hours,

Conferring with the flowers,

Consulting with the rain.

And my head I'd be scratching

While my thoughts were busy hatching

If I only had a brain.

I'd unravel every riddle for any individ'le

In trouble or in pain.

Tara: With the thoughts you'd be thinkin',

You could be another Lincoln

If you only had a brain.

Scarecrow: Oh, I could tell you why the ocean's near the shore.

I could think the things I never thunk before.

And then I'd sit and think some more.

I would not be just a nothing,

My head all full of stuffing, my heart all full of pain.

I would dance and be merry.

Life would be a ding-a-derry

If I only had a brain.

"Wonderful!" Tara exclaimed. "Why, if our scarecrow on our farm could do that, the crows would be scared to pieces." "They would?" Scarecrow asked. Tara nodded, and then she had an idea. "Why don't you come with me to see the Wizard of Oz?" Tara asked. "He's going to send me home to Kansas. I'm sure he can help you get a brain." "I'd love that," Scarecrow said. "To the Amethyst City?" Tara asked. "To the Amethyst City," Scarecrow said.

Tara and Scarecrow skipped down the Yellow Brick Road arm in arm as they sang their travel song.

We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!

We hear that he is a whiz of a whiz if ever a whiz there was.

If ever oh ever a whiz there was, the Wizard of Oz is one because, because, because, because, because, because, because of the wonderful things he does.

We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!

After a very long walk, there was something shiny in the bushes. Out of the bushes came a tin woodsman. "Hello, there," said the Tin Man. "Hi there," said Tara. "I'm Tara Rose, and this is my friend the Scarecrow." "Nice to meet you," Tin Man said. "Is something wrong?" Tara asked. "I just don't have heart," Tin Man said. "No heart?" Tara and Scarecrow asked. "No heart. All hollow," said Tin Man sadly. Then he began to sing.

When a man's an empty kettle,

He should be on his mettle.

And yet I'm torn apart

Just because I'm presuming

That I could be kinda human

If I only had a heart.

I'd be tender, I'd be gentle and awful sentimental

Regarding love and art.

I'd be friends with the sparrows

And the boy who shoots the arrows

If I only had a heart.

Picture me a balcony.

Above, a voice sings low.

Wherefore art thou, Romeo?

I hear a beat.

How sweet!

Just to register emotion, jealousy, devotion,

And really feel the part,

I could stay young and chipper

And I'd lock it with a zipper

If I only had a heart.

"Why don't you come with us to see the Wizard of Oz?" Tara asked. "He's going to send me home to my parents and my farm in Kansas, and he's going to give the Scarecrow a brain. I'm sure he can give you a heart if you join us." "Oh, Tara, do you really think the Wizard can help me get a good heart with I went with you?" asked Tin Man. "Okay." "Let's go," said Tara.

Tara, Scarecrow, and Tin Man happily skipped down the Yellow Brick Road arm in arm while singing their travel song.

We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!

We hear that he is a whiz of a whiz if ever a whiz there was.

If ever oh ever a whiz there was, the Wizard of Oz is one because, because, because, because, because, because, because of the wonderful things he does.

We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!

Meanwhile, the Wicked Witch of the West was spying on Tara with her crystal ball. "So that cursed girl has new friends," the Wicked Witch said. "When I have her turquoise slippers, my power will be the greatest in all of Oz!"

It was another long walk when Tara, Scarecrow, and Tin Man walked through a very creepy forest. Tara felt a little scared. "I don't like this forest," she said. "It's dark and creepy." "It sure is," said Scarecrow. "Do you suppose we'll meet any wild animals?" asked Tara. "We might," said Tin Man, "but mostly lions and tigers and bears." "Lions and tigers and bears! Oh, my!" cried Tara. She continued to chant this phrase as she and her companions skipped down the Yellow Brick Road.

Just then, there was a crackle. Tara saw one of the bushes moving. "I think my redheaded appearance has become an enemy of this forest," she said nervously. "What's the matter, Tara?" Tin Man asked. "There's something in the bushes," Tara said. "Let me check this out," Tin Man said. He walked over and moved the bushes to the side.

Out jumped a ferocious lion. Tara screamed and jumped into Scarecrow's arms. "Oh, I'm sorry," said the Lion. "I didn't mean to scare you like that." "It's okay," Tara said as Scarecrow put her down. "I'm Tara Rose, and these are my friends Tin Man and Scarecrow." "Howdy," said Scarecrow. Lion felt very bad. "What's wrong?" Tara asked. "I feel terrible," said Lion. "Scaring an innocent little girl like that! I'm such a coward. I haven't any courage at all!"

Tara felt bad for the Lion. "Why don't you come with us to see the Wizard of Oz?" Tara asked. "He's going to send me home to my farm in Kansas, and he's going get Scarecrow a brain and Tin Man a heart. I'm sure he can get you some courage." "Okay," Lion said. "I'll come with you." As the quartet started to walk, Lion began to sing, and his new companions joined him.

Lion: Yeah, it's sad believe me, missy, when you're born to be a sissy

Without the vim and verve.

But I could show my prowess,

Be a lion, not a mouse

If I only had the nerve.

I'm afraid there's no denying

I'm just a dandy lion,

A fate I don't deserve.

I'd be brave as a blizzard...

Tin Man: I'd be gentle as a lizard...

Scarecrow: I'd be clever as a gizzard...

Tara: ...if the Wizard is a wizard who will serve.

Scarecrow: Then I'm sure to get a brain!

Tin Man: A heart!

Tara: A home!

Lion: The nerve!

Tara and her companions skipped down the Yellow Brick Road arm in arm, singing their travel song.

We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!

We hear that he is a whiz of a whiz if ever a whiz there was.

If ever oh ever a whiz there was, the Wizard of Oz is one because, because, because, because, because, because, because of the wonderful things he does.

We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!

After another long walk, Tara started to chat with her new friends. "Hanging out with you guys really reminds me of being at home in Kansas with my friends and my parents," Tara said happily. "Aw, that's so sweet," said Tin Man. "What's this place you call 'Kansas'?" asked Scarecrow.

"It's a state in the United States of America," Tara said. "I've been reading this book my grandmother gave me when I was eight. When she died when I was fifteen, I've been reading the book more often, and it's the only thing I have that makes me think of her along with this ruby necklace she gave me before she died." It had been five years since Tara's grandmother passed away, and she still missed her very much with all her heart. Losing her grandmother the harshest thing in the world.

Just then, Tara saw a pile of hay. "What is that?" asked Lion. "It's hay," Tara said. "We have this on our farm. It reminds me of my farm in Kansas." She lay back in the hay pile and looked up in the sky. "Tara, don't you think we should move along?" asked Tin Man. "We need to get to the Wizard." "Sorry," Tara said. "It just reminds me of home." Just then, Lion let out a ferocious roar. "Keep away from my precious little flower!" he growled angrily. It turned out that there were Winkie farmers trying to steal Tara's turquoise slippers.

Tara screamed and got up, and Scarecrow hugged her tightly. "You haven't seen the last of me!" the Wicked Witch said angrily. Then she disappeared. "That was a very close one," said Tin Man. "What a witch!" Scarecrow exclaimed. "These slippers must be very special," Tara said. "Let's get to the Wizard and fast!" The quartet took off to the Amethyst City. Tara had to be careful not to get distracted like that again.

After a long walk, the quartet saw a bright purple glow in the sky. From far away, they saw the Amethyst City! "Oh, look! There's Amethyst City!" Tara exclaimed. "We're almost there at last! It's so beautiful. He really must be a wonderful Wizard to live there." "We're almost there," said Tin Man. "And I'm closer to getting home to Kansas," said Tara. "Well, what are we waiting for?" asked Scarecrow. "Let's go!" The quartet happily skipped down the Yellow Brick Road all the way to the Amethyst City.

After a long walk, the quartet finally reached the gate to the City. "We're here!" exclaimed Tara. "We finally made it to the Amethyst City," said Tin Man. "I love you guys. Well, I will once I have a heart." "Next stop: the Wizard of Oz," said Lion. Tara knocked on the giant door, and out came the Guard to the Amethyst City. "Greetings," he said. "What should I ask of you?" "We've come to see the Wizard of Oz please," Tara said. "The Wizard?" asked the Guard. "I don't know. Nobody's seen the Great Wizard." "Oh, but we have to see the Wizard," Tara said. "It's really important. The Good Witch of the North sent me." "Can you prove it?" asked the Guard. "She's wearing the turquoise slippers," said Scarecrow.

The Guard looked down at Tara's feet, and he was surprised to see that she was wearing the turquoise slippers, which actually belonged to the Wicked Witch of the East. Hey knew very well that it was a sign that Tara had actually killed the Wicked Witch of the East. "Oh, so she is!" he exclaimed happily. "Well, bust my buttons! Why didn't she say that before? That's horse of a different color! Come on in!"

The Guard opened the gate. The Amethyst City was so beautiful, sparkly, and...purple, of course. A cabby with a horse-drawn carriage came long. "Just what you're looking for," he said. "I'll take you anywhere in the City." "Oh, could you please take us to see the Wizard?" Tara asked. "The Wizard?" asked the cabby. "Yes, of course. Oh, but you, my dear, are a mess. I must take you to a little place where you can get cleaned up." "Oh, thank you so much," Tara said as she and her friends climbed into the carriage. "We've been traveling a very long way, and we feel so..." Before she could finish her sentence, she saw that the white horse had completely turned purple before her very eyes. "What kind of horse is that?" she asked. "We don't have horses like that on my farm in Kansas."

"No, and you never will see a horse like this again, sweetie," said the cabby. "There's only one of him, and he's him. He's the horse of a different color!" Tara thought this was very funny. The cabby drove the quartet to the Amethyst City salon. Before they'd gotten further, Tara was surprised to see that the horse had turned red-orange. Just as the cabby dropped the quartet at the Amethyst City salon, the horse had turned yellow much to Tara's surprise. She felt like she could see her own farm horses back in Kansas changing colors like that. She knew that her parents could never believe this. She, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion got down and entered the Amethyst City salon.

Some men were stuffing Scarecrow will fresh straw. Tinsmiths were polishing Tin Man. Some fine young ladies were clipping Lion's fur and roughening his claws. Some hairstylists were brushing the hay off Tara's body and out of her hair. The brushes tickled so much that Tara almost couldn't sit still. "That tickles," giggled Tara. The stylists laughed at how ticklish Tara was. When Tara was clean, she and her companions were all ready to go and ask the Great & Powerful Wizard of Oz to grant their wishes.

Some Amethyst City residents escorted the quartet to where the Wizard was. The Wizard was on a big flat screen TV. "I am the Great & Powerful Wizard of Oz," he said. "Who may I ask are you?" Tara stepped forward, curtseyed, and said, "Good morrow. I am Tara Rose, and..." "And you, my dear, wish to go back to your farm in Kansas," the Wizard said.

"Wow, how do you know that?" asked Tara. "The Wizard knows all," the Wizard said. "Scarecrow wishes to have a brain, Tin Man a heart, and Lion courage." "Yes, can you help us?" asked Tara. "I'm more than happy to help you," said the Wizard. "But you must do something for me in return. Please bring me the broomstick of the Witch of the West." Tara's mouth dropped open in shock and fear. Then she and her companions took off to the gate.

 "We have to bring back the Wicked Witch's broomstick?" Tara asked. "But she could really try to steal my turquoise slippers again." "We have no choice, Tara," said Tin Man. "Let's go and get the broomstick." Tara really didn't want to do this, but she wanted to go home very badly.

The quartet went to the west of the Land of Oz. There was a haunted forest. Before the group knew it, they saw the Wicked Witch's haunted farm with Winkie farmers. Tara didn't like the sight of this at all. "I'm really not sure how to get those slippers," the Wicked Witch told herself. "Someone always helps that girl, but I'm still great enough to conquer her."

Tara, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion hid on the side of the barn. Then Tara turned and saw a bouquet of orchids, and she found this to be a problem. She felt a sneeze attack coming until Scarecrow held her nose and asked, "What's wrong?" "I'm allergic to orchids," Tara murmured. "We need to find a better place to hide," Tin Man said. But before they knew it, Tara sneezed very loudly. The Wicked Witch and the Winkies hear her. "Seize them!" the Wicked Witch shouted.

Tara, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion ran all around. The Witch chased after Tara, but Tara was too quick and athletic for the Witch to catch her. Tin Man ran over, stood in front of Tara, and shouted, "I'll protect you, Tara!" Scarecrow and Lion threw corn kernels at the Witch.

But the Witch saw a candle and held her broom over it. "How about a little fire, Scarecrow?" she asked. Tara was so scared that she quickly picked up a nearby bucket of water. "No, don't throw that water!" the Witch shouted. Tara threw the water and doused the broomstick, but the water had touched the Wicked Witch too.

"You cursed brat! Look what you've done!" the Witch shouted. "I'm melting!" she added as she started melting. "Oh, what a world! Who'd have thought a good little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness?" Before anyone ever knew it, the Wicked Witch had completely melted before their eyes. "She's dead," the Head Winkie told Tara. "You killed her." "I didn't mean to kill her," Tara said nervously. "Really, I didn't. It's just that she was going to set him on fire."

"Hail to Tara! The Wicked Witch is dead!" the Head Winkie exclaimed happily, and he took Tara's hand. The Winkies knelt before Tara and exclaimed, "Hail, hail to Tara! The Wicked Witch is dead!" Then Tara remembered something very important. "The broom! May we have it please?" she asked.

"Please, and take it with you," the Head Winkie said, handing her the broomstick. "Oh, thank you very much," Tara said happily. "Oh, now we can go back to the Wizard and tell him the Wicked Witch is dead!" "Hail to Tara! The Wicked Witch is dead!" the Winkies exclaimed one time more.

Tara, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion went back to the Amethyst City to see the Wizard. "Why have you returned so soon?" the Wizard asked. "Please, sir," Tara said, curtseying. "We've done what you told us. We brought you the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West. We melted her." "Ah, you liquidated her, eh?" the Wizard asked. "Yes, we did," Tara said. "So now we've done our task, we..." Before the quartet knew it, the flat screen started to break up. "Wizard, are you okay?" asked Tara. Suddenly the flat screen went blank. "What happened?" Scarecrow asked.

Just then, a man came out from behind a curtain, and he looked like the Wizard. "Who are you?" Tara asked. "Me? I am the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz," the Wizard said. "You are?" Tara asked. "I know," the Wizard said. "I am a humbug." "What are we going to do?" Tin Man asked. The Wizard had an idea. A magical amethyst purple guitar appeared in his arms much to the quartet's surprise. Then the Wizard began to sing.

Well, open up your mind and see like me.

Open up your plans, and dream you're free.

Look into your heart, and you'll find love, love, love, love.

Listen to the music of the moment people dance and sing.

We're just one big family.

It's our unforesaken right to be loved, loved, loved, loved.

So I won't hesitate no more, no more.

It cannot wait.

I'm sure

There's no need to complicate.

Our time is short.

This is our fate.

I'm yours.

Tara, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion were fascinated, and they began to sing along.

TIN MAN: So I guess what you've been saying is there ain't no better reason...

LION: ...to rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons.

TARA: It's what we aim to do.

ALL: Our friends are our virtue.

So I won't hesitate no more, no more.

It cannot wait.

I'm yours.

SCARECROW: So all we're saying is just kick the vanity.

Life is made for loving with your friends and you family.

ALL: So I won't hesitate no more, no more.

It cannot wait.

I'm sure

There's no need to complicate.

Our time is short.

This is our fate.

I'm yours.

WIZARD: Open up your mind and see like me.

Open up your plans, and dream you're free.

Look into your heart and you'll find that the sky is yours.

Tara, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion were impressed by the Wizard's musical talent. "He is the Wizard of Oz!" Tara exclaimed. "You are the Wizard of Oz!" she exclaimed to the Wizard. "No, I'm just a man," the Wizard said. "But I can help you and your friends. Scarecrow wishes for a brain just like the one he had when he was helping to save Tara from the Wicked Witch." "I guess I had smarts all along," said Scarecrow. "You know it," said the Wizard. "And you think you don't have a heart," he told Tin Man. "Then how do you care for Tara enough to protect her from the Wicked Witch?"

"I guess I do have a heart," Tin Man said, realizing how much he cared for Tara. "And you think you're a fraidy cat," said the Wizard to the Lion. "But if you didn't have any courage, you wouldn't have threatened to hurt the Wicked Witch just to keep Tara safe." "Well, so much for that shy guy, I'm all about courage now," said the Lion happily. Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion each now have what they had truly desired, but the Wizard still had to fulfill his most important promise.

"But what about Tara?" asked Scarecrow. "You leave me to a cataclysmic decision," the Wizard said. "The only way to get Tara back home to Kansas is for me to take her there myself." "Oh, will you? Could you?" Tara asked. "Oh, but are you a Wizard clever enough to do this?"

"Child, you cut me to the quick! I'm an old Kansas man myself, born and bred into the western wilderness, premier balloonist," the Wizard said. "A long time ago, I was in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for a hot-air balloon festival. I was up in a hot-air balloon when it got separated from the others and floated away. The balloon failed to return to the festival, and I floated up in the clouds."

"Really? Weren't you scared?" Tara asked. "Child, you are talking to a man who has laughed at the face of death, sneered at doom and chuckled at catastrophe," the Wizard said. "I was petrified. Then the hot-air balloon came floating down to Amethyst City. The residents found me and crowned me the very first Wizard of Oz." "How marvelous," said Tara. "Yes, we'll find that balloon, and you, my dear Tara, and I will get back to Kansas," said the Wizard. Tara was so greatly grateful to the Wizard, and she was looking forward to getting home to her family.

Tara and the Wizard looked for the hot-air balloon and set it up for their hazardous journey home. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am about to embark on a hazardous journey back to Kansas with this fine young lady," the Wizard announced. "And in my absence, the Amethyst City will be run by the Scarecrow by virtue of his highly superior brain, assisted by the Tin Man by virtue of his caring heart and the Lion by virtue of his outstanding courage. Obey them as you would me."

But then a resident raised her hand and waved a shoe, which looked like one of Tara's slippers. Tara looked down at her feet, and she saw that her left slipper had fallen off. "I'm coming," she said, emerging out of the balloon basket. "Please don't go. I'll be right back." Tara ran off to get her slipper as fast as she could. "Thank you," Tara said. But as she put her slipper on, she could see that the balloon was taking off without her. "Wait! Please don't go!" Tara cried. "Come back! Come back!" "I'm afraid I can't, honey," the Wizard called. "I don't know how it works. Good-bye, Amethyst City." Tara sadly watched as the hot-air balloon took off to the sky.

As the Wizard flew away, Tara started to cry. "Now I'll never get home to Kansas," she sobbed. "Stay with us, Tara," Tin Man said. "We don't want you to go." "Oh, I'd really love to stay," Tara said. "But this could never be like Kansas, and my parents don't even know I'm here." "That's not good," Lion said. "Mom and Dad must think something terribly dreadful has happened to me in that tornado," Tara sobbed sadly. "Oh, what am I going to do?" There was no way she could get home—or was there?

Just then, Scarecrow looked up and said, "Look! Here's someone who can help you." Everyone looked up and saw a big pink bubble coming down. Tara knew what that meant: Denise the Good Witch of the North. Maybe Denise can help Tara get home to Kansas. Denise came up to Tara, who asked sadly, "Will you send me home? Can you send me home?" "You don't need to be helped any longer," Denise said, drying Tara's tears. "You've always had the power to go back to Kansas, and it's in your slippers."

Tara was surprised to know that she had the power to get home the whole time. "If I had known that before, then I would've gotten home the minute I put these on," Tara said. "But then you wouldn't ever have met us, and I wouldn't have gotten my brain," Scarecrow said. "And I wouldn't have gotten my heart," Tin Man said. "And I would've stayed a coward forever," said Lion.

"And I think that it wasn't enough just to see Mom and Dad," Tara then realized. "If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own farm because if it isn't there, I never would've lost it to begin with. Is that right?" "That's all you really needed to know, honey," Denise said. "But that's so easy. I should've thought of it for you," Scarecrow said to Tara. "I should've found it in my heart," added Tin Man.

"No, she had to figure it out for herself," Denise said. "Are you ready to go, honey?" "Almost," Tara said. "I'm really going to miss you, guys," she told her friends. "We're really going to miss you too," Tin Man said. "Maybe we'll see you along down the road," Scarecrow said. "You'll never know." "I hope so," Tara said. "We love you, Tara," Lion said. The quartet got into a tight group hug. "I love you too," Tara said. "I'm ready now," she said to Denise.

"Close your eyes," Denise said. Tara closed her eyes. "Tap your heels together three times, and think to yourself that there's no place like home," Denise said. Tara tapped her heels three times and chanted to herself, "There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home." Tara tapped her heels three times more and continued to chant this phrase. But she was in for a very big surprise.

The entire adventure was only a dream. Tara was snuggled up in bed, still chanting "There's no place like home" in her sleep. "Wake up, honey," Mrs. Rose said. Tara was sleeping and chanting. "Come on, Tara," said Mr. Rose. "Open your eyes." Tara opened her eyes to find herself back in her bedroom with her parents—and paramedics surrounding her. "Hey, sweetie, how do you feel?" asked Mr. Rose. "I'm feeling fine, Dad," Tara said. "Well, Mrs. Rose, Tara is perfectly fine," said one paramedic. "Thank you, sir," Mrs. Rose said. "No thanks necessary; it's our job," another paramedic said. Tara happily waved to the paramedics and was confused.

"Remember me? Your old pal Hunk?" asked Hunk. "And Hickory?" asked Hickory. "And you couldn't forget my face, could you?" asked Zeke. Tara was surprised; the farmhands looked just like her companions in Oz! Hunk looked like Scarecrow, Hickory looked like Tin Man, and Zeke looked like Lion. Mr. Rose came back in with Mr. Hartman by his side. "Hello, Mrs. Rose," Mr. Hartman said. "I thought I'd drop in because I heard the girl got caught in the..." He stopped himself when he saw Tara in bed, looking perfectly fine.

"Well, she looks perfectly fine now," Mr. Hartman said. "Yes, she got quite a bump on the head from the window pane, but she's tougher than she looks," Mr. Rose said. "Huh?" Tara asked. "We found you lying in bed unconscious, so we called 911," Mrs. Rose explained. "Oh, so it was all just a dream," Tara said. "What was all just a dream, my dear?" asked Mr. Hartman. Tara explained what had happened to her after getting hit in the head with the window pane during the tornado.

"It was the adventure of a lifetime," Tara said. "Oh, Tara Marie Rose, that's what we love about you," Mr. Rose said. "You're always imagining so much fantasy especially in The Wizard of Oz form." Tara climbed out of bed, and Mrs. Rose looked down at Tara's feet and said, "Oh, what beautiful slippers." Tara looked down and saw that she was actually wearing the turquoise slippers from her wonderful adventure! "Oh, Mom, Dad, there's no place like home!" Tara exclaimed, happily hugging her parents. She could never be any happier than she is now.

Tara Rose learned an important lesson from that wonderfully outstanding adventure. It wasn't the destination but the journey that matters the most, and she had gotten what she truly wanted: adventure. Now she won't ever be the same again.

So much had been happening for a whole month since Tara Rose's marvelous adventure to the Land of Oz. She never wanted to be taken out of Kansas like that especially behind her parents' backs, but she also never wanted to lose this feeling that each day is special and that she was blessed with adventure, two wonderful parents, and wonderful friends in Kansas and in Oz. She knew that if she stuck with her family and friends, she could make it home with just about anything.

The End