Dorothy's Mystical Adventures in OzEvans, Robert J.
Science
Dorothy's Mystical Adventures in Oz
Evans, Robert J.
Fantasy literature; Oz (Imaginary place) -- Juvenile fiction
"Therapy?" said Dorothy, looking perplexed. "Yes," said the Tin Woodman.
"For example, if you're feeling sad, you spend a half-hour in the Yellow
Belt."
"Yellow Belt?" Dorothy said, looking puzzled again.
"Yes. You see," said the Lion, "Colorland is divided into seven Color
Belts; each is a half mile wide. There's the Red Belt, the Orange Belt,
the Yellow Belt, the Green Belt, the Blue Belt, the Indigo Belt, and the
Purple Belt."
The Lion could see that Dorothy was still very puzzled. "Let me
explain," he said. "You see, each of the seven colors affects you in a
different way. For example, the first color we will pass through will be
the Red Belt. Now you should never go into the Red Belt feeling angry."
"Why not?" asked Dorothy.
"Well," said the Lion, "you've heard the expression 'so and so makes me
see red'?"
Dorothy nodded. "Well, red is associated with anger," said the Lion. "So
if you walk through the Red Belt feeling angry or resentful, it will
just make you more angry or resentful."
"How does it make you feel if you're not angry or resentful?" said Dorothy.
"Then it will have a positive effect on you," said the Lion. "It will
give you lots of energy, and if you're cold, it will make you feel nice
and warm."
"How strange," said Dorothy. "It will certainly be very interesting.
We'd better look at the map again to see what comes after Colorland."
As Dorothy studied the map, the Scarecrow started to get the giggles.
"Oh dear!" he said, giggling uncontrollably. "Not again!"
"My goodness," said Dorothy. "What's going on?"
"Don't you see the name of the land next to Colorland?" said the
Scarecrow. Dorothy peered at the map.
"Tickleland?" she said as she started to laugh. "I can't wait for you to
explain this one."
"Let me explain," said the Tin Woodman. "The Scarecrow and myself are
probably the only ones here who are not ticklish, so we're not concerned
about traveling through Tickleland. But for you it will be an ordeal,
believe me."
"An ordeal?" said Dorothy.
"I'm afraid so," replied the Tin Woodman. "You see, Tickleland is filled
with Ticklemonsters. They are cousins of the Octapong; and whereas the
Octapong have eight feet, the Ticklemonsters have eight arms, and that
makes forty fingers to tickle you with if they catch you."
"Oh my goodness!" said Dorothy.
"You can imagine what it's like to be tickled all over at the same
time," said the Scarecrow.
"Why on earth do they do that?" asked Dorothy. "And how can you get them
to stop?"
"Well," said the Tin Woodman. "The reason they do it is quite simple:
they do it for food, and the reason --"
"For food?" interrupted Dorothy. "Now you've lost me. What on earth has
food got to do with it?"
"Well, they don't eat solid food like you do," said the Tin Woodman.
"They absorb their nourishment through the skin, and the sound of
laughter is to them what food is to you. You see, the laughter energizes
their skin molecules to give them energy and sustenance."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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