"Nick Chopper!" she cried, recognizing the Tin Woodman and lunging toward him with her arms outstretched. CLUNK! There was a dull thud as the soft material of her body made contact with the woodman's metal body. They both fell the last few feet to the ground, laughing uproariously. "You know," Dorothy said, when their laughter subsided, "before I realized who you were, I kept seeing my face reflected as you spun by me. It is reflected now on your chest, right where your heart is." "Oh, Dorothy!" said the Tin Woodman, starting to cry. "I'm so happy to see you." "Now don't you cry," said Dorothy, wiping his eyes with her handkerchief, "you'll rust up again." "It's wonderful to have a heart," the Tin Woodman said, "and to have all the feelings that a human has; but a heart can grow very heavy when someone you love has to go away. Of course, it enables you to be filled with joy when they return. That is why I am crying, because I am so happy." "I know how you feel," replied Dorothy, her own eyes beginning to mist. She held him tightly for a long time. "Well," said the Tin Woodman at length, "how would you like a nice cup of tea?" "That would be lovely," answered the girl. "Then let us adjourn to my castle," he replied. As they walked, each brought the other up to date on the latest developments in their lives. "After you returned to Kansas, Dorothy, everyone settled down to their usual routine. It was wonderful with the Wicked Witches of the East and West gone. And with fear no longer a part of everyone's lives. Oz was the happiest place in all creation." "Was the happiest?" questioned the girl. "Isn't Oz a happy place now?" The Tin Woodman was about to answer when they arrived at the castle. "Let me put the kettle on and I'll continue with my story," he said. While the tin man was in the kitchen, there was a knock at the door. "Would you get that?" he called to Dorothy. "It's probably the Scarecrow." Dorothy ran to the door excitedly. Sure enough, it was her old friend. When he saw Dorothy, he threw his arms around her. "Oh, Dorothy," he said. "How wonderful to see you!" At that, the Tin Woodman entered the room with Dorothy's tea. The Scarecrow stared at him with a questioning look. "Is Dorothy going to help us again?" he asked. "Help you?" said Dorothy. "Why, what do you mean? What has happened?" "Let us sit down while you have your tea," motioned the Tin Woodman. "I'll explain everything." As Dorothy sipped her tea she wondered what terrible things could possibly have occurred since she left. The Tin Woodman looked at Dorothy rather seriously. "Do you remember when you first arrived in Oz and your house fell on the Wicked Witch of the East and killed her dead? And how angry the Wicked Witch of the West was?"