Storytelling Week 11 - Dorthy and Caterpillar

There once was a girl named Dorothy who was on her way to the Emerald City. Dorothy was a long way from home and hoped that the Wizard at the Emerald City could help her find her way back. After Dorothy's long journey she finally arrived at this magical city, only to be disappointed to find out that the Wizard was a fake. She was now no closer to getting back home then she was at the beginning of her journey. She had made three great friends along the way who were determined to help Dorothy get back home too. There is the kind Tin Man, the cowardly Lion, and the smart Scarecrow.

Her friend the Scarecrow asked all the ladies of the Emerald City barber shop if they knew anyone who could help Dorothy get home. These lady's talked to everyone in the city and so the Scarecrow though they could help them out. After talking to over thirty hairdressers they were still no closer. The Tin Man went to the factory where all the things in the Emerald City were made to ask for help. The workers in the shop didn't know of anyone who could help Dorothy either.

Finally the cowardly Lion asked all the animals if they knew any way or anyone who could help, and they did know someone. There was a rumor that a wise Caterpillar lived in the red sunflower fields to the east of the Emerald City.  Dorothy didn't want to have to go on another journey to just be disappointed again, but without any other options the four of them headed off to the red sunflower field.

(Red Sunflower Field - Public Domain Pictures)

This was only a two-day trip, but once they reached the field they were very tired. They had been traveling for many days now and all missed home. Now that they were in this field they had no idea where to find the Caterpillar or if he would even show up. They walked around the entire field row by row for nearly two hours, and found nothing. They had given up and were now in the same place where they had started. Dorothy began to cry and feared that she would never make it back home again.

Suddenly a large caterpillar smoking a hookah popped up from the tall sunflowers. The Brave Lion jumped back in fear from his sudden presence. Dorothy introduced them all and told the Caterpillar her story. While Dorothy was telling her story Caterpillar didn't say anything and continued to smoke his hookah. Once she was done explaining her story Dorothy again got choked up and started to cry. The Caterpillar spoke very few words, but did finally speak, "Dorothy you had the power to go back home this whole time. You just have to want it enough. Your red ruby slippers are magical and all you have to do is tap them together and think about home."

Dorothy told all her new friends goodbye and how happy she was to have met them. She thanked the wise caterpillar and was eternally grateful for him. She then clicked her heels together and woke up back home.

Author's Note: I based this story off of the story 'Advice from Caterpillar' from Alice in Wonderland. The Caterpillar helped Alice get back to her normal size after eating and drinking things that had made her grow and then shrink. She was now needing help getting back to her normal size. The Caterpillar was not straightforward with Alice about what she needs to do and is famously quoted saying "Who are you" over and over again. He eventually tells Alice that eating certain parts of the mushroom will make her grow and other parts will make her shrink. After a lot of trial and error Alice is finally able to get back to her normal size again.  I thought it would be interesting to combine this story with the Wizard of Oz. I used the wise Caterpillar as the person who helps Dorothy get home similar to how he helps Alice. I love both of these stories and like combining stories together so I thought it might be fun to do that with these two. I wanted to keep the characters from these two stories true to themselves but just have a different storyline.

Bibliography:
Alice in Wonderland, Advice from Caterpillar, Lewis Caroll (1865)
The Wizard of Oz, produced by Metro-Golwyn-Mayer, (1939)