The Wonderful Land Of Oz

Chapter 63: (The Way to Butterfield)

(The Way to Butterfield)

*Author's Note: A new arc begins! This arc is loosely based on the fifth book. "The Road to Oz"* 

*June 15th, 1906*

*Kansas*

Five months passed since Dorothy's last adventure and, since then, Dorothy's fourteenth birthday, which Dorothy found to be quite enjoyable had come and passed, and speaking of birthdays, Ozma's birthday was approaching in just five days and Dorothy was invited to the event.

"It's quite hot today, isn't that right, Toto.." Dorothy spoke out while using a towel to wipe sweat from her forehead while looking over to see a strange man looking over the wooden fence which caught her attention.

"I wonder who he could be? He seems quite lost.." Dorothy thought to herself before getting up from her chair as she walked towards where the man was standing up.

"Excuse me, are you lost, sir? Perhaps I could assist you if you don't mind." Dorothy asked the strange man in a formal voice; however, this man wasn't an ordinary man but rather a man with a shaggy appearance due to the amount of old rags he wore.

The man had an oat straw in his mouth, which he chewed slowly as if it tasted good; but it didn't. There was an apple tree beside the house, and some apples had fallen to the ground and the Man picked one up and rubbed it against his old, shaggy clothes until it became as shiny as a polished shoe.

"Oh yes, I'm quite lost. I don't know the directions to Butterfield and I was wondering if someone like you could help me.." The Man asked Dorothy while looking around rather cautiously while Dorothy was unsure of what she heard.

"Butterfield? I'm pretty sure there isn't such a town in Kansas but it wouldn't hurt to try, right?" Dorothy responded to the man while seeing his face turning into one of joy.

"That's the spirit! It shouldn't be too long so don't get too worried or anything" The man spoke to Dorothy once more as he began to laugh to himself much to Dorothy's dismay.

"Such an odd man but he seems nice so I guess I should help him.." Dorothy thought to herself before running back to her farmhouse while Toto followed her along.

"I'll run back to my home and get my sunbonnet so please wait here, okay?" Dorothy spoke to the man while entering her home as the man watched with great interest.

"What a nice girl. Maybe things won't be so lonely after all.." The man thought to himself while walking over to the apple tree that was growing near Dorothy's home and he picked three apples and placed them in his big big big pockets while looking at the house once more to see Dorothy coming out along with Toto.

"I'm back. I hope you're not some weirdo trying to take advantage of me or anything of the sort. I'm protected by very good people so don't push your luck, also, my name is Dorothy Gale if you are wondering.." Dorothy warned the man with a cautious tone this was met with the strange man chuckling to himself before speaking once more.

"Don't worry. I'm nothing of the sort! Just your common old Shaggy Man. That's my name by the way so don't forget it" Shaggy Man responded causally while chuckling to himself.

"Okay, and I was just making sure and remember, any funny business you attempt to try with me or Toto will cause me to turn back home but we should try to find this Butterfield place" Dorothy spoke to Shaggy Man once more as she and Shaggy Man proceeded to walk away from the farmhouse.

The pair began to walk as Dorothy climbed the fence leading to the grassy plains of Kansas while Shaggy Man followed suit; however, when he tried to climb he fell over on the ground.