The Doctor Of Oz

The Munchkin had been caught red-handed, trying to steal apples from the Wicked Witch's personal orchard, a crime punishable by death in these fairytale lands, where fruit and veg are prized beyond even gold. That's what happens when your country is surrounded on all sides by an impassable desert.

The Munchkin hung his head in shame. All he'd wanted was a few apples for his Munchkin wife and imminent Munchkin baby.

"I'll promise you my first born child if you let me go!" he cried, terrified, as the Witch stood over him with her huge wand in her hand, its tip sparkling menacingly. "You can do what you wish with her, only spare me!"



"I own you all anyway" the Witch scoffed. "So quit your bitching. Any Munchkin who steals my apples will be executed, no exceptions!" She threw back her head and laughed, showing off the crooked teeth and maniacal laughter of all the best evil despots.

The Munchkin fell to his knees, arms out in supplication. "No!" he squealed.

"Exterminate!!" laughed the Witch, raising her wand and aiming at him. "Exterminate! Exterminate!"

A whooshing in the air...

In the sky the blue box appeared.

The Wicked Witch paused momentarily in her chastising of the bold Munchkin, gazing at the spectacle. The Munchkin took the opportunity to turn and run.

Distracted by the escapee, the Witch turned after him, raising her wand, eager to end him. And then -

CRASH!

The Munchkin stared in shock and awe as the box opened, and a man got out, straightening his bowtie and coughing, smoke billowing out around him. It was hard to see the inside, but the Munchkin thought for an impossible moment that the inside looked decidedly bigger than the outside. He also realised that the Wicked Witch was now merely a splat on the rough ground.

A pair of red shoes were just visible by the door of the box, twinkling in the sunshine.

The man glanced at them. The Munchkin was still staring, both at the man and the shoes, jaw slack, barely daring to hope that just maybe, he wasn't going to die today.

The man grinned. "Whoops" he said, before turning and re-entering the box.