Finding Oz page 3

 Finding Oz page 3 by ric gustafson

L Frank Baum was now in his early 20's. He needed a way to make some money. Along with his father, Baum turned the family's chicken coops into a full fledged business. Every day, Baum would tend to the chickens. He was in charge of the production and the sale of the eggs and poultry. Baum's image of chickens and eggs would play out in the first scene of the Wizard of Oz. One day, L Frank Baum knew he had to leave Rose Lawn. He had to find himself.

One day, L Frank Baum walked down Plank Road. He got on a train. Baum's father had enrolled him at the Peekskill Military Academy. The Academy was the original military headquarters of the Continental Army under General George Washington. 

Baum lived in the small dormitory along with fifty other recruits. Baum hated it there. Luckly, he was not there very long. One day, Baum went back home to Syracuse. This image of a child taken away from it's home and put into a place that was unpleasant and terrible. This child simply wanted to go back home. Baum would remember this image for the Wizard of Oz.

research help: ' Finding Oz' by Evan I Schwartz

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric