I was likely weakened by the journey and the events of this day.  I must have fainted, because when I came to I was lying on the ground and the Wizard and the scarecrow were standing over me.  The scarecrow, the dear thing,  was fanning me with his hat and the Wizard was assuring him that I would revive.  I tried to sit up and became dizzy, the caravan appeared to move in chase of the stage, and increased in speed as I turned my head.

The Wizard taking my hand said "I think you need a little something to eat, and you will be fine.  It's been a busy day.  Come over here, I have some tea and sandwiches prepared."

He led me to a table, perfectly accoutred with lace tablecloth and linen napkins.  There were three settings laid. I gave the Wizard a questioning look.

"Why only three"?

"The tin man doesn't wish to join us", he answered.  And indeed the tin man stood like a bodyguard next to the woman who was still kneeling on the ground by the stage.  "Please", he said.  "Take a seat."  He held a chair out for me and with a flourish he dusted the seat off with a hankerchief.  For a moment, he seemed to be the showman again.

I sat and let him hold my chair.  He took a seat opposite me, and motioned the scarecrow to take the remaining chair.  "Shall I pour?" asked the scarecrow, picking up the teapot.  I had to smile, he seemed at ease wherever he was and yet I knew he also felt at odds at the same time.  Directionless he had called himself.  The word suddenly struck at something deep within me and I became suspicious and afraid. My hunger overriding my curiosity, I greedily partook of the sandwiches and tea.  It was the first real meal I had eaten since my arrival. When I had eaten enough to feel satiated, I turned to my host.

"And what is it I have done to him?" I asked sarcastically, nodding my head in the direction of the scarecrow.

To my surprise, the Wizard smiled at me and winked.

"You are catching onto me already", he said.  "I knew you were clever."  He leaned over the table his hand to the side of his mouth, concealing it from the scarecrow.
"Why don't you tell me?" he said with a grin.

"Well, let me see", I ventured. "He is full of wonderful thoughts, but all of them unfinished.  I suppose I have somehow kept him from completing things."

"Good, good", encouraged the Wizard.  "Go on, you're getting it now."

"Let me think, how have I done this? Have I quashed his enthusiasm?  No, see he is very enthusiastic."  I looked at the Wizard's face for any sign I was right.

"I have not completed things myself",  I said.  "I have started many projects and not seen them through."

"Is that all?" asked the Wizard.  "Is there nothing else? Is it only your projects and tasks you have not brought to completion? What of your dreams and desires? Is there nothing else missing an ending?"

His words became my tears; they grew heavy and escaping the corners of my eyes, they burned as they rolled silently down my cheek.

"No", I dropped my head forward to hide my sorrow and shook my head slowly. "No, that isn't all that is incomplete."

The Wizard took my chin in his hand and lifting my face to look into his eyes, spoke softly.

"See, how happy he is.  He worries not because he has no endings, everything is still open to him.  He contains the beginnings of many great things; your thoughts, plans, hopes and dreams.  Still he is directionless because you refuse to follow them through out of fear of the endings.  He has never known failure, this is true.  But he has never known success either."

"I can't promise him success", I protested.  "It is much easier not to try than to fail."

"It is not easy to never succeed at anything", the Wizard countered. "It has not been easy for you.  That is why you have left him here.  He is your reminder.  But when you abandon him, you abandon possibilities."

The scarecrow was listening to all this, scribbling notes on scraps of paper and stuffing them into his pockets.

"What is it then that you want me to do?" As soon as I had asked the question came the fear that I already knew the answer.

The wizard folded his napkin with a slow precision and placed it on the table aside his plate.  When he finally turned his attention back to me his face held a look I hadn't seen on it before.  It was akin to sadness and weary.  

"Alas,my dear,you ask the wrong question." he sighed. "All of this and yet still you do not understand."