Pinocchio

From WikiStory

There was once an old man called Geppetto who lived in a dark little room. His furniture was broken and rickety. He was so poor that he couldn't afford a fire. Instead, he had painted a fire in the fireplace, with a boiling kettle painted above it. One day, Geppetto went to see his friend, the carpenter Mr Cherry, and asked him for a piece of wood. He wanted to make a really fine puppet and make some money as an entertainer. As soon as he got home, he started work on his puppet . He decided to call him Pinocchio. He quickly made his hair, his face and his eyes. As soon as the eyes were finished, Geppetto saw them watching him. "Stop looking at me, you wooden eyes," he said. No one answered. Then he made the nose, and then the mouth. Before the mouth was finished, it started laughing.

Stop laughing at me , Shouted Geppetto . The mouth stopped laughing, and stuck out its tounge instead. No sooner had Geppetto made the puppet's hands then they snatched Geppetto's wig off his head. When the legs and feet were done, Geppetto received a sharp kick on the nose for his pains. Geppetto was sad to think his puppet was so badly behaved, but he treated him very kindly, just as a father treats his son. He gave him food, clothing his shelter. He even sold his own overcoat to pay for a school book so that Pinocchio could go to school. But Pinocchio didn't want to go school. He ran away and joined a puppet theatre. After he had worked there for a little while, the puppeteer gave him five gold pieces to take home to his father.

He set off for home. But on the way, he met a wicked cat and fox who tried to trick him out of his money. He hid the coins under his tounge, and clamped his mouth tight, as if it were nailed shut. So the thieves couldn't get the money. Instead, they hung Pinocchio from a tree, and went away, thinking they'd come back and get the coins when Pinocchio was dead . But Pinocchio was rescued by a beautiful fairy with blue hair. She asked him what had happened. Pinocchio told her all about Geppetto, and how the cat and fox had tried to steal the money the puppeteer had given him. Where are the coins now ? Asked the Fairy. I 've lost them. Replied Pinocchio. . This was a lie. The coins were in his pocket. As soon as he'd told this lie, Pinocchio's wooden nose grew a little longer!

Where did you lose them? In the forest, With this second lie, Pinocchio's nose became even longer. Well let's go and find them, said the fairy. Oh! Said pinocchio, I remember now . I swallowed the money. Now Pinocchio's nose was so long, he couldn't move at all. He was well and truly stuck! The fairy watched him and laughed. What are you laughing at ?Pinocchio was very ashamed and embarrassed. I am laughing at your lies. After a while, the fairy took pity on Pinocchio. She clapped her hands, and a huge flock of woodpeckers flew in and pecked away at Pinocchio's wooden nose until it was back to its normal size. Pinocchio was very sorry he had told lies, and promised he would try to be good in future.

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