Then, Mastro Antonio heard a loud knock on the door. “Come in,” the carpenter said. He was too weak to stand up.
An old man came into the room. His name was Geppetto. The boys in the town called him Polendina. They used this name because Geppetto wore a yellow wig (hair made of silk or wool that you wear on your head). The wig was the color of yellow corn.
Geppetto had a very bad temper. He became very angry if someone called him Polendina. He became like a wild animal. No one could make him calm.
“Good day, Mastro Antonio,” Geppetto said. “Why are you on the floor?”
“I am teaching the ants to read,” Mastro Antonio said.
“Good luck to you,” Geppetto said.
“Why did you come here, friend Geppetto?” Mastro Antonio asked.
“I came here to ask for a favor,” Geppetto said. Mastro Antonio stood up on his knees.
“I am here to help you,” Mastro Antonio said.
“I had a great idea this morning,” Geppetto said. “I want to make a beautiful wooden marionette (a wooden doll that moves with strings). It must be a wonderful doll. It must dance and fence (fight with a long, thin sword). It must do somersaults (a move where a person rolls their body over their head). I will travel around the world with it. I will earn money for food and wine. What do you think?”
“Bravo, Polendina!” cried the small voice. No one knew where the voice came from.
Geppetto heard the name Polendina. His face became red like a pepper. He looked at Mastro Antonio. He was very angry.
“Why do you insult me?” Geppetto asked.
“I did not insult you,” Mastro Antonio said.
“You called me Polendina,” Geppetto said.
“I did not!” Mastro Antonio said.
“Yes, you did!” Geppetto said.
“No!” Mastro Antonio said.
“Yes!” Geppetto said.
They became angrier. They started to fight. They scratched and hit each other. When the fight finished, Mastro Antonio had Geppetto’s yellow wig. Geppetto had Mastro Antonio’s wig in his mouth.
“Give me my wig!” Mastro Antonio shouted.
“Give me my wig and we will be friends,” Geppetto said.
The two old men put their wigs back on their heads. They shook hands. They promised to be friends for a long time.
“Mastro Geppetto,” the carpenter said. “What do you want?”
“I want a piece of wood to make a marionette (a wooden doll that moves with strings). Will you give it to me?” Geppetto asked.
Mastro Antonio was very happy. He went to his bench to get the wood. This wood had scared him very much. He tried to give it to Geppetto. But the wood jumped out of his hands. It hit Geppetto’s thin legs.
“Ouch! Mastro Antonio, why are you mean? You almost made me lame (unable to walk well because of an injury),” Geppetto said.
“I did not do it!” Mastro Antonio said.
“I did it, then?” Geppetto asked.
“It was the wood,” Mastro Antonio said.
“You threw the wood at my legs,” Geppetto said.
“I did not throw it!” Mastro Antonio said.
“Liar!” Geppetto said.
“Geppetto, do not insult me. I will call you Polendina,” Mastro Antonio said.
“Idiot!” Geppetto said.
“Polendina!” Mastro Antonio shouted.
“Donkey!” Geppetto shouted.
“Polendina!” Mastro Antonio shouted.
“Ugly monkey!” Geppetto shouted.
“Polendina!” Mastro Antonio shouted.
Geppetto became very angry. He jumped on Mastro Antonio. They fought again. After the fight, Mastro Antonio had two scratches on his nose. Geppetto lost two buttons from his coat. They shook hands again. They promised to be friends.
Geppetto took the wood. He thanked Mastro Antonio. Then he walked home slowly.