Pinocchio, Instead of Becoming a Boy, Runs Away to the Land of Toys With His Friend, Lamp-wick

Pinocchio was very surprised by the words of the Blue Fairy. Finally, Pinocchio asked for permission to invite his friends to a party. The Blue Fairy said, "Yes, you can invite your friends to the party tomorrow. But you must remember one thing. You must return home before it is dark. Do you understand?" Pinocchio answered, "I will be back in one hour." The Blue Fairy said, "Be careful, Pinocchio! Boys make promises easily, but they often forget them." Pinocchio said, "But I am not like other boys. When I give my word, I keep it." The Blue Fairy said, "We will see. If you do not listen, you will be the one to suffer." Pinocchio asked why this was true. The Blue Fairy said, "Boys who do not listen to their elders always have problems." Pinocchio said, "I know that is true. But from now on, I will obey." Pinocchio said goodbye to the Blue Fairy. He was very happy. He sang and danced as he left the house. In one hour, Pinocchio invited all his friends. Some friends said yes immediately. Other friends were not sure. Pinocchio told them there would be good food at the party. Then all the friends said they would come. Pinocchio had one friend that he loved more than the others. The boy’s real name was Romeo. But everyone called him Lamp-Wick (a nickname for a boy who is very tall and thin). Lamp-Wick was the laziest boy in the school. He always caused trouble. But Pinocchio liked Lamp-Wick very much. Pinocchio went to the house of Lamp-Wick to invite him. Lamp-Wick was not there. Pinocchio went back a second time and a third time. He still did not find Lamp-Wick. Finally, Pinocchio found Lamp-Wick. Lamp-Wick was hiding near a farmer's wagon (a large wooden vehicle pulled by horses). Pinocchio asked, "What are you doing here?" Lamp-Wick said, "I am waiting for midnight. At midnight, I am going away." Pinocchio asked, "Where are you going?" Lamp-Wick answered, "I am going far away!" Pinocchio told Lamp-Wick his good news. He said, "Tomorrow, I will not be a marionette (a wooden puppet with strings). Tomorrow, I will become a real boy." Lamp-Wick said, "Good luck to you." Pinocchio asked, "Will you come to my party tomorrow?" Lamp-Wick said, "No. I told you that I am leaving tonight at midnight." Pinocchio asked where Lamp-Wick was going. Lamp-Wick said he was going to the best country in the world. Pinocchio asked for the name of the country. Lamp-Wick said, "It is called the Land of Toys (a place where children only play and never study). Why don’t you come with me?" Pinocchio said, "No, I cannot go." Lamp-Wick said, "You are making a mistake, Pinocchio. In that place, there are no schools. There are no teachers and no books. Children never study there." Lamp-Wick continued, "In our country, we only have no school on Saturdays. But in the Land of Toys, every day is a Saturday. Vacation starts on the first of January. It ends on the last day of December. It is the perfect place!" Pinocchio asked what children do all day in that land. Lamp-Wick said that children play from morning until night. Then they go to sleep. The next morning, the fun starts again. Pinocchio moved his wooden head. He thought that kind of life was very good. He asked Lamp-Wick if he was sure about the rules. Lamp-Wick said, "I am very sure. Do you want to go with me? Yes or no?" Pinocchio said, "No! I promised the Blue Fairy to be a good boy. I want to keep my word. The sun is going down. I must run home now." Lamp-Wick asked Pinocchio to wait two more minutes. Pinocchio was worried. He was afraid the Blue Fairy would be angry. Lamp-Wick said, "Let her be angry. She will stop being angry later." Pinocchio asked if Lamp-Wick was going alone. Lamp-Wick said that more than one hundred boys were going. Lamp-Wick said a wagon would come at midnight. The wagon would take all the boys to that wonderful country. Pinocchio wanted to see the boys leave. He decided to stay a little longer. He asked again if there were really no schools in that land. Lamp-Wick said, "There is not even one school." Pinocchio felt very excited. He said, "What a beautiful land! But I promised the Blue Fairy to be good. I must go." Pinocchio started to walk away. Then he stopped and turned back. He asked if the vacation really lasted all year. Lamp-Wick said, "Yes, it is very true." Pinocchio was confused. He did not know what to do. Finally, he said goodbye to Lamp-Wick one last time. Lamp-Wick asked, "When are you going home?" Pinocchio said, "In two hours. I am already late. One hour more does not matter now." The night became very dark. Suddenly, Pinocchio saw a small light far away. He heard a quiet sound like a small bell. Lamp-Wick jumped up and cried, "There it is!" Pinocchio asked, "What is it?" Lamp-Wick said, "The wagon is coming for me! Are you coming or not?" Pinocchio asked one more time if boys never studied there. Lamp-Wick said, "Never, never, never!" Pinocchio cried, "What a wonderful country!"

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