Pinocchio Finally Ceases to Be a Marionette and Becomes a Boy

"Father, we are safe!" Pinocchio cried. He said it was easy to reach the land. Pinocchio swam very fast. He wanted to get to the shore. Suddenly, Geppetto began to shake. He was very cold and very afraid. Pinocchio told Geppetto to have courage. He said they would be safe soon. Geppetto looked at the sea and the sky. He could not see the land. Pinocchio said he could see the shore because he had eyes like a cat. But Pinocchio was not peaceful. He felt very weak. It was hard for Pinocchio to breathe. The shore was still very far away. Pinocchio swam a few more times. Then he called to Geppetto. Pinocchio said, "Help me, Father! I am dying!" Pinocchio and Geppetto were about to sink. Then they heard a strange voice. A fish called to them from the sea. "What is the problem?" the voice asked. Pinocchio said he was there with his father. The fish said, "I know that voice. You are Pinocchio." It was the Tunny. The Tunny was the friend from the Shark’s stomach. Pinocchio asked for help. The Tunny told them to hold his tail. Geppetto and Pinocchio climbed onto the Tunny’s back. The Tunny was as large as a horse. He swam very fast. Soon, they reached the land. Pinocchio helped Geppetto stand on the sand. Pinocchio thanked the fish. He kissed the Tunny on the cheek. The Tunny was very happy and he cried. Then the Tunny swam away into the sea. The sun began to rise. Geppetto was very weak. Pinocchio gave his arm to his father. Pinocchio said, "Lean on me, Father. We will walk slowly. We can rest if we are tired." Geppetto asked where they were going. Pinocchio said they needed to find a house. They needed food and a place to sleep. They walked a short way. They saw two poor people sitting on a stone. They were asking for alms (money or food given to poor people). It was the Fox and the Cat. They looked very bad. The Cat was really blind now. The Fox was very thin and old. The Fox had no tail. He sold his tail to buy food. The Fox cried, "Pinocchio, please help us! We are old and sick." Pinocchio answered, "Goodbye, false friends! You lied to me before. You will not catch me again." The Fox said they were starving. Pinocchio said they deserved to be poor. He said that stolen money does not help anyone. Pinocchio and Geppetto walked away. Soon, they saw a small house made of straw. Pinocchio knocked on the door. A small voice told them to turn the key. Pinocchio opened the door. He looked around the room. He did not see anyone. Then he looked up at the ceiling. The Talking Cricket was sitting there. Pinocchio was very polite to the Cricket. The Cricket said, "Now you are kind. Do you remember the hammer you threw at me?" Pinocchio said he was sorry. He asked how the Cricket got the house. The Cricket said a goat with blue hair gave it to him. Pinocchio knew the goat was the Blue Fairy. The Cricket said the goat was gone. She thought the Shark ate Pinocchio. Pinocchio cried for a long time. Then he made a bed of straw for Geppetto. He asked the Cricket where to find milk. The Cricket told him to go to Farmer John. Pinocchio ran to the farm. Farmer John said a glass of milk cost one penny. Pinocchio had no money. The farmer said Pinocchio could work for the milk. Pinocchio had to pull one hundred buckets of water from a well (a deep hole in the ground for water). Pinocchio worked very hard. He was very tired. The farmer said his donkey usually did this work, but the donkey was dying. Pinocchio went to the stable. He saw a small donkey on the straw. The donkey was very tired and hungry. Pinocchio looked at the animal. He asked, "Who are you?" The donkey opened his eyes. He said, "I am Lamp-Wick." Then the donkey died. Pinocchio was very sad. He cried for his friend. The farmer laughed at Pinocchio. He did not know that donkeys were in Pinocchio’s school. Pinocchio took the milk to Geppetto. For five months, Pinocchio worked every day. He pulled water for the farmer. He got milk for his father. Pinocchio also made baskets and sold them. He made a chair with wheels for Geppetto. Now Geppetto could go outside in the sun. Pinocchio studied at night. He bought an old book and learned to read. He used a stick and fruit juice to practice writing. Pinocchio saved fifty pennies. He wanted to buy a new suit. He walked toward the village. Suddenly, he saw a snail. It was the Snail from the Fairy’s house. Pinocchio asked about the Blue Fairy. The Snail said, "The Blue Fairy is very sick in a hospital. She has no money and no food." Pinocchio felt very sorry. He gave his fifty pennies to the Snail. He said, "Give this to my good Fairy. I do not need new clothes." Pinocchio told the Snail to come back soon. He promised to earn more money. Pinocchio went home and worked even harder. That night, Pinocchio dreamed of the Blue Fairy. She was beautiful and happy. She kissed Pinocchio. The Blue Fairy said, "Good work, Pinocchio! You have a kind heart. I forgive you. You take good care of your father. You will be happy." Pinocchio woke up and opened his eyes. He was very surprised. He was not a marionette anymore. He was a real boy! Pinocchio looked at the room. The walls were not made of straw. The room was beautiful and clean. He had a new suit and new shoes. He found a leather purse in his pocket. It said: "The Fairy returns fifty pennies to Pinocchio." Pinocchio opened the purse. There were fifty gold coins inside! Pinocchio looked in the mirror. He saw a tall boy with blue eyes and brown hair. "Where is Father?" Pinocchio cried. He ran into the next room. Geppetto looked young and strong. He was wearing new clothes. He was a Mastro (a title for a master wood carver) again. He was carving a beautiful picture frame. Pinocchio hugged Geppetto. He asked what happened. Geppetto said that good boys make their homes happy. Pinocchio saw the old wooden puppet. It was leaning against a chair. Its head was to one side. Its legs were twisted. Pinocchio was very happy. He said, "I was a funny marionette! Now, I am very glad to be a real boy."

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