Pinocchio was scared for a short time after the Cricket died. But then night came. Pinocchio felt a strange, empty feeling in his stomach. He remembered that he had no food.
A boy’s hunger grows very fast. Soon, the empty feeling became very strong. Pinocchio was ravenous (very, very hungry).
Pinocchio ran to the fireplace. He saw the pot with the boiling water. He tried to take the cover off. But the pot was only a painting on the wall! Pinocchio felt very bad. His long nose became even longer.
He ran around the room. Pinocchio looked in all the boxes and drawers. He looked under the bed. He wanted a piece of bread or a cookie. He even wanted a bone from a dog. But he found nothing.
His hunger grew and grew. Pinocchio began to yawn (to open the mouth wide because of sleep or hunger). He made a very big yawn. Soon he felt weak. He began to cry.
“The Talking Cricket was right,” Pinocchio said. “I was wrong to leave Geppetto. I was wrong to run away. If Geppetto were here, I would have food. Oh, it is horrible to be hungry!”
Suddenly, he saw something in a corner. It was round and white. It looked like a hen’s egg. Pinocchio jumped on it. It was a real egg!
Pinocchio was very happy. He could not describe his joy. He thought he was in a dream. He turned the egg over in his hands. He kissed it and talked to it.
“How shall I cook you? Shall I make an omelet (eggs that are mixed and cooked in a pan)? No, I will fry you in a pan. You will taste better that way,” Pinocchio said.
Pinocchio put a small pan over some hot coals. He put a little water in the pan. Soon the water started to boil. Pinocchio broke the eggshell.
But there was no egg inside. A little yellow chick (a baby bird) came out! The bird was happy and smiling. It was very polite to Pinocchio.
“Thank you, Mr. Pinocchio!” the bird said. “Thank you for breaking my shell! Goodbye and good luck to you!”
The bird opened its wings. It flew out of the open window. Soon the bird was gone.
Pinocchio stood very still. His eyes were wide and his mouth was open. He held the empty eggshells in his hands. He began to cry and shout. He hit his feet on the ground.
“The Talking Cricket was right!” Pinocchio cried. “If I were not a bad boy, Geppetto would be here. I would not be hungry. Oh, it is horrible to be hungry!”
His stomach made a loud noise. He had no food. He decided to go to the village. He hoped a kind person would give him some bread.