Pinocchio

There once was an old woodcarver who made his living by carving wooden toys. He made all sorts of things, like elephants and dolls and small soldiers. His name was Geppetto and he was the most skilled woodcarver for miles and miles around.

But he was lonely, because he had no one except his little orange pet cat called Figaro, who was his best friend, but not a human being, of course. As an old man, Geppetto regretted just one thing: not having a son or a daughter to make him happy.

Once on a stroll through the woods, he came across a beautiful piece of wood and just as he set his eyes on it he knew it was going to make for a marvellous marionette. He cut the wood and got down to work that very day.

He was so happy when he finished. The marionette looked so lifelike! It could move its little arms and legs, and was dressed in beautiful clothes. Geppetto was delighted with his work and Figaro, sitting next to him, happily swished his tail and cheerfully meowed.

“I will call you Pinocchio,” said Geppetto merrily when he placed the wooden boy on a small cabinet next to his bed.

Since it was already quite late, Geppetto was getting ready for bed. Everything was dark outside and he looked out the window into the night.

“Look at the beautiful sky, Figaro.” Geppetto said as he picked up his cat, and the two of them gazed at the starry night. The cat purred.

“It’s such a shame, really, that I was never blessed with a son. If only Pinocchio was made out of real flesh and bones and not just carved from wood,” he said, praying to the brightest…