"Oh! The Wishing Star is out tonight!" Gipetto called in mirth. The toy maker had been
lonely majority of his life, and these past few years he had been in terrible agony. As a toy maker,
he once enjoyed bringing joy to the young ones who frequented his workshop. But that was no longer
enough. The old man wasn't getting any younger, and he desperatly wanted a son- a wife, in the
least. He might have even settled for a companion that would talk back. As of now, all he had was
his pet fish, Goldie. (He had had a cat at one point, but it, too, had forsaken him. Just as the
adults in the village had, so long ago).
Goldie looked at him, and moved her fishy lips in what Gipetto took as an expression of
exasperation. "Now, now, Goldie. Don't you get cocky on me. I know the Wishing Star is a long shot,
but it's really the only chance I've got, now, isn't it?"
Gipetto couldn't understand why the others in the village spurned him so. Sure, he talked
to his pet gold fish, but who didn't? Maybe he'd had his cat try on a few of the dresses he made
for his dolls, but didn't all toy makers? He had to test the durability. Right?
The old man sighed as his arthritic knees creaked. Slowly, he knelt before his open window,
and began to recite the old verse, just as he had so many times before.

"Star light, Star bright,
The first star I see tonight.
I wish I may, I wish I might,
To have this wish I wish tonight."

Then, quietly and solemnly, his plea. Growing in earenst every night.
"Oh, Fates. I know I am sentenced to a lonely life, but for what cause? Please, give me
a companion. Someone to share my life with. Give me a son."
Before he lifted his head, Gipetto had a thought. 'Perhaps the angels only have so many
bodies! Maybe if I could provide one...'
His gaze wandered to his work bench, where sat his latest creation-
A puppet boy he called Pistachio.
"Please, Fates!" Gipetto cried again. Tears testified of his pain as he spoke. "Let this
wooden body be turned to flesh, the strings into the force of life, and the boy be filled with
spirit."
After waiting a moment, Gipetto rose and tiredly fell onto his bed. With a sigh, he closed
his eyes. "Goodnight, Goldie." He whispered. "Good night.. Pistachio." With a final tear, the old
man felt the hands of sleep upon him.
Long after the night had set in and the moon had set, a blue light descended from the
heavens. It shone through the open window to Gipetto's home, and, as it touched the floor, began
to grow in its brilliance. The old man didn't stir, but the glaring light, now turned white, woke
the gold fish. In interest, the fish watched painfully as the blinding light contracted. It seemed
to collapse in upon itself until it took the form of a women. A -winged- woman! The fairest Goldie
had ever seen. (Though, as a fish, this wasn't many...)
After winking at the tiny fish, the woman practically levitated to the puppet seated upon
his maker's table. So graceful was her movement, not a sound was heard save the rustling of her
cerulean gown. Pulling a wand from an invisible pocket amid the air, she tapped it upon the
puppets head.
"Rise, little Pistachio. Wake into humanity. Take consciousnes in the world around you."
Her voice was so melodious, had the fish a memory span longer than a few seconds, she would have
longed to hear it ever after.
Gipetto shifted in his sleep. The Blue Fairie, as she was known, turned to look upon the
man. As her gaze fell upon him, the white light returned to the room. The man stirred, and after a
moment sat up, rubbing his eyes. The light faded, and Gipetto began to make out what it was he sat
starring at.
"Oh! It's an angel!" He cried in surprise.
"Nay, good fellow, not an angel. I am the Blue Fairie, and I have come to grant you your
wish."
"My wish! But- how....I must be dreaming!"
"No, Gipetto, you are not. Though when you wake, this will seem like nothing more. The
only proof you will have of my visit is the young lad I have granted you."
"My son! You have given me my son!" Tears of joy filled the old mans eyes.
"I have given your creation life." The Fairie replied evenly. "But, be warned. Should you
neglect this child or fail to teach him correctly, he will become a wooden puppet once more."
"Oh, thank you, Blue Fairie, thank you! You are most gracious."
The Fairie smiled at the simple man, and once more the white light filled the room.
Gipetto was forced to shield his eyes against it. When he looked again, the Blue Fairie was no
where to be seen.
Smiling to himself, Gipetto fell back into his bed, pulling the blankets up around his
head. With a feeling of ecstasy, he gradually fell into sleep's dark land. That night, he dreamt
of the future he and his son would never have.