Ch. 7: School House Rocks
Pinocchio's POV
Oh boy, I'm so excited. Today is going to be my first day of school, where I get to learn things I didn't know and get closer to becoming a real boy. Papa Geppetto says that school will help me learn and evolve as a person and I get to make all kinds of friends there. He also said that since Ms. Livermore will be my teacher, she can help me out with anything I wish. Jiminy was finishing up giving me lessons on stuff like manners and where to find the school so I could be prepared to head off. We had a little feast to celebrate my first day of school the night before. There was music playing and we were dancing all night long. It was such a blast. I wonder if school will be just like this.
XXX
"Now, be sure to listen to Ms. Livermore and be on your best behavior." said Papa Geppetto as I was about to venture off to school.
"Okay, Papa Geppetto." I answered with glee. I was really excited for today. I bet school is going to be all tons of fun and soon, I could be a real boy.
"Pinocchio, I'm serious. If-"
"Oh, just let the boy go. He's a good kid." said Jiminy, as he slid down the stairs and landed on my shoulder. It was a really cool trick, so I clapped to congratulate him. "I'm sure he'll be just fine." He then hoped back to the ground next to Papa Geppetto and looked on with a smile.
"Well, alright." Papa Geppetto pulled me into a big hug and then said "Now, be a good boy and have fun, okay?"
"Okay!" I shouted with a salute and proceeded to head off. I looked back to see the others waving me goodbye and I waved back in response. As I walked, I saw a line of children heading to probably school, so I followed them. They walked to this big house that looked very colorful with a sign that said "School House". I wondered if it was the right place, so I wondered in like the others. As I walked, I noticed it had many long hallways and so many rooms. I peeked into a few of them and I saw rows of boys and girls like me seated and an adult in front of them talking to them. Finally, the children I was following went into a classroom and I soon followed. I was the last one to enter and soon enough, people started to look at me.
"Hi, everybody!" I welcomed with a smile and a wave, but much to my confusion, they all just started at me. Each of them was gaping at me, making a lot of weird facial expressions at me. I decided to continue my little introduction. "My name is Pinocchio. Today, I'm starting school and learning things with you guys." With that, I walked to an empty seat and sat down. Again, no response from the others. However, I did start to hear some whispering from the others, something about "freak doll" and "ugly woody". Not quite sure what those mean, but they seem like nice people to me.
I proceeded to open up a book and set up for learning, when I saw Kath-oops. I mean, Ms. Livermore enter the room. Suddenly, the murmuring stopped and all eyes were on her. She then began to speak. "Good morning class.", to which everyone in the room responded with "Good morning Ms. Livermore." I said the same thing, but much louder and because of that, I drew everyone's attention. Ms. Livermore chuckled and continued "Well, it seems our new student has arrived. Class, this is Pinocchio. He shall be attending this class and will be your schoolmate from now, so I expect you all to treat him with respect and kindness."
She then began to talk about stuff I didn't understand, but I tried my best to listen and wrote down things she said in order to remember all these details. I looked around to each of the other children and waved at them. Some waved back, while others just looked and then went back to listening to Ms. Livermore. She kept on talking and talking about stuff like writing and reading, and I was both bored and interested all at the same time. Very confusing, I must say. My eyes began to drift elsewhere around the room, from glancing at the windows to spotting the clock Papa Geppetto told me he made for her. As I lingered about, my eyes began to notice someone, a girl writing intently to everything Ms. Livermore was saying. She had this very pink dress on and her hair was tied into this bun fashion, but out of everyone in this room, she stood out for me the most. I wonder who she is?
XXX
So far, school has been very interesting. We did stuff like writing and spelling, helping to build our "literary skills" I think is what Ms. Livermore called it. Everyone seemed very nice too and I made new friends there. Man, if only I could remember some of their names. Well, there's one name I remember: Julietta. She was one of the kids who would always answer Ms. Livermore whenever she would ask us a question. She would help anyone in the classroom when needed. She reminded me of Jiminy, maybe she's the conscience of the school. I didn't get a chance to talk to her yet, but when I glanced at her, she smiled and waved. I don't know why, but I felt happy when she did that. Extremely happy!
Suddenly, I heard some ringing and the next thing I knew, the kids started jumping and cheering and leaving the room in herds. All the while, I heard Ms. Livermore shouting "Children! Remember to keep up with your studies! I want you to practice writing three full sentences for homework and I expect to see it all done by next class!" I began to grab my book and began to walk home. I shouted "Goodbye Ms. Livermore!" to which she waved bye back with a smile. I walked through the halls and outside and saw many of the kids talking and playing with each other. I then began to spot Julietta talking with someone. I wasn't sure why, but I went over to her and began to speak.
"HI!" I shouted, which caused Julietta and her friend to shriek in shock. While Julietta was calming down, her friend frowned at me for some reason and began to walk up to me. "What do you think you're doing, scarring us like that!" She was very scary and I began to shake a bit. "Scared?"
"Yeah, scared! Who goes up to someone uninvited and just shout 'HI' anyway!?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell like that." I apologized, knowing this was one of those times when I should apologize for when I did something wrong. Julietta looked shock as her friend kept talking "And another-" she stopped and looked in confusion and spoke again. "Wait, did you say sorry?"
"Of course. I did something bad and I'm showing that I have learned my lesson and wish show that I am a good boy." I said, which further shocked the two. "Listen, you are a boy, right?"
"I believe so. And maybe someday, I'll be a real boy!"
"So, you really are a wooden puppet?" spoke Julietta. She came a bit closer as she was fascinated by how I was being respectful.
"Uh huh."
"How are you walking and talking?"
"I'm not sure. A blue fairy came into Papa Geppetto's house and brought me to life because he wished it and if I prove I'm worthy enough, I'll be a real boy!" Julietta continued to stare in awe and for some reason, I was getting a bit shy. Then, her friend spoke again, saying "Guess that explains why he's polite."
"Veronica!" Julietta scolded as she turned her attention back to me. "I'm sorry about my friend. She isn't used to boys being kind to her."
"Why?"
"Well, it's because-"
"Because the boys here are nothing but rude pigs. I tell ya, they're all just jealous that I can whoop them at any game they play." Veronica said with a sneer. I commented with "That's not very nice. How are you supposed to be friends if they make fun of you and you make fun back?"
"You wouldn't understand. I guess you're lucky in that regard." She said as she looked down. She seemed sad and Julietta began to comfort her a bit. I was saddened by her mood and then, I thought of something that could cheer her up. "Hey, if you ever feel down, why not give a little whistle and dance your troubles away." I then whistled and began to dance. The two looked at me as I began to sing.
(AN: To the tune of Man About Town)
Pinocchio: You will walk. You will talk. Ev'rybody will gawk at the girl about town! (point to Veronica as Julietta looks on with a smile) From the start you were smart, but you break every heart. You're the girl about town! (walks to Veronica and pulls her into a dance) And I know once you open your heart, you'll be cheered, never feared evermore! (points up to the sky as Veronica looks on in confusion and wonder) Raise your eyes to the skies! There's no holding you down! You will take a chance for a whirl! (points back at Veronica, who smiles in appreciation). You're the girl...The girl about town! (Julietta appears on the other side of Veronica and chimes in for a verse)
Julietta: (proceeds to hug Veronica) Though you feel like a beast in a den, stick with us and you'll win over men! Through your temper in the ring! Forget your troubles and sing! And don't ever come to a frown!
Both: (each of their hands is on Veronica's shoulders as their other hand points to the sky as they sing) You're the girl! You're the girl about town! (the song ends as they look at Veronica with smiles as she smiles as well)
"Gee, I never thought of it that way. But what if they still give me trouble?" Veronica asks.
"Then I'll be there for you. You're my best friend after all." Julietta chimes in and hugs her tightly. "And of course you'll be there for her to, right? Oh I'm sorry, I don't remember your name."
"I'm Pinocchio. And of course I'll help out. That's what friends do." I agreed with a smile. And that was when I made my first two friends: Julietta and Veronica. We decided to walk home together as we kept talking. They were very friendly and sweet to me and I told them about everything I started to learn. Just then, we bumped into two boys, one who was not very happy to see us.
"Well well well, Sturdy Verny decided to grace us with her appearance!" I don't know what "Sturdy Verny" means, but from the looks of Veronica's angry face and Julietta's look of discomfort, I could tell this wouldn't end well. I looked at the two and it's hard to tell what makes them tick. One looks very nervous and the other is trying to look intimidating. When I turned my attention to Julietta and Veronica, it was like they were mirroring the boys in front of us. Perhaps they know each other.
"Just my luck to have you of all people to ruin my good mood!" yelled Veronica, clearly annoyed with the boy in front of her. He jusy smirked and said "Don't you have to have a heart to be in a good mood?"
"Funny, I was about to say the same about you. What, to good for school today?"
"Eh, school is for chumps! Why do I need to go to a place where stupid grownups tell me stuff I already know!"
"Well, did you know that-
"Hi, nice to meet you!" I interrupted. The four looked at me in shock as I held out my hand with a smile. Maybe being friendly with these boys will ease this tension. "My name is Pinocchio. I just started going to school today and it was a lot of fun!" The boys looked at me strangely at each other and then at me. The mean looking one scoffed and said "And just who and what is this thing?"
"He's a new classmate with us." chimed in Julietta.
"Yeah, and he's our friend so if you're after him, you gotta go through me!" claimed Veronica. The boy just laughed and chuckled and retorted to me with "You're friends with a bunch of girls?!"
"Yeah! Are you guys friends too?" The boy stopped laughing and just looked at me funny. Then, his friend pushed him back and said to me "Please forgive Lampwick. He can be very off putting when it comes to interacting with people."
"Hey, I-"
"Well that's an understatement." quipped Veronica. The boy, Lampwick, just stuck his tongue out at her, with her doing it right back. From the corner of my eye, I saw Julietta face-palming as me and Lampwick's friend kept talking. "My name's Jerome. It's a pleasure to meet you." He said with a smile as he held out his hand. I grabbed it and shook it to no end with excitement of making another friend. He just chuckled in response.
"Now listen here, woody!" chimed in Lampwick, much to my confusion as my name is Pinocchio, not woody. "You better lay off me and my pal or I'll make sure you'll be firewood for my next bonfire!" I'm not sure what he meant by that, but from the gasps of the others, it probably doesn't mean something good.
"What did I say about messing with Pinocchio?!" yelled Veronica as she poked Lampwick's chest. "You get anywhere near him and I'll make sure you get punished worse than what your mother did yo punish you for your last idiotic escapade!"
"Oh really? And just how are you going to make me?"
"Why don't I show you now?" The two were just growling at each other to no end, until Julietta started to join the conversation.
"THAT's ENOUGH!" The shout surely interrupted their fight and caught everyone's attention. "No one is laying a hand on anyone! I am so tired of you two always fighting! I mean, you two are practically made to be friends and yet you fight like cats and dogs!" Lampwick and Veronica were not only stunned as to hear Julietta scold them, they started to look down in guilt. "Must you be at each other's throats 24/7, 365?"
Jerome piped in with "She's right, you know. I for one am sick of constantly being the referee of your squabbles and having to break you two up before things escalate further. Especially since we have a new person joining our class." He then points at me in gesture and I waved in response. "Now, for Pinocchio's sake, can't we all band together and help him get through the school year?" I looked around and saw Julietta come to me and places her hand onto mine. Jerome does the same as well and the two look to the others. Veronica and Lampwick looked at each other, then away in disgust. Some moments of silence passed, when both said, "Fine, we'll help" as they put their hands in as well.
"Wow, first day of school and I already get 4 friends. How neat is that?" I pondered, as Lampwick just said "Yeah. Neat."
"Be nice." scolded Jerome, as Lampwick rolled his eyes. I know they seem rough around the edges, but they both seem like such nice guys. Well, as it turns out, my first day of school was pretty great. As I looked at everyone, I knew that this was the beginning of something great.
TO BE CONTINUED...