It was recess time at school, and Annabelle and her friend Alex were taking turns on the swings.
"Weeee!" Annabelle cheered swinging back and forth with little figgy in her lap. "Isn't this fun, Figgy?"
"It sure is, Annabelle." The kitten replied. When Annabelle was done, she let Alex have a turn. While her friend was swinging, Annabelle noticed over in the in the big field close to the school, was a big red and white striped tent and big caravans and cages.
"Hey, What's going on over there, Alex?" Annabelle pointed to where the big tent was.
"Oh, That's the circus, Annie," Alex replied.
"The circus? What's a circus?" Annabelle asked.
"It's like a big show that comes around once every year for three days to entertain people," Alex explained.
"A show? You mean like mister Stromboli's puppet show?"
"Sorta. But this show has real people and animals doing all kinds of tricks and performances." Annabelle was intrigued by the circus especially when Alex mentioned the animals.
"The circus sounds like fun. Do you think we can go see it, Alex?"
"Sure, Annie. My mom takes me to see it every year. If you ask your dad, I'm sure he'll take you."
"Maybe we can all go together, Alex. You, me, Figgy, Daddy, and your mommy."
"Great idea, Annie. I'll ask my mom when I home."
"Ok. I'll ask Daddy when he comes to pick me up." The bell rang and the girls returned to the classroom with the others. They listened to Miss Lorraine's lectures until it was time to leave. When Pinocchio arrived to collect Annabelle, they walked through the town and noticed a few posters advertising the circus.
"Daddy! Daddy! Do you think we can go to the circus with Alex and her mommy?" Annabelle asked excitedly.
"I haven't been to the circus since I was a boy," Pinocchio said thinking back to when he younger. "Father and used to go see it every year. If Juliana and Alex are going, I suppose we could all go together. What do you think, Jiminy?"
"Sounds like a good idea to me, Pinoke." Jiminy nodded in agreement.
"Hurray! I can't wait to go!" Annabelle cheered and danced merrily around. Pinocchio was glad to see her so happy.
The next day, Annabelle had off from school and went to see her friends Alex and Toby. Jiminy came along to keep an eye on her. While walking through the town, Annabelle noticed a crowd of people in the town square and went to see what was going on. In the middle of the crowd was a girl who looked about to be about ten years old with blonde curly hair wearing a pink dress and shoes. She was balancing on a big bed ball and on her shoulder was a small brown monkey wearing a green hat and bowtie. The girl was playing an organ grinder while the monkey was juggling four tiny balls. Annabelle clapped her hands and applauded. Just then, the monkey noticed her, hopped off the girl's shoulder and came scampering over to the puppet girl and her friends. Little Figgy was frightened by the strange animal and hid behind Annabelle's legs.
"Oh! Hello, there little guy. What kind of animal are you?" Annabelle asked having never seen a monkey before.
"I'm a monkey," The animal answered. "Wait, You can understand me?"
"Uh-huh. I can understand all animals." Annabelle explained to the little ape.
"That's amazing. It's nice to meet someone who can hear what I'm saying."
"Chester! Come here!" The curly-haired girl hopped off the ball and walked over. The monkey obeyed and climbed back onto her shoulder. "I apologize if my little ape friend was bothering you guys."
"He wasn't bothering us," Annabelle replied. "He's a cute little animal."
"Hey, wait a minute! You're a wooden marionette!" The girl exclaimed.
"Yep. My name's Annabelle. And these are my friends Alex, Toby, and this is Figgy, my kitten."
"I'm Jiminy Cricket. I'm Annabelle's conscience." Said Jiminy. "I teach her what's wrong and right."
"My name is Olivia. And this little monkey is my friend, Chester. It's nice to meet you and your friends, Annabelle. By the way, how are you able to walk and talk without strings?"
"That's because Annabelle is special, Miss Olivia," Alex stated. "She was built by her father mister Pinocchio the Toymaker and brought to life by a magical fairy."
"Alex and I are her best friends, and we promised her father we would keep her safe," Toby explained.
"Wow! That's amazing. You have wonderful friends, Annabelle. And I love your little pink kitten." The girl reached out and petted Figgy.
"I like your little monkey friend, Olivia," Said Annabelle happily. "I've never seen an animal like him before. Where did you get him?"
"I got him from the circus. He's my performance partner." Olivia explained.
"Wait! You're with the circus?" Toby asked.
"Yes. My parents are the owners of the circus. We travel from town to town putting on exciting shows to entertain people. Its the greatest circus in the world!"
"Our parents are taking us to see your show when it opens." Said Alex.
"That's wonderful. Hey, How would guys like to come to see it now? I can show you around and introduce you to my parents and the performers and show you some of the other animals."
"That sounds like fun!" Annabelle cheered excitement. "What do you guys think?"
"Sounds like fun to me," Toby stated. "How about you, Alex?"
"A personal tour of the circus? Absolutely!" Alex agreed excitedly.
"Can we go to the circus with Olivia, Jiminy?" Annabelle asked the cricket.
"Well, Alright," Jiminy agreed. "As long as the ringmaster doesn't try and take advantage of what Annabelle is and tries to make her apart of the show."
"Oh don't worry, mister Cricket," Olivia assured him. "My papa's a nice man and never takes advantage of people for looking strange and unusual and try to recruit them for his circus." Jiminy felt the girl was being honest and thought no harm would come to Annabelle as long as her friends were with her.
"Alright then. We all go," Jiminy nodded. Olivia led them back the gang to the big field where the circus was being set up. Annabelle was very excited to see all the performers and animals.
"Welcome back, Miss Olivia." One of the performers walked over and greeted them it was a tall muscular man with a bald head and handlebar mustache. Annabelle and the children were amazed by his size and muscles.
"This is Fred, the Stronge man," Olivia introduced the man. "Hey, Fred, is Papa around? I made friends in town and I'd like to introduce them to him."
"The boss is over in the big top tent with your mother." The man pointed out the large red and white striped tent.
"Ok, thanks, Fred. Come on, guys." The children followed Olivia into the big tent where workers were setting up bleachers and props for the show. Directing the workers were was a man wearing a big jacket and top hat, and a woman wearing a white feathery tutu.
"Papa! Mama! I'm back!" Olivia called to them.
"Ah! Olivia! Welcome back my darling." Said the ringmaster happily.
"Did you and Chester have fun in town?" Asked Olivia's mother.
"We sure did. And I made some new friends. This is Annabelle, and these are her friends, Alex, Toby, and Jiminy Cricket." Annabelle and Alex curtsied and Toby waved.
"By the stars!" The ringmaster gasped. "Do you see what I see Claire?"
"Is...Is that a marionette that's moving on its own without strings?" The woman and her husband stared in amazement at the living puppet girl.
"Sorry, Annabelle, my parents aren't used to seeing puppets that can walk and talk," Olivia added.
"That's ok, Olivia. I'm used to it by now." Annabelle replied.
"Well, anyway it's nice to see you made some friends, Olivia dear." Olivia's mother smiled pleasantly.
"Yes. Welcome to our circus, Olivia's friends. I am the ringmaster Mister Roberto. This is Lady Claire, our star performer, and my beautiful wife."
"It's very nice to meet you, Olivia's mom and dad," Annabelle said politely. "I've never seen a circus before. So I can't wait to see your show."
"Well then, you and your friends are in for a big surprise, little puppet girl," said the ringmaster proudly. "We're about to put on the greatest show this town has ever seen!"
"Chester and I are going to be performing in the show too," Olivia stated.
"Oooh! I can't wait to see your two perform." Annabelle added. Just then, one of the workers walked over to where the ringmaster was standing.
"Pardon me, Mister Roberto," the man inquired.
"What is it, Gerald?" Mister Roberto answered.
"It's those new two workers you hired, sir! They've been slacking off again!" The worker explained.
"You mean those animal fellows? Ugh! Not again!" The ringmaster said in an irritated manner.
"Don't worry, papa, I'll go straighten them out for you," Olivia offered.
"Thank you, sweetie. Tell them that they'd better shape up, or they're fired." Mister Roberto instructed his daughter.
"Got it. Come on, guys." Annabelle and her friends followed Olivia out of the tent to confront the lazy workers.
"Where are we going, Olivia?" Annabelle asked.
"My dad hired these two animal men to help out with setting up the circus, but their lazy and always slacking off."
"Their no good if you ask me," Chester added, but only Annabelle heard him.
"Why doesn't your dad fire them?" Toby asked.
"Cause we need help in setting up our show. But I don't trust those two bums. They're dressed like hobos and are look untrustworthy." The description of these animal people sounded familiar to Jiminy and Annabelle.
"These guys wouldn't happen to be a fox and a cat. Would they?" Jiminy asked curiously. But before Olivia could answer, they turned a corner and saw hobo Fox and Cat standing by a wagon.
"Oh no! It's them!" Annabelle shouted in fear. It was Honest John and his partner Gideon. Annabelle scooped up Figgy, grabbed Olivia's hand and ducked behind a wagon. Alex and Toby hid followed her.
"What's the matter, Annabelle? Do you those two?" Olivia asked.
"That's mister Honest John and Gideon! Their bad guys, Olivia!" Annabelle explained.
"She right, Olivia," Jiminy agreed. "Those two are con artists. They sold Annabelle's father Pinocchio to a greedy puppet master named Stromboli many years ago. They also used her a bait so they could capture him again."
"They also tricked Annabelle's dad and my brother Lampwick to go to a place called Pleasure Island where bad kids turn into donkeys!" Toby said angrily. Olivia was surprised when she learned who these villains were.
"I knew those two were crooks! I better to tell papa about-" But before they could leave, a loud voice spoke to them.
"Well, well, if it isn't Little Miss Annabelle! Long time no see!" Everyone turned to see Honest John and Gideon watching them.
"What are you two doing here?" Annabelle asked them.
"The circus is in town, so we decided to help out to earn some cash." Honest explained. Annabelle and her friends all stared at the fox and cat with distrust.
"You're in big trouble, Mister Foul Fellow!" Olivia exclaimed. "My friends here told me that your both wanted criminals!" Honest became nervous when he heard this. But he quickly thought of a way to explain himself.
"Yes, it's true. We used to be criminals and con artists. But we've decided to change our ways and go straight from now on. Right, Giddy?" The cat nodded his head in agreement. But Annabelle and Jiminy didn't believe them.
"How do we know you're telling the truth?" said Annabelle unconvinced. "Daddy and Jiminy told me you're always lying and mislead people!"
"What about my brother?" Toby shouted angrily. "Jiminy told me you tricked him and a bunch of other boys into going to Pleasure island where they were all turned into donkeys!"
"Ah! I thought you looked familiar, young lad," said Honest looking at Toby. "I assure you, we didn't know what became of those poor boys. That wicked coachmen made us search for disobedient kids and took them away. We are truly sorry for your brother's loss."
"Don't you kids believe him!" Jiminy shouted. "These two can't be trusted!" When Gideon saw Jiminy, he took out his hammer, but Honest snatched it away.
"Ah, ah, ah, Gideon! Be nice to the little cricket." He told his partner. Gideon eminently put his hammer away. "Please forgive my partner, Mister Cricket. I promise you, our days of swindling and misleading are over."
"Why should we believe you?" Alex asked. "After everything you did to Annabelle's dad and Toby's brother? You should both be locked up in jail!"
"Come on, guys," Olivia spoke up. "My papa says no matter how bad people were in the past, they deserve a chance to change their ways."
"As much as I hate to admit it," said Jiminy hesitantly. "Olivia is right. Everyone deserves a second chance. Even crooks like these two I guess."
"Well, if Jiminy says we should forgive them, then I do." Annabelle walked up to Honest and Gideon and shook both their hands.
"Thank you, Annabelle, dear." Honest smiled and patted her head. "Please give your father our humblest apologies. We'll never trouble you or your friends again. You have my word." Gideon walked, pulled out a flower from his pocket and gave it to Annabelle as a token of forgiveness.
"Alright. But you guys better keep up with your work and don't try anything sneaky or I'll tell my parents and they'll turn you over to the police." Olivia informed them.
"Of course, miss Olivia. Come, Gideon, we have work to do. Ta, ta, children!" Honest and Gideon left and started moving one of the wagons towards the tent.
"Are you sure it's a good idea letting them work for your circus, Olivia?" Said Annabelle.
"Annie's right," Alex agreed. "Suppose they're up to no good."
"If they are, then I'll tell my papa. But we have to at least give them a chance to prove that they've changed."
"I don't think those two can ever change," Jiminy said remembering all the bad things Honest and Gideon had done to Pinocchio.
"How about we get back to our tour for now, ok?" Olivia suggested.
"Ok," Annabelle replied. Olivia proceeded to show Annabelle and the others around the circus. She introduced them to the performers and trained animals. Annabelle loved seeing all the exotic animals. When she returned home, she told Pinocchio about her new friend but hadn't mentioned Honest John and Gideon to him. Later in the evening, she talked with Jiminy in her room.
"Why didn't you tell him about the cons?" Jiminy asked.
"Sorry, Jiminy. But you how he worries about me. If I told him, he might not take me to see Olivia's show."
"I suppose your right. Besides, if the Foul fellow and Gideon have truly turned themselves around we have to give them a chance."
"Do really believe Honest and Gideon have changed, Jiminy?"
"Of course not! Those two are up to something. I think we should keep an eye on them."
"Good idea." Annabelle agreed. "We'll go back tomorrow and if they're up to something."
"Sounds like a plan," Jiminy agreed.
End of chapter of 19
