Chapter 12: Sickness and Care

Although Geppetto's case of Pinocchio's terrible twos was now under control, some people never seemed to get the message. The worst case of denial was a small set of rumors going around after the vase fiasco. Some people were saying Geppetto deliberately beat Pinocchio out of malice to attack him.

"Rubbish and poppycock!" Others would say. " Geppetto would never deliberately hurt him."

"Even though Pinocchio may have been acting like a little hellion, I can't imagine the fact Geppetto would even lay his hand on that child."

"I agree, I may have had my doubts about raising that boy without his mama, but I never thought he'd do a thing like that."

Nevertheless, despite any gossip that had spread, Geppetto reassured everyone that he would never harm Pinocchio and he had nothing but love and care for him.

One night, Geppetto and Pinocchio were playing in the living room when Geppetto picked him up.

"Come on, Pinocchio. It's bedtime for you."

"But I no wanna go bed, daddy. I wanna pway more piwates."

"Pinocchio, I know. But it's getting late. It's almost past your bedtime. We'll play more tomorrow."

Geppetto took Pinocchio to his room, changed him from his clothes into a pair of green pajamas, and tucked him into the bed with his teddy bear.

"There you go, son. Teddy will keep you nice and safe all by your side. And here's your cricket doll."

Pinocchio took the little green doll and held it by his side and smiled.

"Daddy, will you read me a story? Pwwwease."

Geppetto looked at the innocent toddler and his puppy dog eyes. How could he say no to that precious little face of that sweet little boy of his?

"Ok, Pinocchio. Ok."

Geppetto went and got a storybook to read to his son and sat by his bed with it.

"Pinocchio, remember when you lied to daddy when you broke that vase?" Geppetto asked calmly.

"No," answered Pinocchio. His nose grew only a couple inches suddenly.

"Now, remember. You promised me, Pinocchio. No more lying to daddy."

"Oh," uttered Pinocchio. "I forgot. Pinocchio, sorry."

"It's alright, Pinocchio. 2 year olds can't always remember everything like that. But I hope you learned your lesson about that. Because tonight's bedtime story is about a little boy who lied to people all the time. It's called the boy who cried wolf."

So, Geppetto opened the book and read the story about the boy and his sheep he was tending to during which he called out Wolf repeatedly for attention, but when they reached the end of the story, Pinocchio was shocked to see what had happened. The boy in the story lied so much, no one came to help him when he really needed it.

"So, you see, Pinocchio, that is what happens when you keep lying," Geppetto explained. "People stop believing you, and they still won't trust you even if you do tell the truth."

"But, daddy. You twust me?" Pinocchio asked sadly.

"Of course, Pinocchio. I do trust you. Because I think you learned your lesson about lying from before. You made me a promise and I expect you to keep it. Even if you gave me good reason not to trust you, I love you, no matter what. But don't lie to daddy. Okay?"

"Ok. Daddy, how come my nose grow when I lie and boy in story didn't?"

"That's a good question for another time, son. Now go to sleep. It's getting late. Nighty night, Pinocchio," Geppetto said as he rubbed his sons head and walked off for the night as Pinocchio fell asleep.


A week or two later, Geppetto woke up one morning to hear Pinocchio whimpering and moaning. He got up and ran to Pinocchio's bed room. Pinocchio looked like he was ill.

"Daddy! My tummy hurts!"

Geppetto placed his hand on Pinocchio's forehead and felt warmth.

"Oh my goodness. Pinocchio. You're burning up with a fever too. Come on. I'll take you to the doctor. He'll know what to do." Geppetto got himself dressed and carried Pinocchio to Doctor Collodi's house.

Doctor Collodi rushed to answer the door and opened it as soon as he heard Geppetto knocking.

"Oh,Doctor. Thank goodness I got here to you. I need your help. Pinocchio's not feeling well. He's got a stomach ache and a fever," Geppetto explained in a slight state of panic.

"I see," the doctor responded. "Bring him inside and I'll take a look at him."

They both stepped in and Collodi examined the child. First he checked Pinocchio's heatrate and breathing patterns with a stethoscope, then he took his temperature.

"His heart rate is alright. But his body heat is rather high. He does have a fever. You said he was feeling nausea, I believe. And he does have some stomach pains. Has he experienced any vomiting?"

"Yes. He has. He threw up slightly on our way over."

"I see. It's apparently a common stomach virus. Stay here with him and I'll find some medicine. It should help him."

While Doctor Collodi went to check for medicine, Geppetto stayed and comforted the ill toddler.

"It's going to be alright, Pinocchio. Don't be scared. The doctor went to get something to help you."

"Daddy, how long I be sick?" Pinocchio asked with some tears worrying.

"Hopefully not too long, Pinocchio. As long we start getting you treated, you'll be alright."

Doctor Collodi walked back into the room with some medicine to give Geppetto.

"Here. Make sure he takes two spoonfuls of this every 3 hours. How's his stomach?"

"He feels like he's going to vomit again."

"I have something that might control that. These pills should help. Make sure he gets plenty of rest and give him lots of water. I'll be by your house later to check on him, if that's alright with you."

"Thank you, Doctor Collodi. I'll take him home right away. Come on, Pinocchio. I'll carry you home."

Geppetto gave Pinocchio some of the pills to help his stomach and carried him home. When they arrived at the house, he saw some children outside waiting to come inside to look at the new toys.

"Sorry, kids. Not today. Pinocchio's sick and I have to take care of him. You can come by tomorrow."

The kids were disappointed but they understood.

Geppetto carried Pinocchio inside and put him in the bed. Pinocchio still ached in his stomach and was still a bit warm, but the pills did help him.

"Alright, Pinocchio. You're gonna be staying in bed today. Until you get better. Don't get out of bed unless I say so. I'll go make you something to eat and bring you your medicine around 10 o'clock, okay?"

"Ok,"Pinocchio mumbled. "Daddy, where Figaro?"

"Figaro? I'll go get him. He can keep you company for a bit while I go find something for you to have to eat."

Geppetto found Figaro and put him with Pinocchio for a while until he came back with a tray of food.

"Here, Pinocchio. Some ginger ale for your stomach and tomato soup.

"Can I have some milk, daddy? Pwease?" Asked Pinocchio innocently.

"No, Pinocchio. When your tummy is this bad, you can't be having milk. It makes it worse. Sorry, but that's just how it is."

"Daddy, will you take care of me?"

"Of course, Pinocchio. I want you to get better. You're gonna be okay. I promise," said Geppetto as he placed his hand on Pinocchio's face to comfort him.

So, Geppetto gave him food and read him a storybook. Afterwards Pinocchio took a nap while Geppetto went to do some laundry. As Geppetto was hanging the clothes on the clothespin, Martina walked by.

"Hi, Mr. Geppetto. How's Pinocchio doing? I thought I'd come play with him on my way home from school."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Martina. He's sick today. He's upstairs taking a nap. He woke up with a tummy ache and a fever. He's in bed all day."

"Ok. I hope he gets better. I wish I could do something for him," Martina said.

"That's very kind of you, Martina. I'm gonna go check on him now."

Geppetto went to feed Cleo and then walked up to Pinocchio's room with Figaro. Pinocchio was still asleep. Geppetto stood by the bed and felt Pinocchio's forehead.

"His fever's starting to get better already, Figaro. But I bet he still needs more medicine for his stomach."

Just then Pinocchio opened his eyes and woke up from his nap.

"Hi, daddy," he said innocently with a smile.

"Hello, Pinocchio. Your fever's getting better. Does your tummy still hurt?"

Pinocchio nodded a yes. But was smiling.

"that's good that you're at least starting to feel better. But you still need more time, at least a couple more days to rest. How about a nice bath in a while?"

Pinocchio suddenly started to flinch and felt his tummy stirring up. Geppetto grabbed a bucket and placed Pinocchio's head over it. Pinocchio let out some vomit into it and laid back down.

"It's alright. Sometimes throwing up is a part of being sick. Soon as you get better it'll go away.

Doctor Collodi suddenly walked in the room.

"Oh, Doctor. I forgot you were coming. I'm so sorry. I…."

"Don't worry about it Mr. Geppetto. I didn't knock on the door because I didn't wanna disturb you in case Pinocchio was sleeping. Would you leave me with Pinocchio so I can make sure he's alright?"

"Sure, Doctor. Pinocchio, I'm gonna leave you with the Doctor for a bit."

Doctor Collodi examined Pinocchio by taking his temperature and confirming his fever was going down, then checked his vision and hearing, along with his heartbeat.

Collodi walked out of the room a short time later.

" it seems he's already starting to get better. At least a couple more days of rest will help him. He's still bothered by stomach but at least he's losing his fever. That's good. Check back with me as soon as he's feeling better or anything else happens."

"I will, Dr. Collodi. Thank you."

Geppetto walked back into the bedroom and checked on Pinocchio.

"Now come on, bathtime."

As Geppetto placed Pinocchio into bathtub he warned Pinocchio, "now remember, hold still so that we don't get soap in your eyes.

Pinocchio did as he was told and had a nice comfortable bath, and a fun one too as Geppetto kept him entertained with a toy boat and a rubber ducky and squid. Soon, he took Pinocchio out of the bath and dried him off, then took him back to his bed.

"I'm sorry you didn't feel well today, Pinocchio. But at least you have me here taking care of you. That's the important thing."

Geppetto fed Pinocchio some soup and gave him his medicine. Pinocchio felt tired.

" I know you're tired, little wooden head. it's been quite a day. Go ahead and get some sleep for the night."

Geppetto gave him his teddy bear and walked off.

"Daddy," Pinocchio interjected. "Can I have a drink of water?"

"Alright, Pinocchio. Just a quick one."

So Geppetto gave him a glass of water and then Pinocchio went to sleep after giving some love and attention to Figaro. Figaro gave Pinocchio a little lick on the nose in return. Over the next couple days Geppetto spent every possible moment with Pinocchio making sure he got better. He ever would make sure Figaro kept him company when he had to tend to the workshop. Eventually Pinocchio felt better at last.

"Daddy, I feel better. No more sick."

"That's wonderful, Pinocchio. I'm so glad you're feeling a lot better. You did so good staying in bed and doing as you were told. How about a hug?"

Geppetto picked up a Pinocchio and gave him a nice big hug as Pinocchio returned the embrace.

'Don't ever forget Pinocchio. Daddy loves you so much. I'll always take care of you when you're sick, sad or hurt or anything. Now come on. Let's go play."

And so the father and son ran off to play together.