Weeks had passed since the incident with Lampwick and Pinocchio getting into a fight with him. Lampwick, though enforced with a harsh punishment, did not show any willingness to change his ways. Even Outside of school he engaged in delinquent behavior, this along side his consistently playing hooky. He tried to be friends with Pinocchio after the fight, but Pinocchio said no. It was partly due to Geppetto's advice.

"Pinocchio, I don't want you hanging around this boy. He may be a bad influence on you. He has no regard for rules and has little to no respect for his elders. If he ever tries to be your friend or offer you to do something you don't like or know is wrong, you just tell him no."

Pinocchio listened to Geppetto on this, and if Lampwick ever tried anything, Pinocchio went and told Signora Constantina or any other adult he trusted.

One day, when Pinocchio came home from school, Geppetto had just finished setting up lunch when Pinocchio picked his plate and said, "I'm taking my food upstairs to my room. I've got homework to take care of."

Geppetto stopped him and said, "no, Pinocchio. You need to eat at the table. You wouldn't want your food getting all over your work and your books."

Pinocchio gave a frown. "I said, I'm taking my food to my damn room!"

Geppetto suddenly gasped.

"Pinocchio! What on earth?! Where did you get the idea to speak to me that way?"

Pinocchio felt ashamed of what he just did.

"I'm sorry, father. I didn't mean to be disrespectful. I'll come eat at the table."

So, they both sat down. And Geppetto looked at him.

"Pinocchio, I just want to ask after that little snap just now, you haven't been hanging out with that Lampwick boy, have you?"

"No, father. I have not. That behavior just now was my own." Pinocchio responded.

"Son, I want what's best for you. And I don't want you to be like Lampwick. And there's much more than that. I know you haven't really been wanting to spend as much time with me lately. Is there something wrong? You can tell me."

Pinocchio let out a sigh and confessed.

"I have to admit my trust in you has been shaken."

"Why? Have I done something wrong?"

"I don't…uh…I don't know what to say," Pinocchio answered. He hung his head a bit feeling rather downtrodden.

"It's because of how I lied to you about your mother, isn't it? You still feel scarred by it, don't you?"

"Yes."

"I know what I did was wrong, and I did say I was sorry. I can only hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me," Geppetto pleaded. "I'm scared for you, Pinocchio. You're all I have left as far as family goes. And if you can't trust me, I don't know how I can ever earn it from you."

"It's going to take a long time for me to ever completely trust you. I don't hate you, Father. I just hate what you did."

"I understand, Pinocchio. I just want you to know, I admit I made a mistake when I hid it from you, but I love you very much," Geppetto sighed. "I believed it was that my fatherly love that kept me from telling you the truth hoping I could keep you happy. But I realize now, it was fear that caused it."

Geppetto got up and walked to a chair nearby in the other room as Pinocchio followed. Geppetto sat and out his head in his hand.

"Pinocchio, I don't know if you realize you're at least fortunate to have at least a father. Because I wasn't like you when I was a child. I had no parents. I never knew my mother or my father. I'm hard on you sometimes because I want you to have everything I never had. That's why I want you to know you're at least lucky to have a parent. When I found out we were to have you, I was determined to be what I never had before. To have what your mother and I never had. All of that has become even harder to live up to since your mother…."

Geppetto lost his train of thought there and then. He cut himself off in grief.

"I'm sorry if I upset you," Pinocchio said.

"It's not you, Pinocchio. I just…don't know if I've been as good as father as I thought I'd be. Had I just told you sooner, I suppose I wouldn't feel this way. Go ahead and take care of your homework."

So, Pinocchio finished his lunch and went to his room. With Jiminy's help, he got all his homework finished. Meanwhile, Geppetto sat downstairs pondering to himself.

"How can I ever make up for what I've done? My own son doesn't trust me. And it happens to be my own fault. Oh, how I wish Francesca had lived and could be here now. She could help me realize the error of my ways and tell me where I went wrong."

Pinocchio came downstairs. There was something he wanted to tell Geppetto.

"Father, there is something I have been meaning to tell you. Something at school. Signora Constantina is hosting a talent show next month. I thought maybe, I could do something for it."

Geppetto raised his head. He suddenly smiled.

"Pinocchio, I think I have an idea. Do you remember when you were little, and you used to move around like a puppet and sing and dance?"

"Yes."

"Perhaps we could arrange for an act where you could do that. Remember the song?"

"Yes, I do."

"You used to sing that to cheer me up sometimes and you would move your arms and legs like a puppet. It used to make me so happy when you would do that. I think they would love that. I'll talk to your teacher and see what we can arrange for it."

"Gee, that would be swell," Pinocchio replied excitedly.

About a month went by, Geppetto had told Signora Constantina what he wanted Pinocchio to do, and she said, "why that's a wonderful idea."

She asked the class to help to create props and backdrops and Geppetto gave puppeteering lessons to the kids. Geppetto told Frederico and his family. They were ecstatic as well. Martina and Beatrice agreed to watch Figaro and Cleo the night of the show while Frederico would go with Geppetto to watch. Finally, the night of the talent show arrived. As Pinocchio and Geppetto walked to the local stage theater where the show was to take place, Geppetto was excited.

"My little boy's first public performance. Are you excited, Pinocchio?"

"I…I…I…I don't know," Pinocchio answered nervously.

Geppetto stopped quickly and talked to Pinocchio.

"What's wrong? Why are you afraid?"

"I don't know if I'll do good at this. What if I make a fool of myself?"

"Oh, Pinocchio. You're going to be fine. We've been rehearsing this for weeks."

"I can't. I've got stage fright."

"Pinocchio, I know you're having a hard time trusting me, but just believe me. I understand stage fright. A lot of great performers have had it too. But they never let it stop them. Don't be afraid, Son. Just get on stage, do your act the best you can, and you'll be fine."

"You promise me?"

"I promise, son. Now come on. Signora Constantina is waiting with her make up. We're going to make your face look like a wooden puppet to fit the act."

So, they went. All the other students performed their acts while Geppetto and Signora Constantina prepped Pinocchio. After they were done, Geppetto went to the audience to join Frederico. Jiminy sat on top of Geppetto's head to get a good view.

Lampwick tried to do a juggling act but failed. He made a fool of himself on stage. Pinocchio wanted to laugh at him but remembered that would probably be rude to do so. Signora Constantina walked on stage. And she announced, "And now, for the final act tonight, we have one of my favorite students performing an act about a puppet without strings. With the help of some of my students and some work from his father, Signor Geppetto Woodworth, I now present, Pinocchio performing a song he and his father call "I've got no strings."

With a short round of applause, the curtains rose with a fanfare. Pinocchio took a deep breath and went on stage.

"I've got no strings to hold me…."

His act was interrupted as he tripped over and fell. People started laughing. Pinocchio looked up and saw. He was embarrassed.

"I don't think he meant to do that," said Jiminy. "After all, it is his first performance."

Signora Constantina came and helped Pinocchio up.

"Hold on, everybody. Hold on. Just a minor slip up. We'll restart the act in just a moment."

She turned to Pinocchio.

"Are you alright?"

"I messed up. I didn't mean to. I…."

"Pinocchio, it's alright. You can still do this. Don't be embarrassed, go out and try again. it's okay."

Pinocchio regained his confidence and they picked up the act where they left off while Pinocchio danced like a puppet singing,

"I've got no strings

To hold me down

To make me fret, or make me frown

I had strings

But now I'm free

There are no strings on me

Hi-ho the merry-o

I'm as happy as can be

I want the world to know

Nothing ever worries me

I've got no strings

So I have fun

I'm not tied up to anyone

They've got strings

But you can see

There are no strings on me"

As the audience gave applause to the first half, Pinocchio felt proud of himself as the backdrop changed to a Dutch countryside. One of his classmates came on stage as a Dutch girl beside him. And she sang, with a Dutch accent,

"You have no strings

Your arms is free

To love me by the Zuyder Zee

Ja, ja, ja

If you would woo

I'd bust my strings for you"

Pinocchio did a short dance with her as a group of Dutch puppets danced behind them to the music. The scene changed to France. Next classmate was a French girl.

"You've got no strings

Comme ci comme ça

Your savoir-faire is ooh la la!

I've got strings

But entre nous

I'd cut my strings for you"

Behind them the classmates puppetered a group of French marionette woman dancing a can-can. Before long, the scenery soon changed to Russia. One girl came aside with a Russian accent,

"Down where the Volga flows

There's a Russian rendezvous

Where me and Ivan go

But I'd rather go with you"

"Hey!"

She disappeared. Several boys came out dressed as Kossacks dancing the Hopak. Pinocchio didn't remember this being part of the act. But he decided to improvise. He decided to join in. Geppetto watched with a grin the whole time. Finally, as the music was wrapping up, Pinocchio jumped out from t and center and sang out,

"There are no strings on me"

He took a bow as the last note hit. The audience cheered with applause. Even Geppetto was proud.

"That's my boy!" he called out. Pinocchio went backstage with the others. The

Classmates all crowded him with praise.

"Alright, children. That's enough! Let him through!" Signora Constantina demanded and Pinocchio walked over to her.

She brought him over to Geppetto. Geppetto ran over and picked him up.

"Pinocchio, you did great. I'm so proud of you," he said happily.

I've never seen such talent like that. It seems you were quite the success," Constantina added. "I bet you'd make a great actor, even grow up to be one.

Pinocchio smiled and said, "that sounds great. But I want to be a woodcarver like my father."

"Pinocchio, there are plenty of people who do other things that sometimes perform part time as well," Geppetto explained. "You have talent, but I want you to decide what you could do with it."

"I'll think about it," Pinocchio said.

"Well, we better get home. It's almost dinner time then we need to get you to bed. Thank you, Signora Constantina."

"My pleasure for helping with this, Signor Geppetto. Both of you have a good weekend."

Geppetto and Pinocchio walked home with Fredrico.

"Do you really think I did great, father?"

"Pinocchio, you truly did. A little boost of confidence is all you need sometimes."

"You should think about being in plays or shows sometimes," Fredrico told him.

"I really think you'd be good at it as more of a side thing."

"Why?"

"We're not forcing you too. It's just an idea," Geppetto explained.

"It's up to you, Pinocchio. They're only trying to find something good for you," Jiminy said. "I you don't want to do it, you don't have to, but they know that's for you to decide."

They arrived at the house. Figaro ran to the door as it opened to greet Pinocchio and Geppetto. He jumped at Pinocchio right away as Pinocchio petted him and scratched behind his ears.

"How was the show?" Martina asked.

"Pinocchio did great. They loved him!" Fredrico exclaimed. His teacher was most impressed."

They spent a good long while talking about the show as Geppetto gave Pinocchio his dinner while Jiminy went up to his dollhouse. Soon after Pinocchio ate, Fredrico and his family left. Geppetto went and put Pinocchio to bed. He sat on the bed and talked to Pinocchio.

"Son, I don't blame you for how you've been distrusting of me, considering how I hid your mother's death from you. Do you think you can ever trust me again?"

"Well," Pinocchio responded. "I guess tonight when you helped me boost my confidence for the show might be a start."

"I know it's going to be hard, Pinocchio. But I'm worried about our relationship as father and son. I don't want that relationship to die, son."

"I understand, father. I do love you, but I still can't be sure of a lot."

"Pinocchio, trust and forgiveness. They're not always the easiest things to earn. Believe me, I know. There are always people out there you just can't trust. More than that, your damaged trust in me is what I need help trying to fix. We can't be much of a family together without trust, Pinocchio. How can we have love without trust?"

"I don't know, Father. But trust you or not, I still love you."

"I love you too."

Geppetto gave Pinocchio a hug. Pinocchio couldn't help but return the embrace.

"Now get some sleep. You've had quite a day. Good night, son."

Geppetto walked off as he left Figaro to jump up on Pinocchio's bed.

"Come on, Figaro," said Pinocchio. He cuddled Figaro into his arm as they both fell asleep together.

Geppetto talked to Jiminy downstairs in the workshop.

"Jiminy, I'm still worried about my relationship with Pinocchio."

"Give it time, Mr. Geppetto. He's just a boy. Children are not always as easy to earn trust from as much as adults can be."

"I don't want to lose him or his love, Jiminy. He's all I have. He and I are the only family each of us has. I love him more than anything in the world."

"I know it's hard, Mr. Geppetto. I know. I'm looking out for him too. He's a good boy."

Geppetto didn't say another word. He just smiled and went to bed. Jiminy went back to his dollhouse and went to bed too. He then thought to himself, "If only there was something I could do to help them both. A bond between a father and son is such a fragile thing."

Jiminy held out a bit of hope. Hope that maybe things would turn out alright in the end for his friends.