Annabelle Chapter 16 A big fight

As Annabelle and figgy hurried back to town, they saw Alex's mother running around and calling for them. Pinocchio had asked her to look for his daughter and when he learned she hadn't been to school.

"Miss Julianna! Here we are!" Annabelle called out to the women.

"Annabelle!" Julianna exclaimed running towards her. "We've been looking everywhere for you! Your father is worried desperately about you! I've got to get you home!" She swept the wooden girl and kitten into her arms and carried them back to the house. Pinocchio was relieved that Annabelle was safe and nothing happened to her but he was also very upset with her for playing hooky from school and Jiminy was cross too and curious about where she had been all day.

"Annabelle, you've got a lot of explaining to do little missy!" Pinocchio said sternly. "Miss Lorraine said you weren't in school today and I heard you got in trouble with the police!"

"You had better tell the truth, Annabelle," Jiminy warmed her. "Because we'll know if you lie!" At first, Annabelle was too afraid to tell them what happened. She looked back at Julianna who looked more concerned than angry.

"Please, tell us where you've been, Annabelle." She encouraged her. Annabelle knew what she had to do, so she turned to her father and the cricket and explained to them what happened.

"I'm sorry, Daddy and Jiminy," Annabelle started to apologize. "I didn't mean to play hooky from school! Andre and his friends tricked me into going to the beach to find the green fisherman. We got into a fight and Toby got hurt and the police thought I beat him up and tried to arrest me so I ran away."

"You shouldn't have run away from them, Annabelle," Jiminy stated. "You only made yourself look more guilty. More importantly, you shouldn't have skipped school to look for that fairytale fishermen!"

"Jiminy is right, young lady!" Pinocchio agreed. "Toby's mother and father were upset with him for skipping school and getting into a fight, all because you wanted to see if this fisherman was real!" Annabelle felt greatly ashamed for getting her friend in trouble.

"But he IS real, Daddy! I met him on the beach and made friends with him." Pinocchio, Julianna, and the cricket all looked confused by what she said.

"What are you talking about, Annabelle?" Julianna asked.

"The fishermen's name is mister Joe, and he invited me and Figgy to his boathouse where told us how he left the village because the townspeople thought he was an ugly monster." Pinocchio became more upset when she told him where she had been all day.

"Annabelle, What have I told you about talking to or going places with strange people?" He asked sternly.

"But Daddy, I-"

"Didn't you learn from what happened with Honest John and Gideon? What if this man tried to kidnap you and sell you to the circus or something!"

"But he's not a bad man like Mister Honest John and Gideon, Daddy! He's a poor lonely misunderstood old man!" Annabelle explained.

"I don't care!" Pinocchio shouted. "I've told you how many times not to trust people you don't know! You're not getting off the hook this time young lady!"

"Pinocchio! Relax! You don't have to be so angry at her!" Julianna exclaimed trying to calm him down but Pinocchio ignored her words.

"I'm sorry Annabelle, I'm going to have to punish! You are grounded for a week!" Pinocchio said firmly.

"Grounded? What does that mean?" Annabelle asked having never been punished before.

"It means you are not allowed to leave the house unless I tell you to except for school, and no friends either! And I don't want you going anywhere near the shore or that strange fisherman anymore! Do you understand?"

"B-But daddy I promised mister Joe I was would go back and see him and help him so he could come back to the village!"

"No, Annabelle! I don't want you talking to some creepy old hermit that lives out of town!" Being told she couldn't go back and see mister Joe made Annabelle upset.

"That's not fair! Your mean daddy! Not all people are bad like Honest John and Stromboli!" Annabelle shouted. This made Pinocchio angrier at her.

"Don't you talk like that, young lady! I'm your father, and you'll do as I say!" He said loudly.

"Pinocchio! Annabelle!" Julianna tried to intervene but they ignored her.

"No! I won't listen to something who thinks all people are bad and can't be trusted! I hate you! " Annabelle started to cry and ran upstairs to her bedroom door and they heard her slam door.

"I think you were a bit too hard on her, Pinocchio!" Said Julianna thinking he was being too harsh unfair correcting his daughter.

"I have to agree with Julianna, Pinoke," said Jiminy. "You're being too overprotective of her again. I understand your upset, but yelling isn't the way to teach her what's best."

"She has to learn that there are consequences for not listening!" Pinocchio insisted. "She deliberately skipped school, and trusted a stranger!"

"As I recall, Pinocchio, you played hooky from school quite a few times when we were young, and talked to strangers when Geppetto told you not to!" Hearing this, Jiminy turned to his friend in surprise. Pinocchio became even more upset when she said this out loud.

"Excuse me, Miss Antonio! But I don't you to bringing of my childhood or telling me how to raise my kid!" Julianna felt greatly offended by this. Pinocchio had never called her by her last name or talked to her so rudely.

"Fine then! I suppose I'll leave! Goodbye!" She then furiously walked out the door. Realizing he had upset his friend, Pinocchio's anger subsided and he felt guilty for letting his temper get out of control.

"That was very rude of you to speak to her like that!, Pinoke," Jiminy stated folding his arms and tapping his foot. "All because you were embarrassed that she mentioned you misbehaving when you were a boy. You ought to be ashamed of yourself young man!" Pinocchio bowed his head and sighed.

"You're right, Jiminy. I didn't mean to get so angry at Annabelle and Julie. I should go and apologize to her." Pinocchio knew he had to do so he hurried out the door after Julianna. Jiminy hopped upstairs to check on Annabelle. He squeezed under the door and saw her sitting on the bed with her shoes off crying and Figgy was trying comfort her. The cricket hopped onto the bed and approached her slowly.

"Annabelle? Are you all alright? " He said calmly. The puppet girl lifted her head and saw him standing between her feet.

"I'm sorry, Jiminy," She sobbed. "I gave in to temptation again and made daddy mad. I never should have run away from the police or gone with that old fisherman." Jiminy offered Annabelle his handkerchief which used to blow her nose and dry her eyes.

"I am disappointed that didn't listen to your conscience and gave into temptation," Jiminy replied. "But I'm glad you realized your mistakes and hopefully this teaches you a lesson."

"Yes, Jiminy," She nobbed her head in reply. "I heard daddy yelling at Miss Julieanna. Is he mad at her too?"

"She thought Pinocchio was being too unfair with you and he said acted rude to her and she left. But he's gone to apologize and should be back soon."

"Didn't have to be some mean and angry!" Annabelle scowled.

"He's not mean, Annabelle," Jiminy stated. "He just doesn't want anything to happen to you because of all the things he went through when he was a boy. You know he loves you." Annabelle felt guilty for yelling at Pinocchio.

"What should I do, Jiminy?" Annabelle asked.

"When your father returns, you should apologize to him for yelling and being disrespectful." Jiminy insisted.

MeanWhile, Pinocchio hurried into town to catch up with Julianna. After searching through the crowd of people, he spotted her passing by the bakery and ran towards her.

"JULIE! WAIT!" He called out frantically. Hearing his voice, Julianna stopped and turned around to see Pinocchio walking up to her with a sorrowful look in his eyes.

"What do you want?" She said in an angry tone still upset at him for earlier. Pinocchio breathed calmly and told her what he wanted to say.

"Julie, I...I wanted to apologize for what I said to you. You were right. I was being too hard on Annabelle. I shouldn't have been so angry and acted like a jerk to you. Can you ever forgive me?" Julianna was still a little upset with Pinocchio, but after hearing him apologize she couldn't stay mad at him.

"Its alright, Pinocchio," she said walking up and putting her hand on his shoulder. "I understand how hard it is trying to be a good parent and wanting of your child."

"I just don't want to lose her like I lost my father," Pinocchio explained.

"I understand, Pinocchio," said Julianna understandingly. "I went through the same thing with Alexandra. But you can't shield her from everything. You should give her more freedom. And she's going to make mistakes as you did."

"Your right. Thanks, Julie," Pinocchio smiled. "Your very smart and beautiful woman, and loving mother." Julianna's face turned red and she started to blush.

"Why, thank you, Pinocchio. That's very sweet of you." She leaned closer and gave him a kiss on his right cheek. Pinocchio was a bit surprised by this and didn't know what to say. Having made up amends, Pinocchio and Julianna made their by back to the house. When they entered the house, Pinocchio called for his daughter and came downstairs to the living room along with Jiminy and Figgy.

"Y-Yes, Daddy?" Said answered excepting to be scolded again. But instead, Pinocchio smiled, kneeled down and put rested his hands on her shoulders.

"I'm sorry for being angry at you, my little wooden princess," Pinocchio said calmly. "I made a lot of the same mistakes you did when I was a boy, shouldn't have been so hard on you. Can you forgive me?" Hearing him apologize, Annabelle smiled and hugged tightly.

"I forgive you, Daddy. And I'm super sorry about skipping school and going to the fishermen's boathouse. I promise I won't talk to or go places with strangers again." Pinocchio was glad to hear her say this and hoped she meant it. Julianna and Jiminy were glad to see Pinocchio and his daughter had reached common ground with each other.

"I suppose this means your ungrounded," Pinocchio said regrettably. "From now on you may walk around town freely without an escort. And If you want to help that old man then you have my permission to so."

"Really? Oh, thank you, daddy." Annabelle cheered with excitement. "But I think I'll wait till Alex and Toby are better. I want to introduce them to mister Joe."

"You have a very big heart, Annabelle," said Julianna. "Just like your father."

"Thank you, Miss Julianna," Annabelle walked over and hugged her too. Julianna smiled and patted the puppet girl's head.

The next morning, Annabelle walked to school on her own for the first time since the day she met the cons. However, she knew Miss Lorraine wouldn't be upset with her for playing hooky the previous day. When she arrived, the teacher looked displeased. But when Annabelle told her Andre and his friends tricked her, Miss Lorraine understood and gave the bullies detention instead. Annabelle walked over to Toby sitting at his desk. His eyes were still black and blue from the fight.

"I'm sorry, Toby," Annabelle said sorrowfully. "It's my fault you got in hurt and got in trouble with your parents."

"Its alright, Annabelle," Toby replied. "I should have insisted on us going to school yesterday like Alex would have done."

"It was my fault too. I shouldn't have persuaded you to take me to the ocean to look for the fisherman. Because of me, you got hurt. Can you ever forgive me?"

"Of course, I forgive you. That's what friends do," He said with a smile. Annabelle waited till after class, then explained to Toby how the police thought she attacked him and chased her and how she met mister Joe, the Fishermen. "Wow! So the Fisherman is real?" At first, he didn't believe her, but he knew she was honest.

"Uh-huh, but he's not a big scary monster. He's just a poor lonely old hermit that everyone thought was an ugly monster. That's why he left town." Annabelle explained to her friend.

"I see. Do you think you could take me and Alex to meet him sometime?" Toby asked.

"Sure! When Alex comes feels, we'll all go see mister Joe together, and we'll try and help him so he can come back to town." Toby nodded in agreement with Annabelle's plan and could hardly wait to meet the old green fishermen.

End of Chapter 16