As time went by, Pinocchio's growth and development slowly but surely made some additional progress, it wasn't long before he started regularly making incoherent babbling noises, which was a sign that his ability to speak was starting to come about.
One sunny September afternoon, while Pinocchio was taking a nap with Figaro, Geppetto was looking at an old picture of Francesca. He still remembered the moment she came home from Doctor Collodi and told her the joyous news that she was pregnant with Pinocchio. Every moment they spent together in that time was one joyous moment after another. Until the moment she contracted the illness in the 8th month. That was when his happiness turned to sadness. The moment she passed right after Pinocchio was born, that was when his heart shattered. A piece of it or two was yet restored when he held Pinocchio in his arms for the first time. For every moment he spent with Pinocchio still brought him much joy. Yet, he still never understood how such a joyous occasion could end in heartbreak. Keeping true to his vow to Francesca that he would raise Pinocchio as good as any other father should raise their own child, Geppetto carried on as she would have wanted him to.
With a smile and a tear, Geppetto placed the picture on the dresser and went over to Pinocchio's crib to check on him. Pinocchio was still fast asleep with Figaro cuddled tightly in his arm. His stuffed cricket toy in his left hand. His right hand close to his chest. As Geppetto gazed upon Pinocchio, he reached in and gave a small stroke of his son's head and rubbed it lovingly. The past 7 months since Pinocchio's birth had gone by quite faster than he noticed. But the joy he felt never faded. The one piece of his heart that he still held onto that was holding the other broken pieces of it together brought a smile to his face every time he looked at him.
Geppetto loved Pinocchio more than life itself. He had been very proud of himself for well he had been doing so far already in taking care of Pinocchio. He felt Francesca would be very proud of him as well.
"My dear, Pinocchio," He whispered to the boy. "You are the one thing I give so much time for only to be brought so much joy to myself in return. I love you more than anything else in this world. Even more so than the toys I make for children like you, or the clocks and music boxes on the shelves in this house. You will always be the one thing I treasure most, my little wooden head."
Pinocchio opened his eyes and yawned. Figaro woke up too. Geppetto lifted them both out of the crib. Figaro was placed down on the floor while Pinocchio was coddled close to Geppetto's shoulder. He took Pinocchio to the workshop. He left the boy to play with Figaro and some of his own baby toys while he was busy carving a new dollhouse he just finished up.
The door to the shop opened. A young couple and their daughter walked in.
"Why if it isn't little Martina. How are you doing?"
The little 7 year old girl walked up to the counter.
"Hello, Signor Geppetto. We haven't seen you in months," she replied kindly." "Mommy and daddy said they were very sorry about Signora Francesca."
"Thank you, dear. Your kindness brings warmth to my heart hearing that. Would you like to meet my son, Pinocchio? He's still only a baby, so be gentle. "And he can't yet talk."
The girl turned to her mother and father.
"Mommy, Daddy, can we see Mr. Geppetto's baby? Please?"
"Alright, but just be careful with him. And be nice," the girl's mother said.
Geppetto brought out the child and showed him to the little girl and her parents. And he placed him down on the floor
"Martina, Beatrice, Fredrico. This is my son, Pinocchio."
"oh, he's so cute," said the little girl. Pinocchio crawled over to her. "hey there, little guy."
"You should be happy, Mr. Geppetto. He's precious," Beatrice remarked with a smile.
Martina knelt down to Pinocchio to admire him a little more as he reached out his arm towards her.
"Can I hold him, Mr. Geppetto?"
"Of course."
Martina picked Pinocchio up to look at him. The boy's hand made it's way to her hair as his palm closed around one of her pigtails and he yanked on.
"Ow!" screamed Martina. "My hair!"
Pinocchio was startled by the loud noise he began crying loudly.
"Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare him. But that really hurt!"
"Oh, it's alright, Martina. I'll take care of this."
Geppetto picked him up and rocked him back and forth gently." In a few minutes. Pinocchio settled down. And everything was alright again."
Pinocchio turned back to Martina and smiled in forgiveness.
"I'm sorry, Pinokie. I didn't to scare you. I forgive you too."
Pinocchio let out a small giggle and suddenly hiccupped.
"Oh, he's got the hiccups," said Geppetto. "I have to go take care of him. I'm so sorry. But thanks for coming by."
"We have to go anyway. Thanks, Geppetto," said Fredrico. "But congratulations on your son. He's adorable."
They left as Geppetto took Pinocchio into the kitchen to get him to stop him from hiccupping. He placed the infant onto his shoulder and patted him on the back and Pinocchio let out a burp. His hiccups were gone. Soon it was time Pinocchio's afternoon feeding which went well. Pincchio's supper that night consisted of mashed peas and carrots, which he refused to eat.
"Pinocchio! Eat your food!" Geppetto scolded.
'Blargh!" babbled Pinocchio. As he knocked the spoon away.
"Eat your food or no bedtime stories tonight!"
So Pinocchio obeyed his father's orders and ate his food in spite of how much he hated it.
"See. Was that so hard?" Geppetto asked him. "What's wrong now? Need a change?"
Suddenly, Pinocchio opened his mouth and threw up all over his father. Pinocchio burst out laughing.
"Oh, Pinocchio! How could…Oh, never mind." He remarked as he wiped Pinocchio's chin.
"Come on. It's bathtime anyway."
After a nice warm bath, Pinocchio got placed into his pj's and Geppetto carried him to the crib and gently placed him inside.
"Now go to sleep, Pinocchio. This has been quite a day for us."
Geppetto walked to his room when he heard something he had not heard before. It sounded like….
"Dada! Dada!"
"Don't bother me now, Pinocchio! It's bedtime. Now go to….eh... Pinocchio!" Geppetto suddenly uttered as he stopped and turned around to see Pinocchio crawling towards him. It was Pinocchio he had heard babbling. No, speaking."
"Dada!" the boy squealed moving towards his father reaching towards him.
"Pinocchio! You're talking! You said Dada! I don't believe it! It's wonderful!"
Geppetto overjoyed with happiness picked up Pinocchio and coddled him close hugging him tightly.
"Oh! My son. You just said your first word. I'm so happy!"
"Dada," Pinocchio said once again as he hugged his father back.
"Oh, Francesca. I wish you were here for this," he said as he looked into the air for a moment before looking back at Pinocchio.
"Oh, this is still marvelous. Old Geppetto has his little wooden head here still. And now you're talking."
Geppetto had never once felt this happier in his life after Francesca passed away except for the first time he saw Pinocchio the day he was born.
"Figaro! Come here! Pinocchio's talking!"
Figaro walked over with joy to hear this and Geppetto placed Pinocchio back on the ground. He gave a soft "meow" as he cuddled up to the boy.
"Pinocchio," said Geppetto. "Can you say Figaro?"
"Figoo", babbled the boy. Figaro didn't like how that sounded.
"No. No. Figaro. Figaro," Geppetto corrected him.
"Fwigoo!"
Not quite. But close. Try Again. Fi-ga-ro."
"Fi", signaled Geppetto
"fee", Pinocchio repeated
"ga" Geppetto said.
"ga", babbled Pinocchio
"Ro"
"Wo. Fee-gwo. FeegWo. FeegWo! Hahaha. Feegwo!" Pinocchio repeated saying, "FeegWo."
Figaro smiled again and jumped to Pinocchio.
"Hohoho. Good boy! You got it! Well, just about!"
Geppetto picked up hugged both Figaro and Pinocchio. As Pinocchio and Figaro nuzzled each other. Geppetto tried to take Pinocchio back to the crib, but Pinocchio didn't want to stay in the crib.
"Dada!"
"Oh! I see what's going on. You want to sleep with Dada tonight." Geppetto realized. "Well, alright then. Let's get your cricket first"
Geppetto took Pinocchio to his own bed and placed him on top of his chest as they both dozed off happily. Pinocchio moved his head up and down on the warmth he felt from being close to his father.
"Dada," He uttered one last time for the night as he dozed off to sleep.
Geppetto lovingly stroked the child's head. This truly had been his happiest moment in quite some time. Once again, Pinocchio had truly brought him such joy and happiness. And yet. Many more joyous moments were still to come.
