One day, Geppetto was painting a new toy in the workshop with Pinocchio watching so he could learn how to help someday when a little boy walked in.
"Excuse me, Signor Geppetto," said the boy's mother. "My son has a problem. The toy horse I bought him got its wheel broken off this morning and he's been having a terrible fit all day."
"Can you fix it? We can't afford a new one right now?"
"I'm not sure. Leave it on the work desk and I'll see what I can do."
Geppetto had a look at it and said, "yes, I suppose I can fix it. But it may take a day or two."
This did not seem to sit well with the boy at all. While Geppetto went off to check on Figaro, Pinocchio suddenly had an idea. He took the toy horse and the wheel and suddenly realized what was wrong. The bolt holding the wheel onto the piece to hold them was not placed properly. He applied a slight amount of glue onto the bolt and placed it on the wheel, then reapplied the wheel to the rod and the toy was as good as new.
Pinocchio walked over to the little boy and his mother.
"Here." He said Politely. The boy tried it out and to his surprise, nothing happened.
"You fixed it! Oh, thank you!" The child shrieked out at Pinocchio as he hugged him thankfully.
"My name's Angelo. What's your name?"
"My name Pinocchio."
"Angelo's mother knelt down ever so kindly. Oh, thank you so much, Pinocchio. You're so sweet. You're such a good boy. I don't know how you did that."
Geppetto walked into the room and they explained what Pinocchio had just done.
"Oh, Pinocchio," said Geppetto with a warm heart. That was a very kind thing you did. You are so smart. Good job, Son."
And with that Angelo and his mother left. Geppetto has never expected such an act of kindness from a two-year-old. Let alone his own. But he was amazed.
"Pinocchio, I don't know how you fixed that kid's toy, but I am so proud of you. That was a very kind thing to do."
Geppetto was so proud because he never would have expected something like this. He was certain maybe this meant Pinocchio would grow up to be a toymaker like him after all.
A few months later, it was Christmas Eve, and it was a very cold night. Geppetto had to have extra wood in the fireplace to make a warmer fire for Pinocchio to keep him warm that evening. Weeks before, Geppetto had explained to Pinocchio about Santa Claus or Bobba Natale as he was more commonly referred to in Italy, and good little boys and girls he brings toys to.
"Now remember, Pinocchio. Even though you had a number of misbehaviors this year, you still may yet have had a spot on Santa's nice list."
"What Santa bwing me?"
"I don't know, son. We'll find out in the morning. You all cozy and comfortable? It's cold out tonight."
"Uh huh. I got Cricket and Teddy right here."
"Good. Got your blankie?"
"Yep."
Geppetto sat by Pinocchio's bed and talked to him.
"These last two years, Pinocchio, you've brought nothing but joy to me. Even when you get into trouble sometimes, even when not on purpose, you still bring me such happiness. I wouldn't trade you for the world. You're growing up so fast, Pinocchio. I still remember when I held you and looked at you for the first time the day you were born. You were the one thing I realized I could give my life to for all time."
As Pinocchio let out a smile hearing these words, Geppetto placed the bedsheets over him and kissed his forehead.
"Do you want me to sing you a song?
Pinocchio nodded with a smile.
"I sang this to you on the night of your first Christmas Day."
And then Geppetto sang,
"Silent as the snowflake in the night.
Holy is the spirit of this night.
All the world is calm and peaceful.
All the world is bright and joyful."
"Spirit of love and child of peace.
Love unending that shall not cease.
Peace, my children of good will.
Peace, my children, peace, be still."
Pinocchio fell asleep peacefully as Geppetto rubbed his head. Geppetto watched as Pinocchio cuddled his teddy bear close to him. Figaro suddenly walked in and Geppetto picked him up.
"Look at him, Figaro. He's such a peaceful little angel when he falls asleep. I only wish Francesca could be here still. It seems only yesterday when I saw him for the first time. When he was just a newborn."
Figaro let out a soft meow as Geppetto scratched behind his ears.
"The day he was born, Figaro, I received the greatest gift I could have ever gotten from her, even if it was her last. But I was lucky twice more when I got you and Cleo. And I couldn't be grateful for anything more than all of you."
It wasn't too long after Geppetto went to sleep that Pinocchio woke up when he heard footsteps coming from downstairs. Being a child, he couldn't help his curiosity so he wanted to investigate, but he didn't want to wake his father. He went into the living room and by the Christmas tree, he saw a man dressed in red with a big white beard.
"Santa!" He whispered loudly.
The jolly red man turned around and saw him as he flinched back in a startle.
"Ho ho ho. Don't be afraid, Pinocchio."
Pinocchio came out from the corner and walked towards him.
"Hi, Santa. Daddy tell me you bwing me toys? But he makes them."
"Well, sometimes, my elves help me make special ones for special boys and girls like you."
"What did you bring me?" Pinocchio beamed with curiosity.
"Well, if you want to know, run along back to bed and you'll find out tomorrow morning. Wouldn't want to spoil your surprise."
"Why can't I know now?"
"Ho ho ho. I know curiosity is common for a two-year-old, but some things are better off waiting for even for toddlers. You did so well working with your daddy this year after the vase fiasco and your other issues. You wouldn't want to ruin that, would you?"
"Uh uh. We work hard to get me on nice list."
"Atta boy, Pinocchio. That's a good boy."
With a compliment like that, Pinocchio ran up to him and gave him a hug and ran off back to bed.
As soon as he climbed back into bed, Geppetto walked into the room.
"Pinocchio, what are you doing up?"
"Daddy, I see Santa. I saw him."
"Oh, Pinocchio. I'm sure you did, but you need to get back to bed. It's late and we have lots of presents to open tomorrow. I'm sure he brought you something nice. Now go to sleep. And I'll wake you in the morning," said Geppetto.
Early the next morning, Pinocchio woke up and rushed to Geppetto's bed.
"Wake up, daddy! Wake up! Wake up! It's Christmas morning. Let go see presents."
Geppetto woke up to see Pinocchio bouncing up and down and grabbed him.
"Okay. Okay. Calm down, Pinocchio. Let's go downstairs together. Oh, you're getting heavy. Race you downstairs!"
Pinocchio and Geppetto ran to the living room together and gathered around the Christmas tree.
"Oh, look, Pinocchio. That one's from Santa. Let's open it and see what it is."
Pinocchio tore apart the wrapping paper to reveal what looked like a wooden gun of some kind. Inside the barrel was attached a cork tied on the end of a string.
"A pop gun. Well isn't that nice?" Said Geppetto. "Pinocchio, I'll teach you how to use it later. I had one of those when I was a boy. I think we should open this one together. I made you this."
Geppetto unwrapped his gift to Pinocchio to reveal a new stuffed animal. A gray baby elephant with big ears.
"Do you like it? Isn't it cute?"
Pinocchio smiled.
"Yes. It very cute. I luv it."
"Why, I bet he can fly with those giant ears of his. Eh, Pinocchio. What is that in your Pajamas?"
Geppetto noticed a piece of paper sticking of Pinocchio's bottom in the back flap of his jammies and Pinocchio pulled it out and handed it to him.
"It's my present to you."
Geppetto opened the piece of paper and what he saw, he couldn't hold back his feelings. He placed his hand over his mouth in surprise.
"Pinocchio, did you…did you draw this? All by yourself?"
"Uh huh. I sure did."
The paper was a drawing of him and Pinocchio holding hands together. On top of it, it said: "I luv my daddy."
Geppetto let out a few tears and started getting emotional as he hugged Pinocchio very tightly as he kept on crying.
"Oh, Pinocchio! It's so beautiful!"
Geppetto took a moment to catch his composure.
"Why, I think I'll hang it on the wall in the workshop later. I love it so much."
"Merry Christmas, daddy."
Geppetto was so speechless. He just smiled.
"Figaro, this is for you. A nice new sweater for you to wear in winter."
Geppetto put it on Figaro, but Figaro was quick to take it off. It took two more tries to get Figaro to keep it on.
Figaro and Pinocchio went to play together as Geppetto took the drawing Pinocchio gave him and looked for a place in the workshop to hang it. Geppetto heard a loud pop as he had finished hanging it.
"Oh, he must have figured out how to use his new pop gun. Pinocchio, be careful! Don't shoot your eye out!"
Pinocchio playfully aimed the pop gun at Figaro and Figaro let out a meow and hid under the chair, but Pinocchio kept his eyes tight on him, as he fired the gun again, Figaro let out a frightened meow and ran past Pinocchio knocking the cord back into his face and suddenly Pinocchio fell backward on his bottom and began to cry.
Geppetto heard the ruckus and ran into the room and found Pinocchio laying on the floor screaming.
"Pinocchio, what happened? Are you alright?"
"I….I..I was playing pop gun with Figaro and he hit me with the poppy thing and I fell."
"Oh, oh. It's okay," said Geppetto as he picked up Pinocchio and held him. "I'm sure Figaro didn't mean to hurt you. But you probably scared him."
Geppetto put down Pinocchio as Figaro walked over feeling sorry.
"I sorry I scare you, Figaro," Pinocchio apologized. Figaro walked over as Pinocchio knelt down and petted on his head. "Figaro, nice. Figaro, good kitty. Pinocchio no mean to scare you."
Figaro licked his hand out of affection and made Pinocchio giggle. Geppetto smiled but had to avoid a repeat incident.
"How about this? Pinocchio, I'm sorry to have to do this. But I'm going to have to take away the gun for a while. How about we go play with your new elephant and I'll teach you how to properly handle a pop gun tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay," muttered Pinocchio. So they went to play with Pinocchio's new toys. Later that Afternoon, Fredrico and Martina walked in the door and while Geppetto and Fredrico discussed grown up affairs and work and trades, Martina and Pinocchio played in the living room. Pinocchio was happy to share his toys with Martina including showing her his new elephant.
"It's so nice to see them getting along after that one fiasco. You did well in getting Pinocchio's terrible twos under control. I don't know how you did it," Fredrico complimented.
"Well, he still has a few upset moments now and then, but they're not as bad anymore. He learned so well."
Pinocchio was sad when it was time for Martina to leave. Before she and Fredrico left, Pinocchio gave her a nice hug and thanked her for playing with him.
After Gepetto shared Christmas dinner with Pinocchio, Geppetto took him upstairs and put him to bed.
Geppetto gave Pinocchio a bit of short entertainment with the elephant by making the elephant fly and then put him up on the shelf. He sat on the bed to talk to the boy.
"Pinocchio. I loved your drawing so much. It was a wonderful surprise. Thank you."
"I made it cause I wuv you."
"Oh, Pinocchio. I love you too, son."
Geppetto gave Pinocchio a nice big hug and then read Pinocchio a bedtime story until Pinocchio was fast asleep in the bed. Geppetto loving stroked Pinocchio's head and went to his own room.
February rolled around. And with it, Pinocchio's 3rd birthday too. Geppetto took him for a day out in the town, to watch the circus, see a marionette show, go for a picnic and other things. And because he was so good all day, later that afternoon in the early evening, Geppetto wanted to treat him to some ice cream before they went home for a pizza party.
"One strawberry ice cream please," Geppetto told the ice cream man as he was served Pinocchio's ice cream. As they walked home and were haflway, Pinocchio was enjoying his ice cream when suddenly the ice cream fell to the floor. Pinocchio started to cry.
Geppetto turned and stopped.
"What happened?"
"I dropped my ice cream!" Pinocchio cried out. "I want a new one!"
"I'm sorry, Pinocchio. But we can't go back. We have to get home."
"But I want new ice cream! I want it!"
"Pinocchio, I'll make you some when we get home."
"I want it now!" Pinocchio screamed loudly and started having a tantrum.
"Oh no. Please, don't do that. Pinocchio, please stop."
But Pinocchio wouldn't stop.
"Pinocchio, I mean it. If you don't stop, there will be no party tonight."
"Daddy no get me ice cream!" Pinocchio started growling as Geppetto grabbed him and started to drag him.
Suddenly he was stopped. It was Angelo and his mother.
"What happened?" Asked Angelo's mother.
"He's having a fit because he dropped his ice cream and I can't take him back to get a new one," explained Geppetto.
"It seems his birthday is ruined."
"Oh, how awful. I wish we could help."
"Actually, mom. We can. Here, Pinocchio," said Angelo kindly. "You can have MY ice cream if you want. Would you like that?"
"Oh, Why, Angelo," said Geppetto. "You are so kind. Would you like it if Angelo gave you ice cream to replace yours, son?"
Pinocchio couldn't answer properly. He could only let a small, "uh-huh."
So, Angelo gave Pinocchio his ice cream and Geppetto held it for a moment as Pinocchio hugged him gratefully.
"Oh thank you." He said happily.
"Your welcome, Pinocchio. You fixed my broken toy, so a I guess I'm returning the favor. Happy birthday."
Geppetto thanked Angelo and his mother.
"Thank you so much, Angelo. You just saved his birthday. Would you care to come by later for the birthday party? We would appreciate that very much."
"We'll gladly be there, Geppetto," said Angelo's mother as they walked off and wished Pinocchio a happy birthday.
After Pinocchio finished his ice cream, they finished the journey home. With some help from Fredrico, Geppetto got everything set for the birthday party. Later, Angelo, Martina, and Beatrice arrived and joined the celebrations. The baker arrived just in time with the cake. As soon as he did, everybody gathered and sang happy birthday. Then they ate cake and pizza. After presents and games, it was time for everyone to go home. Angelo thanked Geppetto for inviting him to the party and was glad to hear Geppetto say, "come by any time. I'm sure maybe your mother and I can set up a play date with Pinocchio for you sometime."
"I would love that," said Angelo as he left with his mother.
Geppetto and Pinocchio went upstairs and Geppetto got Pinocchio ready for bed.
"Looks like your birthday this year didn't quite go entirely the way it should have. But Angelo was so kind to give you his ice cream. Did you have fun at the circus today and at the puppet show?"
"I loved all of it. I'm sorry I got mad about the ice cream," said Pinocchio innocently.
"I forgive you, Pinocchio. I didn't mean to let that almost spoil your birthday. But I'm so glad you made a new friend."
Geppetto then gave Pinocchio his teddy bear and cricket doll and tucked him in nice and snuggly. And soon Pinocchio was fast asleep. Despite the ice cream fiasco, Geppetto knew Pinocchio had had a wonderful birthday.
