The island loomed closer and closer to the barge our little wooden hero is on. He could not take his eyes off of it. Nor could he shake the haunting feeling that something terrible and wonderful were about to happen. The boys around him were nothing if the picture of excitement itself: whispers and the occasional shout erupted from each group of them, some of them jumping up and down, others were shaking with anticipation.
Pinocchio himself didn't know what the fuss was about. It was just an island for all he could see.. Spotlights creating designs in the sky, fireworks exploding out of nowhere, shots being sounded every half minute; from far away it seemed a paradise, but something didn't seem right about the place.
Still, he was just as excited and curious as anyone else on the barge.
Before they even touched the dock, a tall, slim, mysterious figure leapt onto the front deck. All previous signs of activity were stopped. The boys all gave this new person a wide berth, forming a ring around him. The figure leaned forward and asked "Are you ready?"
He did a back handspring onto the railing in perfect timing with the next firework blast. There he crouched until the ship touched the dock. No one had moved from their previous position. They were all watching what this strange person would do next…wanting to know if he meant good or ill.
One little boy, of sterner stuff than others (or of stupider, as Pinocchio decided), went up to the figure with all the confidence in the world and asked "Who are you? And what exactly are we supposed to be ready for?"
"Well," a silly voice answered, "For the mystical, magical, fun-tastical Jackass Island! The place where a little boy like you can swear, fight, and do whatever his heart desires!"
Lights went on at that last word and they saw the figure for the first time: He was tall, slim, and decked out in a carnival-colored business suit. The jacket fit him like a second skin, as did the pants, his red hair neatly combed under the straw hat he wore. They all gasped, then laughed at what they saw. This man couldn't be a threat! They thought, not with those clothes and that voice especially!
"See, see, see? No need to be afraid of me! Here on Jackass Island, nothing here will scare you. Why? You boys have been hand-picked by the master because of your manners, or rather lack of them, aye boys?"
At that, a cheer went up. That was the first time Pinocchio noticed how these boys actually looked and seemed like. They had a rough-and tumble look about them: broken noses, bruises, cuts and scrapes, looking as if they didn't give half a damn what anyone thought of them, except that they were tough and not to be messed with.
He even recognized some of them from the village he was made in. They were what Gepetto had called ruffians, the ones that Pinocchio should never be like. And he had agreed for Gepetto's sake that no, not ever would he be like them. But now he didn't see the old puppet maker, so he thought it might be okay to be part of the crowd, even if it's just for once.
So it was that that made Pinocchio go up to the man to get a better look at him. The man seemed to take notice of him and jumped to him. He leaned down towards him and spoke this next speech directly next to his ear, yet loud enough the entire lot of them could hear.
"This place, you see, has no rules, no punishments, repercussions, nothing. Just rewards, games, treats all the time. There are two rules that you must hold to a't' however gents"
A collective groan
"Oh come now, there's only two so let's have a listen, hm? Now rule one: Don't piss off boss, and rule two: Have fun, always. Get it?"
Collective nodding and grunts
"Good... Now may I present: Jackass Island!" he made a grand pointing gesture to the steps that led out of the boat, now bedecked in lights and glowing arrows to the land ahead. The boys cheered and dragged Pinocchio off the barge with them, ready to have the good time promised them.