Chapter 13, Fairy Makes Pinocchio a Promise.
The flower-covered Pinocchio closed his eyes and prepared to meet his fried fate.
But just as the fisherman was about to drop the puppet into the pan, a large dog who smelled the cooking oil ran into the cave.
The fisherman shooed him away, but the dog continued to beg and whine.
I said get out, the fisherman yelled, giving the dog a kick.
The dog growled and showed its fangs in response.
Pinocchio's eyes were too filled with flour to see, but he thought he recognized that growl.
In a tiny, flour-filled voice, he cried, Altoro, is that you?
Save me, or I am fried!
Alidoro recognized that voice.
It was Pinocchio, the puppet who had saved him from drowning.
Surely one great save deserved another.
With one leap, he grasped the puppet gently in his teeth and ran out the door.
Some safe distance away, Alidoro laid Pinocchio down on the ground.
Thank you, Pinocchio cried.
You saved my life, Alidoro said.
I simply return the favor.
The two shook hands, or rather paw and wood, and vowed to be good friends forever.
Then they went their separate ways.
Oh, I hope the fairy will forgive me, he thought as he continued on his way.
When he arrived at the village, it was so dark he could barely see.
Just as he arrived at Fairy's house, it started to rain.
Pinocchio was so nervous he was afraid to knock.
He simply stood there, getting soaked.
Finally, he worked up his courage and reached out and banged on the door.
He waited and waited.
After about half an hour, a fourth-floor window opened and a large snail looked out.
Who knocks at this late hour? she called.
Is Fairy home? asked the puppet.
Who are you?
Pinocchio, the puppet replied.
Oh, the snail said, wait there, I'll come down and open the door.
Hurry, Pinocchio cried.
I'm a snail, she said.
Snails are slow.
She wasn't kidding.
An hour passed, then two, and still no snail.
By then, Pinocchio was so cold and wet that he couldn't stop shivering.
Out of desperation, he knocked again and was dismayed to see a window on the third floor open.
A second later, the snail looked out.
"'I'm coming,' she called down cheerfully.
"'Dear snail,' Pinocchio cried, "'I have been waiting here for two hours.
Can you really only have made it to the third floor?
I am so cold and tired.'
Please hurry.
I am a snail, the snail said.
Haven't you heard?
Snails are slow.
Pinocchio couldn't stand it anymore.
He had to get inside.
He stepped back and kicked the door so hard that his foot went straight through and his body almost followed behind it.
He tried to pull back but found that his foot was stuck.
Poor Pinocchio.
Meanwhile, the rain continued to fall.
The extremely slow snail probably wasn't even on the second floor yet.
Nine hours later, the door finally opened.
The snail exclaimed, out of breath from her effort, I am getting too old to rush like that.
What are you doing with your foot through the door?
It's a long story, Pinocchio said.
Please help me.
I'm stuck.
Call Fairy.
She is sleeping and doesn't want to be disturbed.
What am I supposed to do?
Pinocchio asked.
Can you at least bring me something to eat?
Immediately, the snail replied. the slowest waitress in the world.
She returned almost three hours later with some chicken bread and four ripe apricots.
"'Complements of fairy,' the snail said cheerfully.
Pinocchio lunged for the food, overjoyed until that is.
He took a bite and realized that the food was fake.
The bread was made of chalk, the chicken of cardboard, and the fruit of colored clay.
Yuck!
What cruel joke was this?
He was so disappointed and cold and hungry and tired that he fainted.
When he awoke, he found himself on a sofa with Fairy looking down at him.
Do you forgive me? he asked quietly.
This time, Fairy said.
But you must promise never to get in trouble again.
Pinocchio promised and he kept his word.
After about a year of perfect behavior, Fairy said, Well, I must say I'm very impressed.
You've kept your promise and been a very good boy.
As a reward, tomorrow your wish will finally come true.
You will stop being a puppet and turn into a real boy.
Pinocchio was overjoyed.
We must have a party to celebrate my becoming a boy, he cried.
He decided that he would invite all of his friends and schoolmates.
Ferry promised to prepare two hundred cups of hot chocolate and four hundred pieces of cake with whipped cream.
Oh, what a party it was going to be.
