Chapter 25

           IfPinocchiocriedmuchlonger,thelittlewomanthoughthewouldmeltaway,soshefinallyadmittedthatshewasthelittleFairywithAzureHair. 

           "YourascalofaMarionette!HowdidyouknowitwasI?"sheasked,laughing. 

           "Myloveforyoutoldmewhoyouwere." 

           "Doyouremember?YouleftmewhenIwasalittlegirlandnowyoufindmeagrownwoman.Iamsoold,Icouldalmostbeyourmother!" 

           "Iamverygladofthat,forthenIcancallyoumotherinsteadofsister.ForalongtimeIhavewantedamother,justlikeotherboys.Buthowdidyougrowsoquickly?" 

           "That’sasecret!" 

           "Tellittome.Ialsowanttogrowalittle.Lookatme!Ihavenevergrownhigherthanapenny’sworthofcheese." 

           "Butyoucan’tgrow,"answeredtheFairy. 

           "Whynot?" 

           "BecauseMarionettesnevergrow.TheyarebornMarionettes,theyliveMarionettes,andtheydieMarionettes." 

           "Oh,I’mtiredofalwaysbeingaMarionette!"criedPinocchiodisgustedly."It’sabouttimeformetogrowintoamanaseveryoneelsedoes." 

           "Andyouwillifyoudeserveit--" 

           "Really?WhatcanIdotodeserveit?" 

           "It’saverysimplematter.Trytoactlikeawell-behavedchild." 

           "Don’tyouthinkIdo?" 

           "Farfromit!Goodboysareobedient,andyou,onthecontrary--" 

           "AndIneverobey." 

           "Goodboyslovestudyandwork,butyou--" 

           "AndI,onthecontrary,amalazyfellowandatrampallyearround." 

           "Goodboysalwaystellthetruth." 

           "AndIalwaystelllies." 

           "Goodboysgogladlytoschool." 

           "AndIgetsickifIgotoschool.FromnowonI’llbedifferent." 

           "Doyoupromise?"