Pinocchio had always wanted to be on stage, but not like this.
He was quickly sold to a circus to perform tricks.
But the circus people were not kind.
"Here you are, Donkey. Have some straw for dinner,"
the trainer said, dumping it on the floor.
Pinocchio tasted a bite of straw.
It was dry and tasted like dirt.
"Hee-haw," he complained, and spit it out.
"What, you don't like straw? Well, have some hay,"
the trainer said, dumping it on the floor.
Pinocchio tasted a bite of hay, and it was as bad as the straw.
"Hee-haw, hee-haw," Pinocchio complained.
"Just you wait, little donkey.
You will be so hungry you will eat anything," said the trainer.
And he whipped Pinocchio on the legs.
Every day, the trainer would make Pinocchio practice.
"Jump through this hoop.
Walk on two legs.
Dance the cha-cha. Balance a ball.
Play dead," he would yell and snap his whip.
If Pinocchio made a mistake, the trainer would whip him.
One day, the trainer said, "Donkey, your first performance is tonight.
If you do well, I will feed you grapes.
If you make one mistake, I will feed you nothing."
The circus tent filled with people.
There were so many people that every seat was taken.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Vito's Circus," said the circus owner.
"I am Vito, and we have a special show tonight.
This donkey has traveled all the way from Spain to entertain you.
He has danced for queens and kings.
He has jumped for dukes and lords.
He has amazed children all over Europe."
The crowd cheered and clapped, and Pinocchio did his tricks.
First, he walked on two legs.
Then, he balanced a ball.
The crowd was smiling, and Pinocchio could see the happy children.
Then, he danced the cha-cha.
Pinocchio looked at the crowd again, and he noticed a woman with blue hair.
Pinocchio jumped through the hoop and then ran out of the tent.
The crowd cheered, and Pinocchio ran and ran.
Pinocchio didn't stop running until he got to the sea.
There, by the water, stood the Blue Fairy!
"Oh, Blue Fairy, was that you in the tent?" asked Pinocchio.
"Yes, Pinocchio," she said.
"Oh, I am so ashamed.
I was foolish, and I was not a good boy.
I am sorry. Can you help me?"
"I know you are sorry, Pinocchio.
But I cannot help you anymore.
You must pay for your mistakes," she said sadly.
"But, I don't want to be a donkey forever.
I want to be a boy again.
I want to go to school.
And I want to save Geppetto," he cried.
"Perhaps you will do all those things.
But first, you must undo your mistakes.
How did you become a donkey?" she asked.
"I was selfish and lazy," Pinocchio answered.
"Yes, and if you do the opposite, you will return to being a wooden boy," she said, then disappeared.
"The opposite of selfish and lazy is generous and hardworking.
How can I be generous and hardworking?" he wondered.
Then, Pinocchio got an idea.