ENRICO THE DOG

WHOLE STORY

One Christmas Eve, in a little Italian town, Mayor Giancarlo had an announcement. Whoever owns the smartest dog can win a Christmas Tree that has a special mechanics to make it produce Christmas Carols as well as famous classical music tunes. And to prove if the dog is smart, it has to perform wonderful and clever tricks. And Elisabetta Notte, a poor woman with no dog felt hopeless because she loved music and she also longs for a Christmas Gift. Her husband, Enrico Notte felt sympathy for her and told her that he can buy her shoes instead.

Enrico went to a shoe shop but it was closed. Suddenly, he saw kids picking on an old woman named Barbara, who was actually a witch. Enrico shooed the kids away and he asked Barbara if she's okay. "Because you saved my life from those pesky kids, I will grant your wish." She told Enrico. Enrico was silent. "Are you a fairy?" He finally asked. "Oh of course not, I am a witch!!" Barbara replied which frightened Enrico. "Well. My wife has a wish. Would you mind seeing her and grant her wish?" Enrico told Barbara. Barbara agreed.

Elisabetta was sewing some clothes when suddenly, her husband arrived with a stranger she never saw before. "Elisabetta. This woman is a witch and she will grant your wish." Enrico told Elisabetta. "Oh! In that case, let me think of a wish first." Elisabetta said. And she finally thought of a wish. She knew her husband was an intelligent student back at Rome, she asked the witch to turn Enrico into a dalmatian dog. Enrico was angry at first but Elisabetta told him that the spell will wear off if she will find Barbara again. The reason she wanted her husband to become a dog is so that the Musical Christmas Tree will be hers. Enrico finally gave in and Barbara turned Enrico into a dalmatian.

In the town square, Mayor Giancarlo rejected many contestants. He said their dog was only doing cheap tricks. One of the guys who failed was Tomasso Borghini, his pet Poodle only performed sit, drop dead, and play a piano, although it sounded terrible. Now everyone was frustrated. Suddenly, Elisabetta Notte arrived. Her husband slash dalmatian made everyone shocked. "How can a dalmatian be smart?" Tomasso asked one of the contestant.

Mayor Giancarlo sat down in his chair and he asked Elisabetta what her dog, 'Enri' can do. "My dog can talk, dance and can sing." Elisabetta replied. The whole crowd laughed. But the mayor was curious. "If you can talk? Say something." Mayor Giancarlo asked the dog. "Why yes I can talk you corrupt politician." Enrico replied. The mayor blushed. Everyone was amused and Tomasso felt jealous. "Can you dance on two legs??" Mayor Giancarlo asked the dog.  And the dog proceeded to dance and everyone laughed hysterically. "That dog is the most intelligent dog ever!" One of the woman said. "Yea. Luckily I am not jealous. I wish good luck to them." Another man said. "I am jealous." Tomasso whispered. "SHUT UPPPP!!!" The man yelled to Tomasso. And when Enrico sang Erlkonig by Franz Schubert, the mayor immediately gave the Christmas Tree to them. It was clear that 'Enri' is the smartest dog on the planet ever. Everyone felt happy and when Elisabetta tried to pay the mayor, he refused.

Tomasso was very jealous. He felt tricked. His poodle, Pistachio was also sad. "I wish that Dalmatian will die." Tomasso said to Pistachio. Suddenly, he heard a flute. It was the detective, Arturo Dandini. Arturo was looking for a witch named Barbara because Arturo hates witchcraft. He asked Tomasso if he saw Barbara the crazy witch. "No. But you know what's crazy? I saw a talking dog." He replied. "Really?? That is witchcraft! Clearly, it was Barbara the witch's fault. Tell me, where is that dog?" Arturo asked Tomasso. Tomasso then explained the whole thing to Arturo. Now it was clear to Arturo that Barbara the witch was nearby. Then they saw Elisabetta walking her dog. They heard her calling the dog her husband, Enrico. Arturo asked Elisabetta on why she called her dog her husband. Elisabetta explained to him that she was just playing with her dog. Tomasso grew impatient and asked her if she knew a witch named Barbara. Elisabetta said no.

Arturo wasn't convinced. He asked the dog to talk but Enrico didn't talk. Tomasso pinched Enrico and Enrico began to swear. Arturo's mouth was wide open. "Where did you get this dog?" He asked Elisabetta. Elisabetta was so furious she left the scene. "I think she is hiding something." Arturo told Tomasso. Then he played the flute and Tomasso asked him why he brings his flute everywhere. "This flute is actually a flute that belonged to Barbara. I stole it from her while she was asleep. I almost killed her but she escaped and she left this flute behind." Arturo replied. "And since then, I play this hoping to lure her." He added. Then they walked and Tomasso saw Elisabetta and her pet dog entering a hut. They climbed a tree and peered through the window. They saw Elisabetta and her dog dancing around the Musical Christmas Tree and the music was so pleasant that Tomasso and Arturo sang along. "Who's there??" Elisabetta asked. The two climbed down the tree quickly to avoid being seen.

Elisabetta and Enrico were walking again towards a small hut. But this time, Arturo and Tomasso brought Pistachio and Mayor Giancarlo with them. They hid behind the bush and saw Elisabetta and Enrico talking to a redhead. It was Barbara the witch and Arturo recognized her. They watched as Enrico turned back into a human, enraging Mayor Giancarlo and Tomasso and even Pistachio. "She tricked us." Tomasso said quietly.  Arturo proceeded to play the flute and Barbara heard it. She went to the bush and to her horror, Arturo tried to stab her. And Enrico and Elisabetta tried to stop them but Tomasso didn't expect Arturo to try to kill Barbara and he told Arturo to calm down and have pity on the witch. "All I want is that Musical Christmas Tree. And I want Elisabetta and her husband to return the Musical Christmas Tree to me because I deserve it. My dog is real and smart, while your dog is fake and smart, I mean dumb." Tomasso told the couple. Mayor Giancarlo declared that the couple were cheating and he declared Tomasso as the winner. Soon, Tomasso had the Musical Christmas Tree and he and Pistachio were dancing like crazy. That night, Enrico and Elisabetta were sad. Barbara tried to comfort them but her  magical wand which gave her the ability to grant wishes was destroyed by Arturo and she is now a painter. Well, at least Barbara realized that witchcraft is evil. Suddenly, Tomasso arrived at the house of Enrico and Elisabetta and gave them two extra Musical Christmas Trees. "These are my Christmas Gifts for both of you. Happy Christmas." Tomasso told them. And surprisingly, Tomasso gave them a poodle puppy. It was Pistachio's puppy from a female dog and Elisabetta and Enrico were grateful. They called their new pet Clementi. And Mayor Giancarlo gave them a present, a chocolate cake and lots of money. And Arturo gave them candy canes and apples. Finally, Arturo has a Christmas present for Barbara. It was a black cat. She was so happy that she cried tears of joy. She named the cat Giulio and Arturo also gave Barbara back her flute and a new violin. Now everyone was happy. And Enrico and Elisabetta gave everyone clothes and bags as a Christmas present.  They were filled with so much happiness that their neighbors forget all about the witchcraft that happened. And they lived happily ever after.

The End