Pinocchio's Journey

Name

            The afternoon air filled the house of a couple in their thirties. The sunset was painted with all kinds of colors, hearing the animals of the forest harmoniously singing in the triumph of what is about to come. At this hour, something big was going to happen in Geppetto's life, as a child was born. Another piece born into a world of madness and chaos. A man's face tenuous and in sorrow, as he had watched his wife smile before she said the last words he would ever hear from his dear wife. All that is left is a newborn child, but the baby did not know what is soon to come. And this is where our story begins.

The years passed the father and the child had grown since before. The child is now seventeen and almost eighteen as of the next hour. The two lived in the same home in the middle of nowhere. All the boy knew was that the state was so-called Tennessee. He grew up only taught by his father of the specifics and how to farm the land. The mystery of what was out there always filled the mind of the child, of how he dearly wished to explore and experience all that is out there. Just how much did he mean to the world, what was even the reason for him to be alive.

As the sun rose in the morning, the child was awoken to the noise of his furry friend speaking to tell him to get up. Quickly getting up he grew dizzy and crashed to the ground. And became unconscious.

"I'll see you again my sweet child"

An unknown voice had spoken in his mind. Eyes opened wide and he began to get up quickly glaring around the room. Then, looking down to see his friend looking up confused. Was that a real voice? He walked to the staircase looking back but then hearing his father call for his name. The table is all set, filled with waffles, eggs, and fruits that had been freshly picked. The room was filled with the smell of lavender, the pup sniffing the air. Sitting down in the table the father began to speak of memories with the mother. Times the son could not experience because of her passing. The birthday of the child was this day, but also the death of the mother.

"Well son, today is your day, huh?"

Silence filled in for a moment and then he spoke back, "It's not just my day.", he was lugubrious as this topic was brought up.

"She would be so proud of the young adult you have become. She would have loved to sit on the grass as the sun had gone down and celebrated the day of your birth."

"Can we just stop talking about this already..."

Geppeto sighed, "I know, I am sorry but this needs to be said. Your mother's death hit me hard and I lost my ways of life and all that I believed. She was strong even at that time and smiled so bright then I had ever seen in our life. You being born was a... well a "blessing."

No one spoke for a while then he began again.

"I can remember clearing of what she told me. 'Find love. Open your eyes. Stay on the right path. And know that one day you will find me. I will see you again, Geppetto. I'll see you again my sweet child.' and.." He was quickly interrupted.

"Wait! I heard that this morning 'I'll see you again my sweet child.' how could this happen? Was that my mom talking to me? I... I!"

The father was in shock but also confused as to what his son had been saying. The boy was speaking but too fast for anyone to understand, even the dog was in confusion.

"Son! Please calm down you are scaring Jiminy!"

The night had come, the boy and Jiminy sat upon a bay window watching as the sun goes away. Finally, darkness had filled the outside and in, all that stay on was the mere candle. The two walked over to the bed to rest for the night. The room was quiet. Jiminy randomly looked toward the window and started slowly moving closer. Strong winds causing the trees to move around harshly, then throwing open the window. Nothing was there.

"Hello, dear"

The boy turned around throwing himself back on the bed and moving back to get as far away as he could.

"Do not fear, I won't hurt you" the unknown man was beautiful but questionable. The boy did not respond and remained silent. "I just want to help you figure out your future. Of why you are alive and how you should live the rest of your life." Jiminy began to growl towards the man but he looked at the pet and gave a sardonic smile. Jiminy began to whimper and sat next to the boy's feet.

"Ar- Are you real?"

"Of course dear, what did you think that I was a mere imagination?"

"Wha- what are you doing here? What do you want from me?"

"Like I said. I have been hearing from you ever since you were born. I know how you feel about yourself and what you should be doing. I just want to make sure you get whatever you want. So, the real question is what are you doing with your life?"

The eighteen-year-old boy began took a few moments to think and then replied with "Anything? You will give me whatever I want?"

"Yes, but I want you to give me the chance to help you, how would they say it? Your "partner in crime". So how about it?"

He began to think that if he took this chance he can see all the things he has dreamt of seeing. But, he thought of what his mother said in a pensive mood, '"Find love. Open your eyes. Stay on the right path. And know that one day you will find me. I will see you again, Geppetto. I'll see you again my sweet child.'. What did Mother mean by this? The "right path" is this the "right path. Maybe this way I can find love in the things I want so dearly. And if I do this I could find out more about my mother! Of the beauty!"

"So. What will it be?"

He thought for a moment and then responded, "Okay, if you will help me then yes I'll have you as my partner "in crime", whatever that means."

"Okay, then one more thing."

"Wh..What?"

"I will give you a name, one that will define you for your life."

"Oh... okay, but wh.." he said seeking a way out of this mundane question.

"Good! Now let me see.... How about... Pinocchio! Yes, that will do!"

"What does that me..."

"Alright, I will see you later, Pinocchio."

Then the person smiled and disappeared in a blink of an eye and when he opened his eyes he was laying on his bed, gasping for air. His father came up the stairs and the boy's eyes quickly closed to fool him that he was asleep. He said, "Oh son, I hope today was a good day and the same for tomorrow. I love you very much. Sweet Dreams my sweet boy.". Geppetto had left the room and blew the candle out. The boy fell into a deep sleep. His mind created and scenario of the time he was born. Hearing his mother say once more, 'Find love. Open your eyes. Stay on the right path. And know that one day you will find me. I will see you again, Geppetto. I'll see you again my sweet child.'. Then something new was heard. "Please son. Stay on the right path, and that is how you will find me. Please I..". She was cut off and he heard a voice different from his mom but he knows it. The speaker gave him chills.

"Yes. stay on the path and do things that will fill in that empty heart of yours. Stay on the path you chose and open to new things" a chuckle was heard and then continued on " I will guide you. Pinocchio."