The old man could hardly work on his last projects because he was so very hungry. He patted his tummy and said, "Hush now. If I can sell these dolls for a few pennies you will be fed." As he put the last doll on the shelf he picked up the little wooden doll he had made in the image of his son, Pinocchio. How he loved his son. But like all children he had grown up and away. He had made a life for himself and he was so very happy for him. But, oh my how he missed him. He sat at his old wooden table and remembered the bad and the good times. He knew he had little time left on this earth and was awaiting the time when he could join his relatives in Heaven. He patted his little wooden Pinocchio and laid down on his small, but comfortable bed like he had done so many times over the years. He was about to close his eyes when he saw a twinkle in the sky and smiled. The time was now and he was happy. He had had a good life and was ready to climb the stars to greet his family.
The bandits were hungry and needed money for food. They didn't have a job and they didn't want one. Robbing old folks was much easier and more fun. They couldn't have found a better place than the old wood carver's cottage. He surely would have some pennies that they could steal while the old man was sleeping. As they snooped around the mostly dark cottage, They were disappointed to see that there was nothing of any value in the cottage, but some dolls that looked like they were only half finished. "Let's take these and see if we can sell these for some coins. Hopefully we can get enough for some fruit to fill our bellies," one whispered. They saw the old man sleeping in his bed. Odd that he had a smile on his face. One whispered, "Let's get out of here. It's creepy in here." They quickly left. Each with a doll or two under their arm and escaped into the village.
The bandits waited until the market opened early in the morning. The villagers were already coming into the market and selling their wares. There were fish mongers and fruit farmers. Oh the grapes and the melons looked so good and they were so hungry. The bandits of course, had taken off their masks and tried several times to trade a doll for some food to eat. No one would buy or trade the dolls for their food. One recognized the dolls as something that the old wood carver that lived by the sea would make. "Where did you get those dolls? Huh? Where is the old man that made those dolls? Get back here I say. Police! Police! Come quick. We have robbers in the market!!"
As the bandits ran from the market one of them grabbed an apple and stuck it in his pocket. Another grabbed a plum. They ran as fast as they could. The dolls were not worth the trouble. They threw them to the ground and made their way to the next town to see what they could find to steal. Life was fun for them and so exciting. They laughed as they rounded the next grove of trees. They had gotten some fruit to share. Today's grab would be better they were sure.
The local police caught sight of three people running through the crowd. "Stop! Stop, I say. Police!" They chased them until they could no longer see the culprits. At the side of the old dirt road there lay four dolls. They were all dirty and tattered and torn. "Ahh, what a shame. These look like the puppets and dolls that the old man by the sea makes. Let's return them to him. That's the least that we can do for the nice old man."
1 comment:
Bullies come in all shapes and sizes. Bullies in my opinion are cowards. They usually go in groups . These fellas in this particular case were lazy and cared little for the hard working farmers and the elderly man who had little to no valuables in his little cottage. The worst!
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