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Little Pinocchio was friends with Marlene. Geppetto raised himself a good kid.
Some kids out there are made of wood.
Marlene and Pinocchio were playing with Geppetto’s cat. Tiny little thing, dressed in a tux.
“Pinocchio,” Geppetto looked over from the table. “Is that my tape measure you’re playing with?”
“But Father,” said the wooden kid. “Figaro likes it.”
The cat was swatting at the wiggling tape measure. It was making Marlene laugh.
“It can wait until next time,” said Barret.
“That’s what you said the LAST time,” Geppetto shook his finger. He turned back to his kid. “Pinocchio, I’ll be needing my tape measure now.”
“Aw, all right.”
Little Pinocchio brought the tape measure back to his dad. Geppetto ruffled him on his little wooden head.
“Aren’t you a good boy?” Geppetto said.
The kid smiled. Barret did, too.
“Now,” Geppetto turned back to him. “Might I see that hand of yours?”
Barret laid out his arm over the table. Other arm wasn’t much of an arm.
The old man held the tape measure over Barret’s palm. Criss, cross, top and bottom. He whispered little numbers, and a little “yes, that’s right.” You could see his bottom lip thinking out soft. Barret held his breath and listened.
A music box started to play. It was Marlene, in the shop.
Barret chuckled out that air he’d been holding.
“You know, she really likes the one you gave her,” he said. “Don’t think I could get her to sleep without it.”
“I'm always happy to help,” said Geppetto.
“Might need you to,” said Barret. “She’s gonna wear that thing out.”
“And I’ll fix it every time,” Geppetto smiled.
He let go of the tape measure and picked up Barret’s hand.