I’m sure that you have heard the tale

About Pinocchio

But I’m about to tell the story

I’m sure you do not know.

The way the story is often told

Is mostly very true,

Except for one important part

That I will share with you.

It’s true there was a man Gepetto

Who was very much alone

Wished that he could have a son

A son his very own.

He made a puppet out of wood

Called him Pinocchio

But he was just a toy, that’s all,

And he would never grow.

And then a fairy gave him life

But left him made of wood

Until he proved that he deserved

Until he proved he’s good.

But Pinocchio was gullible

And easily deceived

He met a boy named “Honest John”

Whom he readily believed.

Long story short, this Honest John

Was not so honest at all

He tricked Pinocchio into being a star

In Stromboli’s Carnival.

When the fairy helped him escape

He trusted Honest John again

And ventured off to Treasure Island –

A very heathen den.

He gambled, smoked, wreaked havoc there

It was fun there for a while,

He barely escaped before being turned

Into a donkey on that Isle.

Pinocchio then swam away

According to the tale

But soon he ended up in the belly

Of Monstro the giant whale.

And there he met Gepetto who

Was looking for his boy

And though they were both swallowed alive

Gepetto was filled with joy.

Pinocchio devised a plan

To burn the raft of wood

Which made Monstro sneeze, and they escaped

And this proved that he was good.

So that is how Pinocchio

Though he started as a toy

Proved by heroic bravery

He deserved to be a boy.

And that’s the story you have heard

It’s cute and short and sweet

But I’m about to reveal to you

That story’s incomplete.

Gepetto was Pinocchio’s creator

That much is very true

But what I’m sure you do not know

Is that Pinocchio was number two.

Yes there was a doll before him made

By that crafty Gepetto

Pinocchio’s older, forgotten brother,

His name – Antonio.

Antonio was also blessed

By the fairy with real life

But unlike Pinocchio

He caused no pain and strife.

He stayed at home and worked so hard

While his brother went out and played.

He was a good and faithful son

Who never roamed or strayed.

And when his brother ran away

He was just a little glad

Until he saw it broke Gepetto’s heart

It made him very sad.

He set out with his father to

Track his brother down

They searched down every street and lane

They searched through every town.

They chartered out a fishing boat

And set out on the sea

When they received a helpful tip

Of where the boy might be.

So you can imagine when they got home

How upset Antonio became

That Pinocchio got a hero’s welcome

When he brought them so much shame.

And then the fairy granted him

The gift of real life.

The news cut Antonio deep inside

It cut him like a knife.

Gepetto saw Antonio’s face

And knew he was upset.

He thought Pinocchio had just received

What he really shouldn’t get.

“My son Antonio,” Gepetto said

“I know it seems unfair

But you must understand that you

With me were always there.

What’s mine is yours, you have it all

And, son, you always will;

Even though Pinocchio’s back

You shall be my eldest still.

But, Antonio, do you not see

If it were the other way

It would break my heart just as much

If you had gone astray?

And also that when you returned

When once I thought you dead

When I had to spend such sleepless nights

Crying in my bed,

That the same joy would be bestowed

The same party would be given

Upon you just as Pinocchio

And all your debts forgiven.”

So then Antonio realized

Though he still thought it unfair

It was a better place and time

With his lost brother there.

And at that moment when he smiled

And felt joy deep within

The fairy granted the gift of life

To Pinocchio’s older kin.

And that’s how Gepetto got two sons,

Two living, breathing boys.

Even though both started out

Just as wooden toys.

But both displayed such act of love

In such unselfish ways

And never left or acted out

For the rest of Gepetto’s days.

Based loosely and inspired by the Parable of the Prodigal Son from the Gospel of Luke 15:11-32