第二天清晨，皮诺乔被吃火人叫到一旁，问他：“你父亲叫什么名字？”皮诺乔回答说：“他叫杰佩托。”吃火人追问：“他是干什么的？”皮诺乔解释说：“他很穷。”吃火人又问：“他赚的钱多吗？”皮诺乔回忆道：“要想象一下，他为了给我买一本识字课本，就得卖掉身上仅有的那件短上衣。那件上衣几乎全是补丁，没有一处好地方。”

吃火人的心生同情，他拿出五个金币，说，“这里的钱，请你马上带回去给你的爸爸，并且替我向他问好。”不用说，皮诺乔高兴地拥抱了班上的每一个木偶，即使是两个守卫，也没有忽略。然后，他欢天喜地赶回家。

刚走了一半路程，便在路上遇见了瘸腿狐狸和瞎眼猫，它们互相搀扶着，一副患难朋友的样子。瘸腿狐狸靠在猫身上，而瞎眼猫则由狐狸领着。瘦弱的小伙伴们对皮诺乔打招呼，说：“早上好，皮诺乔。”

“你们怎么知道我的名字？”木偶询问道。

“我跟爸挺熟，”瘸腿狐狸回答，“昨天我就见过你父亲。他穿着衬衫，冷得直打哆嗦。”

“可怜的爸爸！”皮诺乔感叹，“但从今往后，他就不用再打哆嗦了……”

为什么？”两个小伙伴充满好奇地提出了问题。

“你是个体面先生？”fox playfully laughed, and the cat followed suit. However, to avoid being seen by Pinochle, they used their two front paws to pretend to be combing their whiskers.

There was nothing funny about it,” Pinochle said angrily. “I really don't want you two drooling all over me, but here's the deal: there are five golden coins waiting for you if you want to know more.”

As soon as they heard the clinking of gold coins, fox stretched out its paw that looked like it had a limp, while cat opened its two green eyes that shone like lanterns. However, they quickly closed them again before Pinochle noticed anything.

“Now then,” asked the fox,” what do you plan to do with these coins?”

Pinochle replied confidently," First I'm going to buy my father a beautiful new shirt with silk and silver threads woven into it. The buttons will be made of precious stones. Second I'm going to get myself a book for learning letters."

"Why one for yourself?" questioned the fox.

"Of course! I am going back school and learn well," answered Pinochio.

"You look at me," said the fox." I foolishly tried reading books once upon a time but ended up limping from this leg."

"You look at me," added Cat." And see how foolishly trying reading led both my eyes blind."

At this moment an oriole perched in some bushes nearby began singing "Don't listen to bad friends; otherwise you'll regret it!" But alas! Before he could finish his warning words! Cat jumped high up and caught him with one swift motion in its mouth - fur and all - just as he let out an exasperated "Oh dear!"