Chapter 27

           Goinglikethewind,Pinocchiotookbutaveryshorttimetoreachtheshore.Heglancedallabouthim,buttherewasnosignofaShark.Theseawasassmoothasglass. 

           "Heythere,boys!Where’sthatShark?"heasked,turningtohisplaymates. 

           "Hemayhavegoneforhisbreakfast,"saidoneofthem,laughing. 

           "Or,perhaps,hewenttobedforalittlenap,"saidanother,laughingalso. 

           Fromtheanswersandthelaughterwhichfollowedthem,Pinocchiounderstoodthattheboyshadplayedatrickonhim. 

           "Whatnow?"hesaidangrilytothem."What’sthejoke?" 

           "Oh,thejoke’sonyou!"criedhistormentors,laughingmoreheartilythanever,anddancinggaylyaroundtheMarionette. 

           "Andthatis--?" 

           "Thatwehavemadeyoustayoutofschooltocomewithus.Aren’tyouashamedofbeingsuchagoody-goody,andofstudyingsohard?Youneverhaveabitofenjoyment." 

           "Andwhatisittoyou,ifIdostudy?" 

           "Whatdoestheteacherthinkofus,youmean?" 

           "Why?" 

           "Don’tyousee?Ifyoustudyandwedon’t,wepayforit.Afterall,it’sonlyfairtolookoutforourselves." 

           "Whatdoyouwantmetodo?" 

           "Hateschoolandbooksandteachers,aswealldo.Theyareyourworstenemies,youknow,andtheyliketomakeyouasunhappyastheycan." 

           "AndifIgoonstudying,whatwillyoudotome?" 

           "You’llpayforit!" 

           "Really,youamuseme,"answeredtheMarionette,noddinghishead.