Czytaj książkę: «The Hat And The Magic Shoes»

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Maria Grazia Gullo - Massimo Longo

The hat and the magic shoes

Translated by Deborah Deandri

Copyright © 2021 MGGullo - M.Longo

The cover image, the illustrations and the graphics were created and edited by Massimo Longo

All rights reserved.

ISBN Code:

ISBN-13:

The hat and the magic shoes

On the road to Dorset, a bratty but brilliant child wandered glum through the streets with his hands in his pockets. His mood was dark, his last school report was awful, and his parents had punished him by taking away his Tablet and all the cartoons on TV.

Dad’s words still rang in his ears as he took away his favourite toys and games: “You won’t get all this back until you get it together.”

Even his mum, who was usually always permissive, had lost her temper: “How is that possible? With your intelligence to take home such a bad school report?“

However, Alf, this was his name, did not give up.

“It’s not my fault”, he repeated in his head. “Everything is boring, and why do I have to learn all those things? I can very well do it myself.” In short, instead of regretting it, Alf continued on his steps.

As he crossed the main street of the small town he lived in, he heard a whistle. So, he turned to see where it came from. He could not understand it and got back on his road when another one arrived.

- Hey, you! …

The whistle and the voice came right from the alley, next to a green garbage bin.

- Hey, you! - the voice called again.

Alf could not see anyone, so he approached ...

- Hey, you! - he heard for the third time

Alf checked around the bin and again saw no one. He turned to leave, but he heard the voice again.

- Hey, you! Look down. We are here.

Alf took a good look around but saw only a pair of red and white leather trainers abandoned at the bottom of the garbage bin and thought that they had undoubtedly been gorgeous once.

- Hey, you!

Alf jumped, he couldn’t believe his eyes, the toe of his right shoe had moved as it said “Hey”. From the left shoe, the sound “you” came out. Can it be? He rubbed his eyes.

- Hey, you! You know it’s rude not to answer? - they repeated.

- Are you talking to me?

- Yes, we are. It’s just us in the alley. Are you dumb?

- How dare you! - Alf exclaimed, offended.

- Okay, sorry. Haven’t you ever seen shoes talking?

- No! - Alf answered, still amazed.

- Ah! There it is. Take us with you and give us a clean, and we will be grateful.

- We? How many are there of you?

- Six and Dix - said the left shoe; immediately after, the right said - Nice to meet you.

- Nice to meet you, too - said Alf.

- Ah! So, you know a bit of good manner.

- Of course! - Alf said, offended - I’ll leave you here. I don’t want to clean old shoes like you!

- Old? We’re just dirty!

- As you like, but I will not work or do you any favours ...

- You are lazy- Dix said.

At these words, Alf turned his back and was about to leave.

- No! Do not go away. We can help you. We are really efficient shoes.

- I don’t need help ... but if I could make a wish ...

- No! That is the lamp… - Dix exclaimed.

- Goodbye, then...

- We can make you run fast like never before. Which kid wouldn’t want to be the fastest?

- The fastest? How fast?

- More than you can imagine.

- Hmm ... maybe I could need your help...

- Do we have a deal, then?

- It’s a deal! - Alf confirmed, happy as a lark.

He grabbed the shoes and ran home. When he arrived, he filled the bathtub and threw them in.

- Be careful. You’ll drown us! - the shoes screamed, sinking into the soapy water while Alf wiped them.

- You are like a cry-baby!

- I bet you don’t say that when your mum rubs your head ... - they retorted.

- Shut up! My mum might hear you...

In fact, the suspicious voice of Alf’s mother soon arrived from the corridor:

- Alf! Alf, who are you talking to in the bathroom?

- Don’t worry, mum, I’m taking a bath ...

- A bath? - mum was surprised because she had to force him, usually.

- Yes, a bath.

- Good, then - mum said, happy that he was finally taking care of his personal hygiene without her having to call him back.

After the cleaning, the shoes were shiny and bright. They looked brand new.

The size, however, was not his, and this worried him.