By Giovanni Galavotti, translated into English by Ruth Stephens
Chapter 6 – The Confession
When his parents come home they ask Michele what has happened. At first he can say nothing, not a word.
But in the end he confesses. His parents are a bit angry at first, but then they understand and persuade him to take the fish to school and tell his classmates the truth.
He puts the fish in a plastic bag like the one it came in and places it in his rucksack. At school he tells his classmates “I have something to tell you….. It’s about the goldfish.”
“What, Michele?” they all ask at once “What is it?”
“I’m afraid my goldfish is…….dead!”
And again they all exclaim, “Noooooo!”
They all seem really sorry. So, of course, the dead goldfish stays hidden in Michele’s rucksack.
At home his mum asks him “Did you tell your classmates the truth?”
“Yes, Mum.”
And his dad says “Well then, now we can bury it.”
Michele and his father take the goldfish to a nearby field. His father digs a small hole and Michele hands him the goldfish.
But at that moment who should pass by but one of his classmates – Francesco – who sees the fish in Michele’s hand…