Once upon a time he lived in the small Italian town of Grassano... no, not an evil wizard.
There lived a cheerful road worker, Mario Costa, in Grassano. He worked all day under the scorching southern sun, building a highway to the village of Irsina.
And on Sunday, Mario got on his old bicycle and climbed high into the mountains.
One day night found Mario at the very top of the mountain, and he decided to spend the night in a small grotto on the bank of the Bilioso River.
He dined with gusto on a crust of homemade bread, washed down the bread with a glass of white grape wine, and immediately fell into a deep sleep. Mario woke up because someone was painfully pulling his hair. He ran his hand through his hair...
No one. Suddenly a small pebble hit him right in the ear, and Mario heard a quiet laugh.
- Hee, hee, hee! – the invisible joker sang in a thin voice, like a mosquito’s.
A bright red cap flashed in the pre-dawn fog, and again no one...
- What miracles! – Mario was surprised and at the same second sneezed deafeningly.
- Be healthy, Mario! – someone squeaked very close.
Now Mario clearly saw the strange man. The fiery red cap almost completely covered his face. He had small wooden shoes on his feet.
- After all, this is the cheerful gnome Monacchio! - Mario guessed. “It’s not for nothing that old Gennaro swore that he himself saw Monacchio.” And then I, along with the other kids, both believed and did not believe him.
Little Monacchio did not leave Mario alone for a minute.
Agile like a cat, cunning like a fox, tireless Monacicchio either threw handfuls of sand in Mario’s face or sprayed him with cold water from the river.
In vain did Mario try to grab his tormentor by the leg or arm.
Easily, like a mountain goat, Monacchio jumped over Mario's head, clapping his wooden shoes deafeningly.
And then old Gennaro came to Mario’s aid again. Mario remembered the old man's advice.
“There is only one way to curb Monacchio,” said Gennaro. “We have to contrive and grab him by the red cap.” All you have to do is remove Monacchio’s cap from his head, and he will become your faithful servant. Monacchio spends almost his entire life in the river or underground, and he knows the hidden places where the robbers hid their stolen treasures. Just don't give Monacchio his red cap until he takes you straight to the place where the treasure is hidden. If you take the cunning Monacchio at his word and give him the red riding hood ahead of time, the little deceiver will only laugh at your simplicity.
Mario did as Gennaro advised.
The emboldened Monacchio was just about to get close to his jacket, when suddenly Mario quickly extended his hand... And before the insidious gnome had time to jump to the side, the little red riding hood ended up with Mario.
In vain Monacchio, crying, begged Mario to return the little red riding hood, in vain promised him not to offend anyone else: Mario was inexorable.
The careless Monacchio had to lead Mario into the forest, straight to the oak tree in whose hollow there was the robber Nanko. Nanko hid some of his wealth.
Returning home, Mario rested a little from the road, and then went to the big city of Potenza and brought from there many toys for the children of his native Grassano. He gave old Gennaro a wonderful pipe, and bought himself a new bicycle.
Many years have passed since then. Old Gennaro has long since died. Mario Costa himself became a grandfather and in the evenings, sitting on the rubble, he tells the boys about his meeting with Monacchio. And the boys, like him once, believe and do not believe him.
Mario really regrets that he did not remove the wooden shoe from Monacchio’s foot: then even the most incredulous children would be convinced that he was telling the truth.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru