Chapter 1
For the first time in a month Woody lifted his boot and there was his name. How was he doing out in the world? This question filled his head each day as he tried to look like the tough leader he always was.
The leaves slowly fell from the trees meaning that summer was coming to an end. It was funny how the world changed and yet they stayed the same.
Andy’s toys lives changed and from what Woody could tell everybody was happy. The other toys accepted them as family and treated one another fairly.
He climbed up on the windowsill and did his routinely observation around the room. Bullseye and Buttercup raced around the room, The Potato Head’s were enjoying their time with their adopted children, and Rex and Trixie were once again playing a computer game.
And then there was Buzz and Jessie.
They just sat on the bed talking and laughing. He remembered how Buzz couldn’t even talk to Jessie without stuttering. He remembered them saying it was the incinerator that brought them closer.
It brought them all closer once more.
But there was something missing.
Sometimes he couldn’t stand to see them act all romantic. There were times when he wished they weren’t a couple because he wanted to be in that relationship with Bo still.
Where was she? How was she being treated? Did she still love him?
He just wanted things to go back to normal. If only there was a way for Andy to stay young forever. That didn’t happen with his father, but if Andy had kids of his own he’d remain in the Davis family.
He lifted his boot one more time and touched the faded lettering. Oh Andy, why did I…
“Everything alright Woody?”
Woody immediately put his boot down. “Yeah, everything is fine, Buzz.” he said to the Space Ranger who sat down next to him. “This sitting by the window thing is fine?”
Woody sighed. A best friend knew the other well. This was never like him to sit by the window constantly.
“I like to come up here to think. And it helps me look over all of you.”
Buzz loved how the cowboy always took care of his family, but he never let them take care of him. The last time he expressed his feelings was when they first arrived at Bonnie’s house. He’d obviously was still not adjusted to their new life. He loved Bonnie and wouldn’t want to leave her, but Andy meant so much to him.
“Woody, we need to talk.”
“About what? Everything is fine.”
“But you’re not.”
Woody let out a groan. “Buzz, would you just stop.” he said in a harsh tone. “We go though this almost every week and I am getting so tired of talking about how I’m feeling.”
“You can say that you miss Andy.”
Woody was silent, just staring out the window. He closed his eyes for a second, but didn’t say anything.
“The one thing I’ll say, Buzz, is don’t take advantage of love.”
Before Buzz could question, Bonnie came into the room to get ready for school. “Who wants to come to show and tell today?” she called out before picking up her cowboy doll. “Come on, Sheriff. My class is going to love you!”
Woody was packed into her backpack and as soon as she was gone Buzz gathered the toys for a staff meeting.
Chapter 2
“What’s the matter with Woody?” Rex asked. They all heard the conversation and were worried.
“Woody has been going through a tough time lately.” Buzz said.
“Doesn’t he like it here? He’s Bonnie’s favorite.” Dolly pointed out.
“He does like it here. It’s just that he misses Andy… and Bo.”
“Bo?” Jessie asked. She hadn’t thought about the shepherdess in ages and now she began to realize that this may have been the reason why Woody was acting so strange.
“Who’s Bo?” Trixie asked before Dolly could.
“She and Woody were dating when we lived with Andy, but she was sold in a yard sale a few years ago.” Buzz answered.
“It’s tough to lose someone you love,” Dolly said. “I went through one many years ago.”
“Woody has all of us now and he has a new home. Is there anything we can do to cheer him up?” Buttercup asked.
“I have been making up this play that I think Woody would like. It mists into the life of a toy on the street and runs…”
“Pricklepants, that is not going to help Woody.” Dolly said to him putting her hands on her waist.
“Well, it’s what always helps me.”
“What we’re going to do is all gather around and talk to Woody when he gets back. It’s best for Woody to know that we’re all here for him.”
“Mrs. Anderson is coming!” The peas in the pod called out as everyone rushed back to their places.
Mrs. Anderson came in carefully holding a box and un-taped it. Buzz nearly gasped when she pulled a familiar porcelain doll out.
“Bonnie is going to love you.” Her mother said staring at the figure.
As soon as she walked out from the room Jessie was the first to embrace Bo.
“Bo, its so good to see you! What are you doing here?” Jessie asked very excited.
“I was going to ask you the same thing cowgirl.”
“It’s a long story Bo. Woody is going to be so happy to see you.” Buzz said giving her a small hug.
She looked all around the room upon hearing her name. Woody never left her thoughts and wished upon the stars that one day she’d see him again. She could only begin to imagine what was going through his mind the day they were separated.
“He’ll be back later. Won’t this be a surprise for him!” Mrs. Potato Head said.
Bo couldn’t believe this was real. One moment she was being sold again and now she was back with her family. She could almost cry.
“Welcome to Bonnie’s room, Bo. I’m Dolly. I’m sure you’re going to love it here.” she said shaking the shepherdess’s hand.
“Thank you very much. How long has Woody been here?”
“About a month or so. Andy donated the toys to us before leaving for college.”
“College? I didn’t realize he was that old. How is Woody doing? He spent some time with the Davis family.”
“It was hard the first week, but he’s gotten better. Funny, he’s never mentioned you before.”
Bo lifted an eye brow. “What’s that?”
“I’m not sure. But the sheriff is lucky to have a gal like you. You’ll fit right in with us.”
Bo was able to smile, but it wasn’t real. Woody would always mention her in conversation. She looked at Dolly again. She was nice and had the leadership qualities like Woody. Why did she have the feeling that Woody liked her.
She shook it off knowing she was nervous to see the cowboy after all this time. They were to be reunited in a few hours.
Chapter 3
“…And with the smile on his face, that’s what makes Sheriff Woody special.”
Bonnie’s class applauded as she went to sit back down in the circle. “Aww, that was wonderful, Bonnie. I can see that Woody is very important to you.” Bonnie’s teacher said before the bell rang for recess.
Woody, sat up once everyone left and put on a genuine smile for the first time that day that week. That’s what he needed. The be reminded of the little girl that he was making happy. That’s what Andy wanted him to do when he handed the toys over.
The thing that had been bothering him about Andy left, but there was still Bo. He remembered when leaving this morning he said something that may have jumbled Buzz’s mind a bit.
He’d been avoiding on talking with the toys for so long and that wasn’t right for him to do. It never felt right to express his feelings, but nobody was going to make fun of him.
They were a family a family, and family stuck together.
Back in Bonnie’s room everyone was preparing for Bonnie to come home. Jessie spent the last few hours talking with Bo catching up on the years they lost. Bo was always like an older sister to Jessie, giving her such helpful advice.
When suddenly the family cat came into the room chasing around a tiny ball that moved on it’s own.
“What do you think you’re doing in the room, Maxine?” Mr. Potato Head called out. He never liked the cat since she always played so roughly with them.
The cat wasn’t leaving. She was too excited chasing the ball around. Dolly tried to guide Maxine out from the room, but the cat ignored her.
“I got an idea!” Jessie yelled as she grabbed a rope. As if she were in a rodeo she lassoed it around the cat’s neck making it go crazy. Jessie jumped on it’s back and the toys watched as they jumped around the room.
Bonnie arrived home and placed her backpack on the floor in the living room. Woody unzipped the bag once he heard her run to the kitchen.
He walked back to the room while hearing thumping noises and the toys cheering. What was going on in there?
Woody opened the door only to be nearly pummeled by the cat.
“Yeeeeeeeeee-haaaaaaaaaaww!!” Jessie screamed only to make the cat angrier.
“Buzz, what is going…”
He stopped himself there when he saw a familiar figure standing on the desk. Bo saw Woody and her heart melted at seeing him. Was this a dream? Was she really here?
“Bo?!”
“Woody!”
It was her! Woody ran and climbed up on the bed, their arms extended.
“Woody, watch out!”
The cat knocked Woody over and right before his eyes, a scene happened that he thought he’d only see in the movies.
Maxine knocked into the table where Bo stood.
Before anyone could react Bo was on the floor in a million different pieces.
Everything was silent. Woody felt something inside of him crack and slowly climbed down from the bed.
He dropped to his knees and picked up her unbroken arm, the only piece that didn’t shatter.
“No, no…” This wasn’t real… But it was, Woody admitted to himself once he saw the shattered remnants that once represented her head.
Jessie held her chest and pressed her hand against her mouth. What did she do? She ruined Woody’s greatest moment in his whole life.
She walked up to the toy and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Woody, I…”
Something snapped in Woody.
He grabbed her wrist and looked at her with a dark look in his eyes.
“YOU!!”
Before anything else could happen Bonnie and her mother came into the room.