In the bedroom of young Andy Davis, a desperate outlaw1 was about to be captured.
As a group of toys gathered in a quiet western townmade out of a row of cardboard boxes the outlaw suddenly appeared.
All right, everyone, this is a stickup! said Andy in a gruff voice, pretending to be a villainous Mr. Potato Head. Dont anybody move!
All the other toys were carefully placed in position, watching. Andy pretended to make them all talk.
Andy picked up his piggy bank and shook out its coins. He lowered Mr. Potato Head over the money greedily. Then Andy grabbed a porcelain3 Little Bo Peep figurine. STOP it, you mean old potato! he said in a high-pitched voice, pretending to be Bo Peep.
Quiet, Bo Peep, or your sheep get run over! growled4 Mr. Potato Head. In the middle of a toy racetrack, the sheep stood helplessly, right in the path of danger.
Not my sheep! Somebody do something! Bo Peep cried.
Suddenly, Andy grabbed a brown-haired cowboy sheriff doll named Woody. He yanked on the shiny white plastic ring that dangled5 from a string on the toy sheriffs back. A small voice box inside the cowboys chest squawked a scratchy recorded message: Reach for the sky!
Im here to sTOP you, Woody said to Mr. Potato Head. Are you gonna come quietly?
You cant touch me, Sheriff! Mr. Potato Head shouted. I brought my attack dog with a built-in force field!
Andy stretched a toy Slinky dog in front of Mr. Potato Head, then grabbed a plastic Tyrannosaurus rex doll and dropped it on TOP of Slinky.
Well, I brought my dinosaur6, who eats force-field dogs! Youre goin to jail, declared Sheriff Woody.
Andys baby sister, Molly, watched from behind the bars of her crib. Taped to one side of the crib was a cardboard sign with the word J人工智能L scrawled7 in crayon.
Andy dropped Mr. Potato Head in with Molly. With a shrieking8 giggle9, the little girl grabbed the doll and started banging him against the rail of her crib, knocking some of his parts onto the floor.
You saved the day again, Woody, Andy said as he pulled the sheriffs string once more.
Youre my favorite deputy, Woody replied. Andy galloped10 into the hall. He propped11 Woody on the stairwell railingand shoved. Whooping12 and hollering, Andy clattered13 downstairs as Woody slid awkwardly down the banister.
Gotcha! Andy cried at the bottom. He put Woody on his shoulder and romped14 around the living room. Then he placed the doll on the footrest of a recliner chair, pulled the lever, and catapulted him across the room.
Suddenly, Andys eyes lit up. He ran toward his mother, leaving Woody sprawled15 on the couch. Wow! This looks great, Mom!
Colorful helium balloons bobbed on their strings16. Crepe-paper streamers decorated the dining room walls. A banner draped across the archway read: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANDY!
Can we leave this up till we move? Andy asked his mother.
Well, sure, we can leave it up, replied Mrs. Davis. Now, go get Molly. Your friends are going to be here any minute.
Andy sTOPped by the couch to pick up Woody. Its party time, Woody!
Andy pounded up the stairs to his room. As he propped Woody on the bed, he pulled the toy sheriffs string one last time.
Somebodys poisoned the water hole, said Woody.
Come on, Molly. Andy reached into his sisters jail and lifted her out. Without looking back, he called over his shoulder, See ya later, Woody!
Slam! Andy kicked the door closed behind him. The room was silent for a moment. Then Woody shoved his hat back and scratched his forehead. A worried frown creased17 his brow as he sat up.
Pull my string! he muttered under his breath. The birthday partys today?
Woody knew only too well what birthdays meant: toys. New toys, and lots of them. Shiny. Still nice in their boxes, with all their parts. Clean, and full of promise. Woody glanced around the quiet room. Okay, everybody, he called out. Coast is clear!
Slowly, toys began to roll out from under the bed, toddle18 across the floor, and bounce out of the toy chest. They flip-flopped down from shelves. Chattering19, squeaking21, quacking22, and ringing, they swarmed23 into the open terrain24 of the bedroom floor.
Mr. Potato Head wobbled as he sat up on his rounded bottom. He had a blank expression, since all his face parts were strewn around the room. One by one, he jabbed his plastic eyes, ears, nose, and mouth into the small round holes scattered25 across his body. Then he walked over to Andys fat pink piggy bank, who was flipping26 a penny into his coin slot. Hey, look, Hamm! Im Picasso!
The piggy bank stared at Mr. Potato Head, whose face pieces were stuck into the wrong holes, making his features seem all mixed up, as in one of the famous artists paintings. Hamm blinked. I dont get it.
Ah, you uncultured swine! Mr. Potato Head sighed in disgust as he put his features back where they belonged.
High aTOP Andys mattress27, Woody turned to a plastic Green Army Man standing28 guard on the bedside table. Hey, Sarge. Have you seen Slinky?
No, sir! the sergeant29 said with a stiff salute30.
Okay, thank you. At ease. Woody leaped off the bed, the spurs of his brown boots jangling when he landed squarely on the floor. Hey, Slinky?
A metal fwump! Sounded under the bed. Two paws shoved a checkerboard out from under the hem2 of the bedspread. Woodys faithful sidekick, the toy Slinky dog, wandered out and began setting up the checkers.
Im red this time, Slinky said.
Woody shook his head. No, Slink.
Oh, all right. You can be red if you want.
Not now, Slink! Woody shook his head again. Ive got some bad news.
Bad news? Slinky yelped31.
Woody shoved a hand over Slinkys mouth and looked around. A few nearby toys inclined their heads, listening for any scrap32 of hot gossip. Woody led Slinky a few steps away.
Just gather everyone up for a staff meeting and be happy! he whispered.
Got it, said Slinky. He forced a quick laugh, then shuffled33 off across the room.
Woody heard a floor-sweeping swish and glanced down at a toy snake and a shiny toy robot as he walked toward the end of the bed.
Staff meeting, everybody, Woody said, then added, Snake, Robotpodium duty.
The snake and the robot grumbled34 a little, but they crawled out from under the bed to help.
A few paces away, the sheriff heard a squeak20. He grinned. The knobs were twitching35 on Etch A Sketch36, Andys rectangular drawing toy. Hey, Etch! the sheriff called out. Draw! Woodys gun arm shot to his empty holster. Too late.
Etch A Sketch had beaten him to the draw. Etch proudly displayed the revolver hed created on his gray screen.
You got me again, Etch! Woody teased.
Youve been working on that draw. Fastest knobs in the West! Woody patted him on the corner of his red plastic frame, then walked toward the podium, which the snake and the robot were building out of some blocks and a Tinker Toy box.
Woody nodded his approval. The meeting would start soon. Hed better make a list.
Now, where is that Hey, who moved my doodle pad way over here? He walked over and picked up the tablet.
Suddenly, behind him
Roaaaarrrr!
Woody casually37 turned around. Oh, how ya doin, Rex?
Rex, the not-very-ferocious-looking plastic tyrannosaur, smiled hopefully, his tiny claws clutched to his chest. Were you scared? Tell me honestly.
Woody bit his lip and cleared his throat. I was close to being scared that time.
Rex sighed and followed Woody toward the podium. Im going for fearsome here, he explained. But I just dont feel it. I think Im just coming off as annoying.
Woody was about to reply, but a shepherds crook38 suddenly hooked him around the neck. One big yank and he found himself nose to nose with a smiling Bo Peep. Oh hi, Bo.
The slender figurine batted her blue eyes. I wanted to thank you, Woody, she said. For saving my flock.
Woody blushed. Oh, heyit was nothing.
Bo Peep smiled sweetly. What do you say I get someone else to watch the sheep tonight? she purred. Woody gulped39.
Bo gestured with her crook toward the alphabet blocks that decorated the base of her lamp.
Remember, she added, Im just a couple of blocks away. With a little wave, she sashayed past a small pile of toy alphabet blocks and headed toward the podium.
Woodys heart boinged like a jack-in-the-box. He shook his head to clear it and glanced around. All business again, he scribbled40 some notes on his doodle pad and strode toward the podium.
Slinky was busy herding41 all the toys into place. Come on, come on! Smaller toys up front!
Everyone crowded around expectantly as Woody took his place at the podium. A toy tape recorder waddled42 up beside him.
Oh, thanks, Mike, Woody said. He picked up Mikes microphone and blew. Hello? Testing, testing. Everybody hear me? Great.
He glanced down at the notes on his doodle pad.
Okay. First item today: Has everyone picked a moving buddy43?
All the toys began talking excitedly.
I didnt know we were supposed to have one already, Rex whined44.
Mr. Potato Head held up one of his extra plastic arms. Do we have to hold hands?
The toys nudged one another and laughed. Woody shook his head. Oh, yeah. You guys think this is a big joke. Weve only got one week left before the move. I dont want any toys left behind. A moving buddyif you dont have one, get one!
Woody looked back at his doodle pad. All right, next. Oh, yes. Tuesday nights Plastic Corrosion45 Awareness46 meeting was a big success, and we want to thank Mr. Spell for putting that on for us. Thanks, Mr. Spell.
Youre welcome, the electronic Mr. Spell droned, the words scrolling47 across his display screen.
Woody stared at his list, stalling. There was no use putting it off any longer. He had bad news. The toys would have to be told.
Oh, yes. One minor48 note here. Woodys voice dropped to a whisper. Andys birthday partys been moved to today. He coughed and shouted, Next, we have
The room exploded into squeaks49, squeals50, bells, barks, and whistles.
What do you mean, the partys today? Rex exclaimed. His birthdays not till next week! Woody held up his hands. Well, obviously Andys mom wanted to have the party before the move. Im not worried. You shouldnt be worried.
Mr. Potato Head elbowed his way to the front of the crowd, glaring at the sheriff. Of course Woody aint worried! he cried. Hes been Andys favorite since kindergarten!
Some of the toys mumbled51 their agreement.
Hey! Come on, Potato Head, Slinky responded, speaking up for his pal52. If Woody says its all right, then, well, darn it, its good enough for me. Woody has never steered53 us wrong before.
Woody jumped down from the podium and walked through the crowd, looking each toy straight in the eye. Listen, no ones getting replaced, he said soothingly54. It doesnt matter how much were played with. What matters is that were here for Andy when he needs us. Thats what were made for. Right?
One by one, the whirring, muttering, chiming toys fell silent, feeling at least a little reassured55.
Hamm the piggy bank finally broke the silence. Pardon me, he called from the window- sill. I hate to break up the staff meeting, but THEYRE HERE! BIRTHDAY GUESTS AT THREE OCLOCK!
