2: Two Weeks Later

The baby was coming home. She had been a Thanksgiving baby, announcing her intent to arrive as Mom was slicing the jellied cranberry sauce for dinner.

All the other toys were antsy as the minutes ticked away. "What does she look like?" Rex asked Woody for the fourth time.

For the fourth time, Woody answered, "Pink and squishy with no hair and no teeth." He and Andy had met the new baby together as his owner was ushered into the hospital room. So far the Cowboy had been the only one to see her and the other toys had been pestering him for four days.

"I already told you guys," said Woody. "She looks like a baby. They all look alike."

"And her name is Molly?"

Mr. Potato Head chortled. "Sounds like a dog's name to me."

Woody sighed irritably at the cynical remark. "Dad chose the name. She was named after his favorite cousin." As Dad's former toy, Woody could remember Cousin Molly, a tomboy with giant buckteeth and a fondness for mischief. She and Dad had been as thick as thieves growing up and Woody had been along for the ride on many of their adventures. He wondered if the new Molly would be anything like her.

Bo wasn't with the crowd. Instead, she hung back with her sheep. The Cowboy didn't know why but he had the sudden urge to talk to her.

"So," he said as he joined her. "Are you looking forward to meeting Molly?"

Bo's sheep bleated angrily at him and she gave them a warning tap with her crook. "Stop that." She commanded. To Woody she said, "Yes, I can't wait to finally see her!"

"And that's all you'll be doing." Said a new voice. Potato Head had been listening in.

Woody looked at him. "Potato Head…" He warned. Bo had only been there about two weeks, but the Cowboy could already feel some tension between them. For some reason, Potato Head seemed to dislike her, though he couldn't imagine why. He guessed that it might've had to do with the fact that Bo was clearly smarter than the Tuber, despite being fresh out of the box. It wasn't surprising to Woody; in his private opinion Potato Head wasn't the sharpest spud in the dirt, but if he resented Bo for being smart why would he hang around with Know-It-All Hamm? It didn't matter. Woody had given up long ago on figuring out Potato Head.

Potato Head continued on. "A new baby doesn't do anything but cry and eat and make turds. She won't play with you now, and even when she grows up, you'll probably sit on the shelf all day long since you're made of porcelain."

"That's enough, Potato Head." Woody said sternly.

"I'm just telling Princess here how it is."

"My name is Bo." Said Bo in a clipped tone.

"Whatever." As Potato Head waddled away, Woody sighed and looked at her.

"Don't listen to him," he said. "He's just being a jerk."

"I know," said Bo. "I don't care if she plays with me now. All I want to do right now is meet her."

There was the sound of a vehicle in the driveway. From the desk Hamm yelled, "They're home!"

There was a mad dash to the window. Woody and Bo walked together to the desk chair. He climbed up first and helped her up after him. The fire from two weeks ago had mellowed into a pleasant warm feeling, though he still couldn't really understand it. In his mind though, a certain phrase from a certain Toaster kept creeping into his thoughts: "It's like being next to a new loaf of bread." Well, Bo certainly wasn't a loaf of bread, even if she smelled kind of nice…

Stop it! Woody thought as they climbed onto the desktop. That's so weird! And you're only thinking it because it's Andy's favorite movie!

By the window, he picked up Lenny. "Ok, they're getting out of the van…Mom's pulling the baby seat out of the back…There she is!" He held the Binoculars up for Bo to peer though.

As she did, Potato Head said in an annoyed voice, "Why does she get to look first?"

"Because Molly's her owner!" I swear, thought Woody, Potato Head is such a moron sometimes…

"She's beautiful," Bo said suddenly. "I wish I could see her up close."

"You will," Woody said reassuringly. "Don't worry."

Down below, a bright orange sports car pulled up behind the van with a screech. A woman with short spiky hair and a pointy nose dressed in a cheetah print jumpsuit jumped out. She was accompanied by a bearded man in a mullet wearing a tight black tank top and ripped jeans with boots. Woody recognized them as Dad's third cousin Penelope and her husband Dan.

Mom looked startled and uncomfortable as they immediately stuck their faces close to Molly and started making stupid baby noises. Dad, however, seemed more diplomatic, not mention tolerant, towards his obnoxious relations. He ushered them inside, but Penelope ran back to the car and pulled a giant present from the back seat. She shoved it into Andy's hands. Woody could only guess from this height, but he was sure she was ordering him to carry it.

"I really can't stand those people," he said as he moved aside to let someone else take Lenny. As the mob moved forward, he and Bo stepped back.

"She'll probably stay downstairs for awhile. Penelope will want to fawn over her and give lots of advice. You know, despite the fact she doesn't have any kids."

"If only I could see her now…" sighed Bo.

A thought occurred to Woody, but it was so ludicrous that he dismissed it. Then it popped up again. No, no. It was too risky…

"Why don't we go downstairs and look at her then?" His voice said. His brain screamed in horror, ARE YOU CRAZY?

Bo looked surprised…and happy. "Could we?"

Absolutely not! What if we're seen? "Sure."

She touched his arm. "That would be wonderful!" So much for the fire mellowing out. "You sure blush a lot."

"Do I?" Woody said, his voice warping to a higher pitch. Hearing the squeak, he cleared his throat and dropped the tone. "I, uh, never noticed."

Andy lay with his arms folded on the table and his head resting on them. He had a cup of grape juice with a twisty straw sticking out. Penelope and Dan sat across the table, smiling eagerly as Mom unwrapped the present.

"It's just the latest thing!" Penelope crowed. "So hip and modern!"

The wrapping paper fell and Mom looked shocked. "A Milk Daddy?" The box showed a picture of a man with a pair of strap on breasts, nursing an infant.

"You place the milk inside and Coz here can feed the little one!"

"I…don't…know what to say." Said Mom slowly.

"You're welcome!" Chorused Penelope and Dan.

"Never, ever, ever…" Dad muttered to Mom. She made a grimacing smile.

"How thoughtful. I would have never guessed."

"And looky here!" Said Dan, pulling out another present. "Picked this one out myself!"

Mom opened the lid. "Boots."

"Baby booties?" Said Dad. "That's a little more normal…I mean, that's nice!"

"No," said Mom, holding up a pair of infant-sized cowboy boots. "Just boots."

"Wouldn't want little Mary's toes getting cold at night!"

"It's Molly," said Mom, Dad, and Andy.

"Molly…" Repeated Penelope. She looked at Dad. "Didn't we have a cousin named Molly?"

"Yes, we did."

"Ah, I remember her now. She was the brat with the beaver teeth that cut off all my Barbies' hair and colored their faces green."

Andy noticed that Dad had crushed his soda can at the word "Brat" but Penelope went on, oblivious. "Wonder what happened to the little monster. Probably living in some trailer park by now."

"She died, Penelope." Dad said stiffly. "Two years ago."

There was a thick silence.

Andy finished his juice, making a loud sucking noise through the straw. Penelope jumped. "Don't do that!" She said sharply. "It's annoying."

"You're annoying." Andy said back.

Dan choked on the beer he'd brought. Dad did a double take. Penelope's face turned pink with anger. "Excuse me?"

Andy stood up. "You're annoying!" He shouted.

"Andy that's enough!"

"Babies don't need boots! That's stupid! This whole thing is stupid! I hate the new baby!" And with that he turned and ran out of the kitchen, leaving the grownups stunned.

Woody and Bo had reached the bottom of the steps. "Be careful!" He instructed as he helped her to the floor.

Bo looked around. "I've never been down here before."

"We'll just have to wait until…" There were footsteps and Woody quickly moved Bo behind a potted plant. "Watch out!" He ducked in behind her.

Andy ran past and thudded up the stairs. Woody peeked out. "What's wrong with him?" He jumped back as Mom followed.

"Andy!" A moment later the bedroom door slammed.

Woody's first instinct was to run after Andy and find out what was the matter. But with Mom there, there was no way he could avoid being seen. Besides, he couldn't leave Bo. Whatever was going on would have to wait.

More footsteps. "Well Coz, it's been an interesting visit." The two toys could hear Penelope say stiffly.

"He's just a little upset about the baby that's all! You know kids!" Dad's voice answered.

Bo was looking toward the kitchen. "Now's our chance."

Woody nodded. "On the count of three…" Bo slipped her hand into his. "One, two, three…Now!"

As quick and as quiet as mice, they raced to the door. Inside, Molly's carrier had been set on the floor in front of the table. She was sleeping soundly, her little fist scrunched up near her face.

Bo stared at her in amazement. "She's beautiful."

Woody hung back near the door, watching for signs of people. He still couldn't believe the risk he was taking. What could've possessed him? He had always been so practical, so sensible, yet here he was so close to the breaking "The Rule." Even if Molly was asleep and a baby, she was still a human. And what if someone came in? Would he and Bo have time to hide?

There was a tiny moan and Woody jerked his head around. Molly was awake.

For a moment, the Sheriff was terrified that she'd start crying, but instead, her blinking blue eyes focused on Bo. They stared at each other.

With a smile, Bo reached out and touched her. "Hello, Molly." The baby curled her fingers around Bo's tiny hand, then just as quickly she dropped back to sleep.

Bo turned and looked at Woody, her happy smile illuminating her face. He smiled back…

The footsteps were coming. The Cowboy looked around for a hiding spot but there was only one place he could see…

The kitchen door swung open. "Ok, Little One, they're gone and with any luck you won't have to see them again until you have a baby." Dad stopped in front of the carrier and bent down to pick it up.

He paused. Behind the seat were two toys. One was the porcelain figurine received at Molly's baby shower, the other was a rag doll he knew all too well.

"I didn't even notice Andy bring these down here!" He scooped them both up. "Oh well. Come on Molly, let's go see your brother."

As Dad stopped outside of Andy's room, Woody could see a new sign on the door. It read, "KEEP OUT!"

Inside, Dad put Woody and Bo on the bed. Andy was curled up in a ball on the yellow comforter and Mom sat beside him. "Nobody even cares about me now that the stupid new baby's here." He said into his pillow.

"Andy that's not true! Your Dad and I both care about you very much!"

"You have to say that."

Dad picked up Woody and placed him beside Andy. In a moment, Woody was being crushed in a tight hug between Andy's armpit and chest. Even though it hurt, all the Sheriff wanted to do was comfort his owner as much as he could. If only toys could come to life in front of humans! He wanted to talk to Andy and let him know everything would be ok. Sometimes it just wasn't enough to lie there and play possum.

Woody could see Bo in the same spot Dad had placed her in. Even though neither was moving, their eyes still met. He had a peculiar feeling that she was thinking the same things.

Mom had unbuckled Molly from the baby carrier and placed her in Andy's lap. He stiffened. "I don't wanna hold her."

"Just for a moment." Mom said, placing her hand under Molly's head to support it. "You see? Isn't this nice?"

Andy stared at the baby for a moment. "I guess she's ok…" He finally mumbled. "I guess, if you really want to keep her…"

Mom kissed the top of his head and picked up Molly. As she placed the infant in her crib, Andy lay back down and closed his eyes, Woody tight in his grasp. As Dad pulled off Andy's shoes, Mom picked up Bo and moved her to the nightstand.

Both parents paused at the door and looked at Andy, who was now fast asleep. "Sweet dreams, Kiddo." As the bedroom door finally closed, Woody stared up at the ceiling and collected his thoughts.

What a day it had been…and it wasn't even two o'clock. A new baby, repugnant relatives, Andy's reaction to everything…and then there was Bo.

Would he have taken any other toy to see the baby? What if Potato Head or Slinky had wanted to see her? No, he told himself. It was different with Bo. After all, Bo belonged to Molly and wanted to see her little owner as soon as possible. He was doing her a favor. As a friend. That was all.

That's all I was doing…Woody thought, closing his own eyes. That's all…And with that, he forbade himself to think about it anymore.