Chapter 3
I'm finally going to have an adventure, Bo thought, her excitement overriding the fear that all this motion might break her. Aside from the move from Andy's old house years ago and that dreadful yard sale, Bo had never been outside. She couldn't count the number of times she had stared out of Molly and Andy's windows, wishing she could explore the world beyond but knowing that was a ridiculous notion. She had even offered to go with the others to rescue Woody from Al but had been talked out of it.
"I know how badly you want to go, dear," Mrs. Potato Head had said in a consoling tone. "But Woody would be heartbroken if anything happened to you." Although no one had said so directly, they all knew she would be a liability had she gone, always at risk of shattering. So Bo had no choice but to give Buzz a kiss for Woody and wave to them from the window.
She felt the car slow to a stop and, moments later, the uncomfortable jostling started again.
"I'll pick you up at noon," said Alice to Penny. Bo could hear the noise of many children playing in the background. Was she finally going to be played with again after all these years? Her stomach tingled with a mixture of apprehension and excitement. She had longed for this, had tried unsuccessfully to convince Clarice of the joys of playtime, yet a part of her was suddenly scared. What if those kids weren't as careful with her as Andy had been? "Then we'll have the rest of the day to do something fun."
"Yes!" Penny shouted, jumping up and down and jostling Bo even more. Her bonnet fell over her eyes. She gritted her teeth and hoped Penny would stop. "Bye, Grandma."
The bouncing became less severe but still continued as Penny ran toward the noise, her sneakers slapping against the ground.
Bo pushed back her bonnet as Penny came to a stop. The child unzipped her pack and peeked in. "You'll be safe in here, Bo," she whispered, hanging the backpack on a hook in a closet with others.
Bo watched as Penny raced away to join a large group of young kids. She greeted a shy looking girl with short brown hair.
Bo scanned the room. It was vast and colorful, cluttered with countless toys. Photos of groups of children covered one wall. A large dollhouse stood in the center. Longing filled Bo as she watched children hug stuffed animals and play. She couldn't help but think of how some of them reminded her of Andy when he was small.
She looked over at Penny, who was sitting at a table with the brown-haired girl, coloring. Another little girl sat cross-legged in front of the tall dollhouse, playing with a garishly dressed Ken and a Barbie clad in a glittery evening gown.
After she had observed for some time, a bell rang and all the kids were herded outside by the adults. The silence that momentarily filled the room was almost deafening, until the toys began to move about.
I might as well check out this place, Bo thought as she hooked her staff on the edge of the backpack and carefully eased out. Once she felt her feet touch the floor, she pulled down her crook, straightened her dress, and moved further into the room.
"A newcomer!" shouted a sparkling purple octopus, creeping closer. "Welcome." She held out a rubbery tentacle for Bo to shake.
Bo felt overwhelmed by all this attention as the crowd of toys gathered around her. She wasn't sure who she should focus on first. There was an enormous baby doll with a droopy eyelid, a monkey wearing star-shaped sunglasses, a green plastic insect, Buzz's nemesis Emperor Zurg, a few dinosaurs, and more stuffed animals than she could count.
"Welcome to Sunnyside, the cool and groovy daycare," said the Ken doll, stepping forward. He was wearing lemon-yellow slacks and a brightly patterned Hawaiian shirt. The colors almost hurt Bo's eyes. "We take turns here in the Butterfly Room but I'd suggest you stay," he continued, looking her over. "I don't think you'd last too long in the Caterpillar Room."
"Caterpillar Room?" Bo murmured, confused. "What—"
"Bo, is that you?" called a sweet voice. The evening gown Barbie hurried toward her. Bo's mind churned. Which Barbie was she? Molly had owned several at one point and they all looked and sounded alike. "From Molly's room?" Bo nodded.
Barbie gave her a tight hug. "I was so sad when I'd heard you'd been sold. But don't feel bad. Molly got rid of me too." She turned toward the crowd. "Ken, everyone, this is Bo Peep. We used to belong to the same owner." She turned back to Bo. "Don't tell me you've been donated to Sunnyside."
"No. I came here with a little girl named Penny."
"Penny. Isn't she Bonnie's best friend?" asked Ken.
"Penny's your owner now?" Barbie gushed. "That's wonderful! Then you must have seen Woody and the others. It's funny but they haven't mentioned you in any of their letters. How—"
"Barbie, slow down." Bo clutched the doll's arm. Her thoughts swirled. Was she dreaming? "Did you just say Woody? Isn't he still with Andy?"
Barbie shook her head. Her glossy blonde curls tumbled around her shoulders. "Didn't you hear? Andy gave all his toys to Bonnie. Even Woody."
Bo felt as if her legs were going to give way beneath her. She leaned against her staff to steady herself. "You said that Bonnie's here? That she and Penny are friends?"
Barbie's smile widened even more. She nodded.
"I've got to go back with Bonnie!" Bo's words came out in a rush. "I came here in Penny's backpack." She looked at the closet where all the colorful bags hung. "Which one is Bonnie's?"
The bell rang, startling her.
"You'll have to do that later," said Ken. "Recess is over."
"Quick!" Barbie grabbed Bo's hand and began tugging her toward the doll house. Bo practically had to run to keep up with her. She silently cursed her ridiculous petticoats. Her dress may look pretty, as Penny had said, but it was often so hard to move in, almost as great a hindrance as having been made out of porcelain. "You can hide in Ken's house until the next break. Then we'll help you sneak into Bonnie's backpack." She opened the door for Bo. "I bet you can't wait to see all of them again."
Bo felt as if her chest would burst with joy as she watched the kids play from a window. Months ago she had resigned herself to the fact that she'd never see Woody and her other friends again. And now she'd go home with Bonnie, their new owner. She'd have her old family back and everything would be wonderful. No more Clarice and endless days on a shelf with nothing to do but stare out into Alice's garden! How much longer would she have to wait? Every minute seemed to take an eternity.
"Penny, your grandmother is here for you," called one of the adults.
Penny dropped the toys she had been playing with and scurried toward the closet to get her backpack. Guilt tugged at Bo. Was she betraying Penny by choosing to go home with Bonnie? Well, it didn't matter. What mattered most were Woody and her old family. She couldn't wait to see their faces when she emerged from Bonnie's pack!
"Oh, no!" Penny gasped. She dropped her backpack and started pulling stuff out of it, strewing the floor with books and crayons.
"Penny, what on earth are you doing?" Alice grabbed the child's slender shoulder.
"No…she can't be gone." Her small body shook with sobs and tears started trailing down her face. "She's not in here. Someone must have taken her."
"Taken who, honey?" Alice knelt beside her. "Who's gone?"
"Bo Peep. I had her in my bag."
Alice pulled back, her face going pale. "Bo Peep from my den?" Penny sniffled and nodded. Alice's cheeks reddened. "Didn't I tell you not to touch my collectibles?" Her voice sounded strained, as if she were struggling not to yell.
Penny bowed her head. "Yes, Grandma. I just wanted her with me. I wasn't going to take her out of the bag."
A queer feeling stirred in Bo, one she couldn't quite explain. It was a mixture of joy and hope. Was it possible for a child to love her, a porcelain figurine? Could she actually have with Penny what Woody had with Andy, Jessie with Emily? She never believed such a thing could happen. Not to her.
She took a deep breath and looked around. All the humans in the room had their eyes locked on Penny and Alice. They wouldn't see her if she moved. She headed for the door and pushed it open.
"Bo, what are you doing?" Barbie whispered from her spot on the floor where she'd been dropped.
"I can't go home with Bonnie," she said softly, plopping down. "This child needs me."
"We'll look around for her then," Alice said tersely. "I just hope she didn't get broken."
"Is this her?" asked the brown-haired girl in a timid voice as she scooped up Bo.
"Yes!" Penny leaped to her feet, suddenly cheerful, and grabbed Bo. "Thanks, Bonnie!" Warmth flooded Bo as Penny held her close. So that was what it felt like to be hugged by a child. No wonder Woody had loved Andy so much. She didn't want it to end.
Her joy was replaced by sour disappointment as Alice snatched her away. The woman sighed as she gently straightened Bo's bonnet and dress. "She's not broken, thank goodness." She grabbed Penny's hand. "We are going to have a long talk when we get home, young lady."
"Yes, Grandma," Penny whispered in a shaky voice. She hung her head as Alice led her from the Butterfly Room, through the front office, and into the parking lot.
When they arrived home, Alice placed Bo back on her lamp, next to the sheep, then pulled Penny down beside her on the settee. The child's eyes were red and swollen.
"I am very disappointed in you, Penny," Alice said in a firm tone. "Didn't I tell you that my figurines are not playthings?"
"Yes, Grandma," Penny whispered, staring down at her shoes. Her ponytail had come slightly undone and wisps of hair webbed her wet face. Bo could hear her sniffling. She longed to comfort the child but all she could do was stand perfectly still with her crook clutched in her hands.
"After lunch I want you to go to your room and think about what you did. If this happens again, I'll have to tell your father. Do you understand? "
Penny sobbed softly and nodded. "I'm sorry."
Alice pulled a tissue from her purse and gently dabbed Penny's tears. The woman smiled, an expression that made the corners of her eyes, behind her glasses, crinkle. "I'm hungry. Let's get some lunch."
Depression filled Bo as Alice led Penny out of the room, shutting the door behind them. She had come so close to being played with, perhaps even finally being loved by a child. She wished she would have gone with her original plan to go home with Bonnie. Right now she could be hugging her old friends and kissing Woody…
She struggled to push that thought out of her mind. If she had, Penny would not only have been grief-stricken but also in deeper trouble with her grandmother.
"Did you enjoy your little excursion to Sunnyside, shepherd girl?" Clarice scoffed. "I'm surprised those snot-nosed little monsters didn't break you into thousands of pieces."
Bo ignored her. She was in no mood to put up with Clarice. She simply sighed and petted her sheep. They gently licked her face, sensing her grief. Perhaps I should be happy just being a lamp decoration, she thought, avoiding Clarice's condescending stare. That's what I was made for…Even if Andy had seen me as a toy.
As did Penny…
She pulled her bonnet forward to hide her watering eyes from Clarice and hugged her sheep.
