I'm an oldies fan. Various quotations in this chapter.
"Bonnie, time to go, honey," Mrs. Anderson said at 4:45 as she stood in her daughter's bedroom doorway.
"Okay, Mommy!" Bonnie exclaimed, bouncing off her bed. "I'm ready to go!"
"Do you have everything packed?"
"Yes, Mommy," Bonnie answered. "Can I bring some toys?"
"Yes, but not your whole menagerie." Mrs. Anderson grinned. Knowing Bonnie, if she could, she would take all her toys along with her on the trip so that none of them would feel left out.
Bonnie knelt on the floor and unzipped her wheeled tote. "Let's go, everyone!" She exclaimed. "Let's see, who shall I take? Hmm. Fearless Rex," Bonnie named them as she placed them in the bag, one by one. "Potato Head, my Persian Trixie queen, Feisty cowgirl Jessie, Super Buzz, the Little Princess That Could...and most important of all, the brave Sheriff. Sorry, everyone else. You have to stay at home and keep an eye on the house, and make sure that no intruders ruin my bedroom, okay?" Bonnie zipped her bag and was about to walk out when she noticed Slinky. He didn't get to go places with her very often. "You wanna come too? Okay." Bonnie grabbed him and put him in the bag with his friends. Slinky was delighted to go along. This was a treat for him. "Bye, toys! I'll be back tomorrow night." And she was out the door.
"Oh, Slink. Bonnie brought you too!" Mitsy smiled, inside the bag. "I'm glad."
"Me too." Slinky panted happily. "I always seem to miss out on a lot of fun and adventure when I have to stay home."
"Yep. Sure am glad you could join us, Slink." Woody said, playfully patting his pal's head.
"Do you suppose we'll have anything exciting happen on this trip?" Rex asked.
"I hope so." Jessie said. "We'll die of boredom if we don't."
"I'm with you, Jessie." Trixie added. "Mishaps and adventures make wonderful stories to share when we come home."
"I wouldn't count on much out of the ordinary happening," Buzz spoke up. "We're just going to be at Bonnie's cousin, Jamie's, and I don't think she could have any toys close to grandeur as the Battlesaurs."
For the first half hour, the toys in the trunk were doing impersonations of people in movies and on TV shows. Slinky went first and stood in front of everybody. "Okay, here I go," he said. "'Stop! Stop! Citizen's arrest! Citizen's arrest'."
"Gomer Pyle in the Andy Griffith Show!" Everybody said together. Slinky frowned.
"I know, but let me finish. I'm having fun."
"Okay."
" 'But you wasn't on no emergency call'," Slinky tried to make his voice sound more squeaky and southern. "'You made an illegal U-turn. Now write yourself out a ticket... Boob? Why that's insulting the face of the public! There ought to be a law that covers that'." Everyone was laughing. "Well, y'all guessed that one. Why don't you do the next one, Rex?"
"Oh, okay," Rex said shakily. He took the center stage. At first, he just stood there, uncertain. "I...uh...hee, hee." He nervously twiddled his little fingers.
"Do something, Rex," Jessie said. Rex wasn't good at disguising his voice and his act put everybody in stitches...well, some of them.
" 'Oh, ho, ho, ho, Chuck, Chuck, Chuck, Chuck...(wheezing...trying to get his voice out) Oh, Chuck! Chuck, get in here! Oh, Chuck! Oh, Chuck! Oh, Chuck! (whining) Chuck! Chuck!' " Rex squealed loudly.
"Pipe down, you loud mouth," Potato Head snapped. "You want Bonnie and her parents to hear us?"
"Let him finish," Buzz scolded.
"I got it!" Woody stood up. "Ferdie in Hold That Ghost."
"Yes!" Rex squealed in relief, happy to let someone else perform. He rapidly took his seat again.
"Uh-huh." Potato Head muttered. "And how did you expect us to figure that out?"
"I had no idea who it was, Rex." Trixie admitted. "The title Hold That Ghost doesn't ring a bell. I guess I'll have to look it up on YouTube."
"If it isn't outdated by now." Potato Head added.
"My turn." Woody announced and stood up straight and tall. " 'And I hate to stand here and try your patience, but…' "
"Then don't," Potato Head interrupted.
Woody raised his voice angrily and clenched his fists for his performance. " 'Either I'm dead right or I'm crazy!' "
"You got the crazy part right," Potato Head said sarcastically. "That should be your new motto, Sheriff." Woody's arms dropped to his sides and he glared.
"That was good, Woody," Mitsy smiled. "But I can't quite place it."
"Well, here. Let me try again." Woody ended up having to explain his imitation of Jefferson Smith in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Potato Head did a below average Rick in Casablanca. Jessie was the perfect Ellie Mae from The Beverly Hillbillies. Buzz gave a stealthily bass voiced performance of the great detective Sherlock Holmes in Dressed to Kill. Mitsy tried the best impersonation she could as the efficient but sometimes quirky Tara from Sue Thomas FBEye.
The Andersons stopped to eat in a fast-food restaurant. Bonnie grabbed Rex and Trixie to go inside with her. "Hey, everyone, let's have an arm wrestling match!" Jessie piped up. "That's something Rex and Trixie don't have to participate in."
"Now that sounds like a plan," Buzz said eagerly.
"Ooo, yeah!" Woody slapped his knee.
"Count me out," Slinky said.
"Yeah, me too." Mitsy added.
"Aw, come on. Let's everybody play," Woody smiled. "It'll be fun."
"That's right," Jessie said.
"I think not," Mitsy said. "I'll just watch."
"Chicken," Potato Head said under his breath.
"Hey! I heard that," Mitsy squinted at him suspiciously.
"Come on, Buzz! So, Space Ranger, are ya ready to lose?" Woody asked smugly, crossing his arms and smiling with a daring look on his face.
"Don't even think about it, cowboy," Buzz teased back.
"Aw, no! I'm going to whomp the whole lot of ya!" Jessie added proudly.
"We'll see, Jessie." Mitsy corrected the cowgirl. "You might get a surprise." Jessie frowned at the princess.
"They ain't gonna beat me or my name ain't Jessie Pride Lightyear!" Potato Head quit early. Every time he went up against someone, his arm fell off. Next was Buzz versus Jessie. Jessie smirked at her husband who wasn't gripping her hand as tightly as he could have. Jessie pressed harder, and Buzz's arm easily came down. Naturally, he let her win. "I won!" Jessie announced proudly. "Okay, W-ooo-dd-yyy," She squinted at her brother. "I'm gonna beat ya quicker than you can say, 'There's a snake in my boot'!"
"Oh ho, no you're not!" Woody exclaimed. "You are not taking me down, Missy!"
"Don't call me that," Jessie retorted. "I'm not a little kid. Come on. Bring on the action!"
"Let's ride!" Woody declared, then glanced smugly at the other toys. "Don't worry, guys. I've got this covered."
"Uh-huh," Potato Head said crossing his arms, interested in who was going to win this match.
"Buzz, just make sure they don't tear each other to scraps," Mitsy chuckled. Buzz grinned.
"On the other hand, let them," Potato Head remarked. "That would be more entertaining to watch than this."
"You don't know how to enjoy much, do ya?" Slinky asked the spud.
"Okay," Buzz counted down. "On your mark, get set...go!" Woody and Jessie wasted no time and grabbed each other's hands firmly. They groaned and grimaced as they tried and tried to pull each other down, both determined to come out the winner.
"C...come on, Sheriff. Gi...give it up!" Jessie said through gritted teeth, trying to jerk the cowboy's arm down to her advantage.
"Not...not a chance, Wrangler Jane!" Woody growled, his arm shaking from his stony hold on her hand.
"Come on, Jessie." Buzz said encouragingly. "Don't let this guy get you down."
"Oh. well, thanks a lot, Buzz," Woody groaned, but kept his eyes on the cowgirl and stiffened his grip. Woody had learned a long time ago, too many times that is, not to let himself get distracted when competing with Jessie in anything. The minute he'd lose focus, Jessie would see her chance and use it to her advantage and outdo him, whether it was wrestling, racing, or some other competitive sport. But not this time: Woody was a seasoned though not totally undefeated competitor now after a little over a decade of Jessie coming out on top of him.
"Didn't work, Buzz. Nice try though." Jessie said. "But don't worry. He's not gonna win!"
"You're helping her? No fair!" Woody exclaimed, but didn't flinch. In fact, he clasped his hold even harder.
"Go, cowgirl. Take him down!" Potato Head nudged Jessie on the shoulder. She nodded and scrunched up her face. "Put the big-headed bloke in his rightful place." Jessie chuckled, but Woody growled.
"Go, Woody." Slinky said, wagging his tail. "Come on. Go ahead. Show 'em how it's done."
"Come on, Woody!" Mitsy cheered. "You can do it." Woody and Jessie squinted at each other, neither of them about to give up.
"Who's the big boss around here, huh?" Slinky edged Woody on. "We all know who wears the shiny badge in Bonnie's room."
"Hey! Watch what you're saying," Jessie groaned and glared at Slinky. Woody wasted no time, and in a split second, jerked Jessie's arm down on the art container they were using for a table! Jessie was so taken aback. She just gaped, eyes wide and mouth open, too stunned to respond.
"Yes! Yes! Ha, ha. I did it! I beat ya! Finally." Woody smiled widely, and cheered in triumph with his arms raised, shaking happily in the air.
"NO!" Jessie hollered, clenching her fists. "Nnnoo! This is not happening to me! Buzz, tell me he didn't just do that!"
"Sorry, but it looks like he did," Buzz shrugged.
"Yeah!" Slinky cheered, bobbing up and down.
"You did it, Woody! You won," Mitsy said happily, coming up behind him and playfully shoving his hat down in front of his eyes. He chuckled happily.
"Our sheriff is not easily taken down," Slinky nodded in agreement.
"Well, nice job, cowboy." Buzz grinned, patting his buddy's shoulder as Jessie smacked his hand.
"Hey. Who's side are you on, anyway?" Jessie glared at her husband.
"Now, Jess." Buzz smiled innocently. "Don't be a sorehead."
"No! No, no," Jessie pouted, puffing out her lip and glaring at the cowboy. "You are not going to do that again!" Woody smirked, crossing his arms. "I'll get even with you, cowboy. You will pay for this. You can bet your boot." Jessie threatened.
Woody knew that his sister's threat could end up really smearing him, but he was so happy with his unusual victory that he brushed it aside, deciding to worry about it later. "Come on, Mitsy. You haven't tried it yet," Woody said. He leaned forward, staring with eager eyes. "Come on. Your turn." He drummed his fingers on the container.
"Aw, no," Mitsy smiled sheepishly. "No way. I'll get clobbered. You guys are going to smear me."
"Aw, come on," Woody said. Jessie nudged Mitsy forward with a daring grin and the princess rolled her eyes.
"Oh, all right." Mitsy sighed. "You're gonna beat me, but I'll do it. I know I'm going to lose, but I'm not going down without a fight. Now, no letting me win," she warned. "That's not playing fair. I want to fight this thing out. Do not humor me, okay?"
"Oh? Well, okay. You asked for it!" Woody smirked.
"Okay. Three, two, one...go!" Jessie announced. Mitsy tried hard.
"Come on, come on." Woody teased. "I can barely feel anything. Your hand's as light as a feather."
"Aw, come on, Princess. You can do better than that," Buzz said. "Tactics, Your Highness. Remember what I've showed you?"
"Th-this isn't...quite the same thing, Buzz." Mitsy shook her head, trying to stiffen her fist inside Woody's much larger hand.
"Come on, give it some muscle," Potato Head added. "You're not even trying."
"I...I'm doing the best I can!" Mitsy grimaced with her eyes squeezed shut. Her body was tense as she tried to strengthen her hold, while Woody calmly sat there, perfectly relaxed, with his large hand solidly holding her smaller squirming one. He wasn't even flinching, not a twitch. He was trying not to snicker. Mitsy tried and tried but it was no use. She groaned at her futile efforts. "Oh. I...I knew this wouldn't work."
"Would you like me to tickle him for you?" Jessie asked the princess, pounding her fists together. "I'll be glad to give ya a hand, Your Highness."
"Don't even think about it, Jess," Woody warned, his eyes narrowing.
"No thanks, Jessie." Mitsy answered. "I said, 'no letting me win'. Ugh. Woody...you...you...I'm not...giving up..." She groaned through gritted teeth. Then, just like that, Woody effortlessly pulled her arm down without shifting his position. Mitsy sighed in defeat. "Oooh. I knew it."
"I could've won in the first few seconds," Woody chuckled, "but you said that you wanted to fight it out. So...I let you do it." Mitsy rolled her eyes.
"Thanks," she said sarcastically. "It's your turn, Buzz." she stated, standing up and backing away.
"This won't take long," Potato Head chuckled.
"Oh, boy. Here we go." Slinky said. Woody and Buzz charged at each other when Jessie said 'go', Jessie and Potato Head cheering for the Space Ranger while Slinky and Mitsy encouraged Woody. "Go, Woody." Slinky bounced around excitedly.
"Get him, Buzz." Jessie said. The cowboy and the Space Ranger growled at each other. But before either of them could win, the toys heard Bonnie's and her parents' voices, so they all jumped back into the bag. The Andersons drove to Bonnie's cousin's house. Her cousin, Jamie's mom was Bonnie's mother's sister. Bonnie was staying overnight at Jamie's apartment. The next morning after playtime and breakfast, Jamie's mom took the girls to a theme park, but she told them to leave their toys at home so they wouldn't be stolen or left behind.
"Bye, guys." Bonnie said quickly to her toys. "I wish you could come too, but have fun here. I'll see you tonight!"
Ha, ha, ha. Sorry, but nobody won or lost when Woody or Buzz competed against each other. I was trying to decide who it would be, wanting it to be Woody but assuming that Buzz could easily outdo the cowboy. So, I decided why not have them get interrupted?
I was inspired to do the arm-wrestling match from a picture I saw on DevianArt by Mirinata, with Jessie as the referee between Woody and Buzz. If I had my way, Woody would win, but I assume many people would've made Buzz the winner. Hey, at least Woody beat Jessie...for once!
