Time changes everything. And I could tell that I had changed (even if it was just a tiny bit) since the last time I was at Sunnyside. I had once changed Sunnyside, but now, Sunnyside was changing me.
In the days and weeks that followed, Ryan kept taking me to and from the daycare every day. Well, okay, his mom kept sneaking me in the backpack in hopes that he would play with me, but you get the point. Ryan on his own never touched me, but his mother often took me out and set me next to Ryan when he was coloring. Neither of us minded each other, but I loved watching Ryan draw with his crayons, creating magical items, animals, and scenes. A wild jungle one day, a king's castle the next, his drawings transported me into another world. And even though he never picked me up and played with me in real life, I felt as if we were playing together in his imaginary crayon doodles.
But Ryan wasn't the only one I had fun with. I would hang out with all the other toys during recess, as they introduced me to their "cool and groovy" games. I was doing a good job at being another Lotso, if I do say so myself.
I was aproched by a group of little dolls one day who promptly asked me if I wanted to play in the box with them.
'The box?' I thought. I was reminded of the countless toys I had sent to that prison every night when I was the leader.
"Wait...are we being punished?" I said without thinking.
The little dolls laughed. "No silly, here, we'll show you." And they led me out to that sandbox, which had been transformed into what looked like a perfect beach. It was quite...awesome.
"Come on!" They all said to me as they led me in. I was kinda ticked off about having sand in my fur, but as long as I was having fun, I guess it was ok.
As I settled in, the smallest doll came up to me and tugged on my paw.
"You know...you're kinda wierd...but I still like you."
I was speechless, but I didn't show it. I just put my pink paw around her in an embrace, showing that I liked, not just her, but everyone.