7:
The little girl carried Woody and Buzz to a laundry room. Setting them under an empty basket, she placed another basket, this one stuffed full of clothes, on top.
Stepping back, she surveyed her work with satisfaction. "I sentence you both to one million billion years!" Then to Jessie, she said, "Come Lady Cowgirl! You can join us for tea!" And with that she danced out of the room, swinging Jessie by the arm in a circle.
As soon as the door swung shut, Buzz sprung to life. "Jessie!" Frantically he began to push on the hamper sides. It wouldn't budge.
Woody stood up behind him. "Aw, this is just great!" Buzz was still thrusting his weight against the basket. "Hey Muscles, will you stop? Until that little terror comes back, we're stuck in here!"
"Can't…stop…" Buzz said through gritted teeth. "Jessie…"
"Is going to tea," Woody said resigned, sitting down against the far side of the basket.
"Jessie hates tea parties!"
Woody raised his eyebrows and Buzz sighed in defeat. "You're right. I just…When I think about what that little girl could do to her…" He clenched his fists. "Did you see the way she was flinging her around? Like Jessie was one of those Sticky Hands!"
"Sticky Hands?"
"You know what Sticky Hands are. They're rubbery and gummy and kids usually get them out vending machines or something." Buzz pressed his face to the open holes cut into the hamper.
"Speaking of sticky hands," Woody said, rubbing his shoulder where he had been grabbed. "I wonder when was the last time that kid washed hers." Buzz didn't answer. "Hey, don't worry Buddy! If Jessie survived Sunnyside she can survive anything!"
With a groan, Buzz sat down and flopped on the cold vinyl floor, resting his arm across his face. "I hope you're right."
Forty-five minutes passed. There was a black Kit-Cat Klock on the wall near the washer and dryer and soon its whirring, clicking noises began to drive Woody insane.
"Do you think she forgot about us?" Buzz asked, staring up at the top of the basket.
"I dunno. Maybe."
Buzz sat up. "That's it, I can't take it anymore!"
From outside the closed door off key singing could suddenly be heard. "'FUNAMETAL FRIENDABILITY! FUNAMETAL FRIENDABILITY! FUNAMETAL FUNAMETAL FUNAMETAL…'"
"She's coming!"
The door started to creak open. "Linda!"
The door closed again. Buzz beat his fist into the hamper side in frustration. "Blast!"
"Linda, did you refill Goliath's bowl?"
"Not yet!"
"Go do it now!"
"AW MOM!"
"Linda, you promised that if we got you the dog you would help feed him and take him outside to dooky! Now go give him his kibble!"
"FINE!"
As stomping footsteps echoed away, Buzz turned to Woody. "Let me stand on your shoulders."
"What?"
"I couldn't move it from the side before but maybe I can tilt it if I try pushing it from above!"
"Buzz, there's about five pounds of dirty laundry on top of us! Let's face it, we're stuck!"
Buzz punched his fist into his palm. "I'm not giving up! She's distracted, so it's now or never! We've got to get Jessie, get the car, and make a break for it!"
Woody groaned. Getting to his boots, he crouched so Buzz could pull himself up. As the Ranger climbed, his shoe slipped and hit Woody in the jaw. "Ow! Ow!"
"Hold still!"
"Jeez, you're even heavier than I thought!" Standing up straight, he grasped at Buzz's legs so he wouldn't topple. "Can you even reach the top?"
"I…can…just…make it…"
Suddenly the door slowly began to open. "She's back!" Gasping, Woody threw Buzz off his shoulders.
"Ow!"
Woody dropped to the ground and assumed his toy smile. Both waited.
Nothing happened. Blinking, Woody allowed himself to lift his head a little so he could take a peek.
The Cowboy was expecting to see a human. Instead, the plush Gorilla from outside pushed the door open. He entered, dragging his knuckles.
For a moment he stared at the two trapped toys. "Um, hello?" Woody stuck his fingers through one of the basket holes and wiggled them. "Hi there, we're kind of…"
Suddenly the Gorilla launched himself forward. Grabbing the top of the hamper, he swung himself upward and landed. With a single shove, he knocked the full basket off, sending blue shirts and khaki pants spilling across the ground.
Triumphantly Buzz threw the upside basket off their heads. Woody smiled at the Gorilla. "Hey thanks!" He stuck his hand out for a shake but the Gorilla didn't take it. Instead, with a sigh and a shake of his head, he turned and knuckle walked out of the laundry room.
Woody pulled his hand back in. "Okay then…"
Buzz bolted for the open door. "Jessie!"
"Hey wait for me!"
