If you have read some of my "Meet the Robinsons" fanfiction, there's a backstory here that is tied in to that. This is fiction, pure imagination, so please, no judging. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Toy Story," only Justine.
March 10, 2040
WOODY'S POV
After my heated discussion with Justine, I went outside for some fresh, crisp air. At first, I didn't know what to think. I had gone through many things since I came to life as a toy in the 1960s. Throughout my life as a toy, I experienced the disco era and the colorful 1980s while being loved by a little boy. I was eventually passed on to his son Andy in the 1990s, and life was beautiful. I met my Bo for the first time when Andy's sister Molly was brought into the world. I shortly met my best friend Buzz Lightyear months later, but we started out as bitter rivals. I experienced life as a lost toy not once, but thrice, but I met many friends along the way. I experienced loss when Bo and other friends were given away. I almost lost my own life before Andy went off to college. Thankfully, we all survived and were given to a little girl, Bonnie. One day, I noticed that I was transforming into a human, thanks to a young woman in Todayland who changed the laws of dimension, time, and space, and I ventured off to find my own life, finding Bo along the way. The rest of our friends eventually joined us as fellow humans, and we formed our little town of Elkhorn, building the town to the imagination that Andy always had with some minor changes. We had barely aged due to our long life as toys.
My marriage to Bo and the birth of Justine were the greatest gifts of my long life. But perhaps Justine is also my greatest trial. Bo and I had tried our hardest to be the best parents to our daughter, but I started to doubt myself after my fight with Justine. I let out a loud sigh before hearing the door open behind me.
"Hey there, Sheriff," I heard Bo say behind me.
"Hey, Bo," I replied with concern. "Is Justine okay?"
"Justine is doing fine. She's asleep. The real question is, are you okay?"
"No, Bo, I'm not okay. I'm concerned for Justine. She has never acted this way before."
I felt Bo wrapping her left arm around me and then placing her right hand over my heart.
"She's growing up, Woody. She needs to find who she is. You saw how Andy was growing up. The voice changing, playing ball in the house, not playing with you and our friends as much—"
"That was different, Bo. This is our daughter we're talking about, our flesh and blood. Why can't she see that we are doing what is best for her?"
"Woody, people change, and our daughter is not immune to that. No one is. What we saw tonight was Justine getting out of her shell. Maybe we have been keeping the same schedule with Justine for too long, and it's not working out for her anymore."
"She's not going to that dance, Bo. I mean that."
"Do you, Woody? Is the dance the only reason you got angry at our daughter? Is it Justine growing up? Please, Woody, tell me. What is on your mind?"
"What if we never see Justine again, Bo?" I asked her with worry in my voice. "What if I'm reliving what I went through with Andy, only as a human?"
"Woody, we are not toys anymore. Toys and their owners, once they part ways, that's it. This is our daughter, our flesh and blood. When it is time for Justine to live her own life, we will show support for her and visit her whenever we can. I'm sure Justine will find the time to visit us, too."
There was a short pause as Bo and I looked out at the starry night sky.
"Woody, I know you are stubbornly loyal. Justine is the same way and she got that from you. But she needs space to grow. I promised her that we would talk about her going to school at breakfast tomorrow. But Woody, please, don't be close-minded on Justine. Listen to her, let her make her own decisions, and let her know that you love her."
I felt Bo letting go and listened to her feet walking behind me.
"Woody, there is one more thing: that sweetheart's dance means a lot to Justine. Please let her get out of her shell some more and let her have fun with her friends. If you are so concerned that she will dance with a man, what difference will it make if you asked her to dance? You are her father, Woody, and I know how much you love her. If you continue to put limits on her, you will lose her. Remember that."
I glanced back at my wife, who walked back in the house, and I looked back up at the starry sky. I let out a loud sigh, wondering what to do about Justine, and then I followed Bo back in the house and into bed.
March 11, 2040
JUSTINE'S POV
I woke up and put on one of my church outfits. Today, it was a white dress with primrose flowers on it. As it was Sunday, I braided my long blonde hair and put it in a bun. Then I put on the white bonnet that I had set aside specifically for Sundays, and I finally put on my white church boots before walking down the stairs for breakfast.
"Good morning, Justine," Daddy told me, but there was no smile on his proud face.
"Good morning, Daddy," I replied, giving him no expression.
"Alright, what is wrong with this picture?" Mother asked as she took her seat. "Where did the cheerfulness of the Pride family go?"
"The cheerfulness is stuck in yesterday at the dinner table," Daddy answered, still having no expression on his face.
"You two are seriously going to let your argument last night ruin your Sunday?" Mother asked in bewilderment. "I'm surprised at you both. Justine, I know you never hold a grudge, unlike your father, who always holds a grudge."
"I'm the sheriff, Bo," Daddy chimed in. "I have to protect my friends."
"Okay, but Woody, do you always have a grudge against your friends? You had a grudge against Buzz. You had a grudge against Jessie for some time. Then you had a grudge against everybody simply because they wouldn't go back to Andy's with you."
"First of all, Bo, I never held a grudge against Jessie. She held a grudge against me. Secondly, I never had a grudge against the whole gang when we went to Sunnyside. I was upset, yes, but not enough to have a grudge."
I started to feel awkward about being in the middle of an argument between my parents.
"Okay, I'm just going to go—"
"Sit down, young lady," Daddy said through his teeth.
"Okay, sitting down," I replied, biting my lip and taking my seat again.
"So are you going to have a grudge against your own daughter because you two don't agree?" Mother asked.
"I'm right here," I said out loud, eating my breakfast.
"Well, since our own daughter has announced her presence," Daddy proposed angrily. "Why don't we ask her that same question, Bo?"
"Oh, come on, Daddy!" I shouted back in anger. "I love you so damn much! Why would I have a grudge against you?"
"For not being allowed to go to the sweetheart's dance, I imagine," Daddy answered. "As for the whole school thing—"
"You're going to tell me that I'm not going to school next fall, is that it?" I asked. "Well, guess what, Daddy? I don't need you to make my decisions anymore. In fact, I'm going to go to church by myself today."
"No, you are not, young lady," Daddy sternly replied.
"Will you two be quiet?" Mother asked angrily.
Daddy and I turned toward her in bewilderment.
"I cannot believe you two," Mother continued, shaking her head. "We're the Pride family. We are better than this. Now, Woody, Justine, why don't we talk about this like adults and not raise our voices."
"Tell our daughter that," Daddy replied, and I wanted to slap him.
"You have some nerve bringing me into your argument, Woody," I replied icily. "I'll say it again. I. Am not. Your little girl anymore. I am sixteen. I can make my own choices without you. I'll see myself out."
"Justine—"
"Let her go, Woody," I heard Mother tell him as I walked out the door and into the stables.
"Howdy there, Bullseye," I told my horse, walking up to him.
Bullseye neighed back, putting a smile on his face.
"I hate it when my parents fight," I said with sadness in my voice. "I hate it even more when I'm involved. I really want to go to the sweetheart's dance, but all I've done is bring trouble. Maybe I shouldn't go after all."
I felt Bullseye nudging my head.
"Well, let's give you a ride to town," I said with a smile as I got on the saddle. "Giddy-up!"
We rode out of the stables and into town. When I got into town, I immediately went to the café to see if Emily was in there.
"Good morning, Miss Pride," Estelle greeted me with a warm smile. "Where are your parents today?"
"They're still at home," I answered. "I needed to get away. Is Emily here?"
"She's helping me with the customers. But I'm sure you two will see each other at church."
"I'm sure of it, too," I replied, the sadness coming back to my voice. "I'll see you later, Mrs. Potato-Head."
I walked out of the café and to the mercantile to see if my aunt was there.
"I'm not open until noon!" I heard my aunt yell from upstairs.
"Don't worry, Auntie Jessie, it's me!" I yelled back.
"Justine? Holy catfish, I'll be right down!"
It only took a few seconds before I saw my aunt running down the stairs, still wearing her white nightgown with her red hair in one braid.
"You're ready for church already?" Auntie Jessie asked with concern in her voice. "Where are ya parents?"
"They're at home. They were fighting and getting me involved, so I left."
"They're fightin'? That's not good."
I watched Auntie Jessie scratching her head.
"Well, so much for yer daddy providin' the sermon."
"I'm confident he's still going to do the sermon, Auntie Jessie," I replied.
"But not in the humble mood he usually has."
"Auntie Jessie, ever since I mentioned the sweetheart's dance to my parents, I've done nothing but bring trouble. I tried standing up for myself to Daddy, but he's been angry this whole time."
"Once yer daddy is angry, he'll stay angry for a while until someone brings him to his senses."
"And I hate seeing my daddy angry. Maybe the sweetheart's dance isn't a good idea after all."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Justine! That's yer daddy's anger getting' to ya! Anger never solves anythin'. Yer daddy's probably angry because he doesn't want to admit that yer growin' up, not because of the dance. I told you yesterday, he'll come 'round. Just continue livin' like ya always have and you be you, sweetie. I, for one, would love to see ya at that dance. I will try to talk to yer daddy about it. He always listens to me."
"Thank you for listening, Auntie Jessie," I replied, finally putting a smile on my face. "My mom listens too, and I'm thankful for that. I just wish my daddy listens more often. He prefers to take action than think."
"On the contrary, Justine, yer daddy thinks before jumping into action. He has had so many adventures and he has learned so many things. If he's in danger, he knows he needs to get out, so he uses his quick thinkin' to find his way out. I know that if I was in danger, yer daddy will not stop at trying to get me out of danger. That's why he's the sheriff! But you, Justine, are a whole new kind of adventure for yer daddy. He's been yer daddy all yer life and he's still learnin'!"
Auntie Jessie had a pondering look on her face, and then her face brightened up into a big smile.
"I'll tell ya what: come by the mercantile the day of the dance. It's on Friday. I will make ya the prettiest dress, fix yer hair up, and ya will be the belle of the ball!"
"Thank you, Auntie Jessie, but I already have a dress."
"Come on, Justine, not the same blue dress ya always wear into town?"
"No! Better! Auntie Jessie, Emily and I bought green fabric from the mercantile yesterday and made a dress together. I tried showing it off to my parents and while they liked it, my daddy is still hesitant in letting me go to the dance."
"Justine, let me handle yer daddy. Ya just meet me at the mercantile Friday at two with yer dress. I will be yer fairy godmother."
"Auntie Jessie!" I laughed. "I have told everybody that I don't want to go to the dance for the men."
"I know, I know! But do ya still want to be the prettiest?"
"I don't have to be the prettiest."
Auntie Jessie smiled at me.
"Look at you. Stubborn just like yer daddy, but humble like yer mother."
"And free like my Auntie Jessie?" I asked with a smirk.
"I believe it's free-spirited, but yes, just like me."
We hugged each other and gazed into each other's eyes.
"Oh, sweet mother of Abraham Lincoln, I have to change. I'll see you at church, okay Justine?"
I nodded and made the walk to church. There was no one there yet, so I took a seat on the church steps. My brain started to fill my mind with all of these thoughts about my family that I have grown to love for sixteen years. For the first time in my life, I was starting to doubt my daddy. I knew in my heart that he loved me, but was he doing too much to prove it?
"Penny for your thoughts?"
I looked up to see the schoolteacher, Miss Dolly Anderson, approaching me with a smile on her face. I have always loved seeing her because her purple hair was very different from everyone else in town, but she has a good heart, especially for her students.
"Howdy, Miss Anderson."
"Please, it's Dolly. You are not a student in my class. Justine, is it?"
I nodded my head, looking at her ivory and pink dress.
"Your parents teach you, is that right?"
"They have taught me all my life. They have taught me life on the farm, they taught me how to read, I know how to make clothes."
"If you don't mind me asking, what do you want to do with your life, Justine?" Dolly asked.
"That's the thing, I don't know," I answered, biting my lip. "My parents never gave me the room to think about my future. I'm just now coming out of my shell."
I laughed.
"The funny thing is, I've asked my parents about my coming here in the fall for school. My daddy still thinks it's best for him and my mother to teach me."
"But can they teach you everything?" Dolly asked, taking a seat next to me.
"No, they can't. I know that. Emily will tell me about all the things she does here, and I admit that I'm jealous. Not only because Emily is with her friends learning together, but they also do fun projects. All of my projects are about real life."
"Well, the projects I give my students are about real life, too," Dolly explained. "But as a teacher, my job is to make learning enjoyable. If there is no fun in learning, then there is no motivation to lead, no motivation to get ahead."
"I've never thought of it that way."
"Now, let's talk about you. What is your passion? What do you like doing the most?"
"I love taking my horse out for rides and I love taking care of all the animals on the farm. Animals have souls, too. By taking care of them, I feel at ease knowing that in some way, they are happy too."
"Are you able to tell if an animal is sick?"
"Yes, my parents and my aunt taught me everything I needed to know. I know how to look into their eyes and just… know what they need in order to feel better."
"You know, we don't have a doctor here in town," Dolly suggested. "I think you would be an amazing doctor. You listen to people and you care."
"I'm sixteen, Dolly," I replied with laughter. "Me, a doctor?"
"Well, why not? We do projects about the human body, too. And we do projects about animals. You'd fit right in."
"You really think so?" I asked with a smile.
"I know so. I would like to talk to your father—"
"My father is not one to change his mind when it comes to me," I interrupted her, my smile quickly fading away.
"I know Woody Pride, Justine. I've known him since he was a toy, before we all changed. I'm actually surprised to hear what you said about him. He cares deeply about the people he loves. But he doesn't know everything."
We paused, looking ahead to see the townsfolk coming to the church, and I saw my parents among the crowd.
"Why don't we talk to your father together after church?" Dolly suggested. "I think I have an idea."
"Okay, sure."
"To summarize today's sermon, my friends, we will have trials during our time here on God's green pastures, but because we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are already guaranteed an inheritance of a home in heaven because He loves us. Amen."
We repeated "amen" after my daddy.
"I have some announcements to make. I want to thank the women and children for creating our lovely banner to advertise Elkhorn's annual sweetheart's dance. The dance is on Friday. Music will be provided, of course, by Sarge and his band. And Miss Dolly has some announcements of her own to make regarding the dance. Dolly?"
We all watched Dolly approach the podium.
"Thank you, Sheriff. The children and I have come up with some ideas of our own for the dance, and I am happy to announce that we will open a lemonade stand for refreshments."
We all gasped happily at that announcement.
"We, the children, will be serving lemonade, water, and punch made by our very own Estelle Potato-Head, and every dollar will be donated for a new playground that will be placed behind this church and schoolhouse."
We applauded.
"I am also having some roses shipped in from McAlester and we will be selling one rose for one dollar a piece for the male population to give to their ladies. The money from that will go to funding for a new doctor's office."
We applauded once again.
"That is all I have, Sheriff."
"Thank you, Dolly," Daddy replied with a smile. "Those are wonderful ideas for the dance. A new playground and a new doctor's office. Now where are we going to find a doctor? Anyway, are there any more announcements that anyone would like to share?"
"Happy hour is today from noon to five, ladies and gentlemen!" Don Potato-Head announced.
"I, too, am hosting happy hour from noon to five at the café," Estelle, Don's wife announced. "One dollar for drinks and two dollars for desserts and pastries."
"Thank you for your weekly announcements, Mr. and Mrs. Potato-Head," Daddy replied. "If there is nothing else to announce, then have a blessed day, folks."
All of us got up out of our seats to leave. Suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I turned to see Dolly with a smile on her face.
"Let's go have that talk with your dad."
I nodded in agreement and we followed everyone else out of the church. I witnessed my daddy shaking everyone's hands and tipping his hat with a smile on his face. My mother was at his side, hugging all the women that passed by. Dolly and I eventually got up to the doors and we saw my parents.
"Justine, praise the Lord you're okay!" Mother exclaimed as she gave me a hug.
"Um, thanks, Mother," I replied, hesitantly returning the hug. "Hi, Daddy."
"Hello, Justine," Daddy replied, his smile fading. "We need to talk."
"That is why we're both here, Sheriff," Dolly chimed in, shaking his hand. "By the way, great sermon this morning."
"Thank you, Dolly. But if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to my daughter alone."
"Daddy, I'm sorry, but Miss Anderson and I were hoping to talk to you together."
Daddy let out a sigh.
"Very well. Let's take a walk."
The three of us walked some distance away from the church before stopping at the pond.
"What did the two of you want to talk to me about?" Daddy asked, putting his hands on his hips.
"I'm sure you have heard your daughter talking to you about attending school next fall with me," Dolly explained. "I think Justine would make a fantastic addition to the classroom."
"How can you promise that Justine will be taken care of?" Daddy asked. "I don't want anything to happen to her."
"Woody, I promise you that I carefully watch all of my students. If someone is in trouble, I take it personally to not rest until my student is safe. If trouble brews, it is my job to stop my students from hurting each other. I am sure that you, our town sheriff, feel the same way with the folks. Justine will be in good hands with me. She already knows so much, but she and I agree that she needs to learn more, to think critically, to learn about herself. She has already told me what she wants to do with her future."
"Oh? And what do you want to do, Justine?" Daddy asked with surprise on his face.
"I want to help sick animals get better," I answered. "But when they're not sick, I want to take care of their mental health, too."
"I think Justine would make a fine doctor," Dolly continued. "Or even a veterinarian if she chooses. If you're not convinced, then I have an idea. You and Bo can pick a day for Justine to shadow the classroom. Justine will see everything she will expect in my classroom and meet all of the students."
"That sounds reasonable to me," Daddy replied, putting the smile back on his face. "I will talk to Bo about it."
"Thank you so much," Dolly said with a smile. "Now I'll leave you to talk to your daughter. I hope to see you soon, Justine."
We waved to each other as Dolly walked into town.
"What did you want to talk to me about, Daddy?" I asked, nervous about what he was going to say.
"I just wanted to say—"
"Woody! We need to talk!"
We turned to see Auntie Jessie running up to Woody.
"Jessie, what's wrong?" Daddy asked with concern in his voice. "Do I need to uphold the law?"
"Goodness no, nothing like that. It's about Justine."
Daddy and I glanced at each other.
"Well, I learned my lesson about involving my daughter," Daddy replied. "Let's go, Jessie. Justine, I'll see you later."
Auntie Jessie and Daddy walked into town, and I was left alone.
"Well, that's great," I said out loud. "I guess I'll go to the café."