I wanted to give you guys another chapter before I leave my primary job for 10 days. I may or may not come up with something creative at home now that I have a laptop. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Toy Story," I only own Justine and Emily.
June 2, 2040
My daddy had to go to town right after breakfast, so it was just me in the house. I had already done all the chores that needed to be done, and I took Bullseye for his daily ride to McAlester Lake. When I got to the lake, I reflected on the conversation my mother and I had on the phone.
My mother was enjoying her time in Todayland. She reunited with a friend she had made on her journeys as a lost toy and she took all of her exams yesterday. Today, she was going to personally have lunch with Cornelius Robinson and be interviewed of her accomplishments and qualifications to be our town doctor. When she was not busy taking a test or doing interviews, she was touring the city with her best friend, who is the only security officer in Todayland who was not a robot. I was very thrilled that my mother had someone to guide her around instead of her touring alone. I knew my daddy would have been worried, and while the world of women has changed over the years, I still worried for her.
I rode Bullseye back to the ranch when I found Emily waiting for me at the front porch.
"Emily, it's very nice to see you," I greeted her, tipping my hat.
"You look like your daddy when you do that, you know?" Emily asked with a smile on her face.
"So, what brings you by?" I asked. "I thought you couldn't keep me company."
"Well, my grandma gave me permission for today. She told me I have earned a break from working so hard. So, I made a trip to McAlester using my grandpa's horse and spent all of my hard-earned money."
"You spent it all?" I asked with surprise. "Shouldn't you be saving that for a new life?"
"Don't worry," Emily replied, waving her hand to brush something off. "I have a savings account at the bank that my grandparents contribute to. But you will love what I spent my money on."
"May I see it?" I asked, getting off my horse.
"Maybe you should put Bullseye back in the stable first," Emily suggested.
"That's probably smart. I don't want your special purchase to be broken."
We walked Bullseye into the stable and in his stall, and then we walked back in the house and sat on the living room floor.
"So, tell me, Emily, what did you get?" I asked eagerly with a big smile.
"I got you…"
There was a pause as Emily opened her satchel. I gasped and opened my mouth wide when she placed my present on the floor.
"A companion!"
"Oh my goodness, it's a kitten!" I giddied, and the kitten meowed back at me, walking toward me with its tail sprung up high. "What is its name?"
"That is up to you," Emily replied. "The kitten is a girl."
I stared lovingly at the black-and-white kitten and petted her as she purred and walked around me.
"She is so cute!" I said in a high-pitched voice.
"Now you won't be alone in the house anymore," Emily replied with a smile.
"Does Daddy know about this?" I asked as the kitten started to walk on my legs.
I watched Emily bite her lip.
"Emily, you did tell my daddy about this, right?"
"Sorry, Justine. It was meant to be a surprise."
"And while it is a delightful surprise, I'm not sure how Daddy would feel about a kitten in the house."
"Trust me, with the way your daddy took care of you as a baby, he will love this kitten."
"Emily, all of our animals are outside. We take care of them outside. We have never had a dog or a cat before."
"What world are your folks living in, Justine?" Emily asked with shock. "No farmer lives without a dog at least. But, on the other hand, I see you more as a cat person than a dog person."
"Emily, I would have been just as delighted if you had given me a puppy. Although, knowing Daddy, he probably would prefer the kitten."
"Hence why I got the kitten and not the puppy. So, tell me: what are you going to name her?"
I picked up the kitten and carefully examined her. The area around one eye was black while the area around her other eye was white. She was mostly white with some black spots, but I had noticed her neck was primarily black with a white spot at the center of her neck.
"How does Chloe sound to you?" I asked the kitten.
The kitten meowed back with delight and rubbed her head underneath my hand.
"I think she likes it!" Emily said. "Welcome to the Pride family, Chloe!"
"Now there's another problem: we need to give her food and a litter box with some litter in it."
"Maybe your aunt will have something?"
"It's worth a try! Let's go!"
We placed Chloe in Emily's satchel and we rode our horses into town. Emily and Chloe followed me into the mercantile where I heard the bell ring.
"Howdy y'all, and welcome to the town mercantile!" Auntie Jessie greeted us from afar.
"Thank you, Auntie Jessie!" I yelled back.
"Justine? Hold on a minute!"
I took Chloe out of the satchel and held her close to my heart. She seemed to love it, for she rubbed her head on my chest. I watched Auntie Jessie walk toward me, and she placed both her hands on her face as she squealed with delight upon seeing Chloe.
"That is the most adorable critter I have ever seen! Where did ya find her, Justine?"
"Emily got her for me so that I wouldn't be alone in the house," I explained sweetly as Chloe meowed. "This is Chloe."
"Well, hey there, Chloe!" Auntie Jessie said with sweetness in her voice. "I have just the things for you."
Auntie Jessie walked to the back of the store and she returned with the exact supplies we needed.
"Now, I hear that turkey is the best meal for cats," Auntie Jessie explained. "So here is her dry food. Don't feed her too much because she's still a small kitten. I have some canned wet food as well. I suggest you treat her with the wet food when she does something well, such as using the litter box, which is in the back of the store. Why don't you two grab a basket and use it to bring it back to the ranch?"
We walked out of the store and found Auntie Jessie's wagon in the back. We placed the basket full of food in the wagon and waited for my aunt to emerge again with a litter box and litter.
"This is a litter box, and here is the litter."
"Does litter usually look like this?" I asked, examining the litter that looked like pellets instead of sand.
"This is the best litter in the world," Auntie Jessie explained. "It's pine litter. Sometimes I'll take a trip to McAlester just for it. But not only is pine the healthiest litter to use, but it's also the best smelling. The trips yer kitty will make will not stink the house at all."
"This is perfect, Auntie Jessie," I replied with a smile. "Daddy doesn't know about Chloe yet."
"Why don't you keep Chloe in yer room, Justine? After all, she is yours, not your daddy's."
"That is true."
"Just take care of the litter every day, and you'll be fine."
"Well, I always take care of the animals, and sometimes I'll muck the stalls."
"Oh! That reminds me!"
Emily and I watched Auntie Jessie run back in the store, and she came out minutes later with a scoop and some toys.
"You gotta keep yer kitty entertained too in case you are gone. The good thing about cats is that they can keep themselves entertained or they can nap all day while the three of you are gone."
"How do you know so much, Jessie?" Emily asked in awe.
"Who do ya think taught Justine how to take care of the animals?" Auntie Jessie asked with a wink. "Justine clearly got her compassion of animals from me."
"Don't forget Mother's flock of sheep," I chimed in.
"That, too. Well, go on! Go give Chloe a new home."
"Auntie Jessie, we need to pay you for all this," I replied.
"It's on me."
"Sorry, what?" I asked, shaking my head at what I thought was a dream.
"If yer daddy complains, tell him I encouraged ya to take care of Chloe. I think having a pet for a companion is the most precious gift you can have, and cats are unique in their own way."
"I don't know what to say," I replied in awe.
"Ya can say, thank ya."
"Thank you, Auntie Jessie."
Chloe meowed, and the three of us laughed as Chloe snuggled in my arm.
"I wonder if I should make up some cat food," I pondered aloud as we finished building Chloe a home in my room.
We had placed her food and water underneath the window, and I also made her some stairs for her to get up to the window to see the world. Her litter box was in the bathroom, and using some fabric, we put together a bed for Chloe and placed it next to my bed.
"Jessie said that turkey is the best meat for cats," Emily said. "If you ever make turkey for dinner, maybe give Chloe leftovers?"
"That's a good idea."
"Hey, where is Chloe?" Emily asked, looking around.
"She's exploring the house," I explained.
"You know your dad is going to be home soon?"
"Justine, what is the meaning of this?" I heard my daddy yelling from downstairs.
"I think we know where Chloe is," I said, rolling my eyes, then I raised my voice. "Coming, Daddy!"
Emily and I walked out of my room and down the stairs to see Chloe sitting in front of my daddy, who was still wearing his cowboy hat.
"Ah, Daddy, I see you've met Chloe," I said with a smile.
"Chloe? This cat is yours, Justine?" Daddy asked, raising his eyebrow.
"Yes, Daddy."
"I got Chloe for Justine, Woody," Emily explained. "Justine talked about being lonely in the house because Bullseye can't be in the house with her. I wanted to help her and I spent most of my money on the adoption of this cat."
I picked Chloe up and held her close to my chest.
"Look, Woody, Justine and Chloe are already bonding," Emily pointed out with a smile on her face.
"Daddy, Chloe's home is my bedroom. We've made a bed, we got her food and water, I made stairs for her to get to the window, and we have a litter box in the bathroom. I promise to take care of Chloe and to clean up after her. Auntie Jessie gave me the best tools to take care of her."
"Justine, I'm worried that Chloe will make a mess in the house," Daddy replied, shaking his head. "What if she makes a mess while we're gone?"
"Then I'll clean it up," I answered. "As I said before, Chloe is my responsibility. She is my cat. From what Emily and I have read, cats make amazing companions. They always find a way to entertain you. And the best part is, we don't have a puppy who will play outside and bring muddy pawprints inside. Chloe will strictly be an indoor cat. Please, Daddy?"
My daddy looked skeptical. He had his chin in his right hand as he pondered the situation. Suddenly, we heard a small noise, and we turned toward Chloe, who was playing with an aluminum ball Auntie Jessie gave us. I smiled and giggled as I watched Chloe chase the ball and bat it around the living room. I turned back toward my daddy, who was now chuckling with a smile on his face.
"Well, she is kind of cute," Daddy spoke up with a kind voice. "Alright, Justine, you may keep her."
I ran into my daddy's arms and gave him the biggest hug.
"Thank you so much!"
"Now the big question is: what will your mother say?"
WOODY'S POV
"Bo! Hey there!"
"Howdy, Sheriff," my wife said happily on the other line. "I have amazing news."
"That makes two of us," I said sheepishly. "What's your news?"
"I did all of my interviews today and then I spent the rest of the day eating dinner at the most interesting restaurant."
"Oh? What restaurant is that?" I asked.
"It's called Futureburgers. I think it's just some fancy name telling people that they are eating burgers in the future and it's space-themed to represent the time and space of time travelling. There's nothing futuristic about how the burgers are made. But, they are delicious."
"That's… very interesting. But, Bo, what news? Are you a doctor or not?"
"You may call me Dr. Pride, Sheriff."
"Oh!" I exclaimed. "Oh-ho! This is amazing, Bo!"
"I have the license, certificates, and everything."
"Daddy, what's going on?" Justine asked, running into my room.
"Hold on, Bo," I spoke into the phone, and then I turned to my daughter. "Your mother is officially a doctor, sweetheart!"
Justine screamed in delight.
"This is the best news!" Justine exclaimed.
"Sheriff?" I heard Bo asking on the line. "What's going on?"
"Oh, Justine heard me yelling and came to my room," I explained. "She's excited for you."
"Aww, well, tell Justine that I'm looking forward to coming home tomorrow," Bo replied. "It has been one heck of a weekend."
"Your mother wants me to tell you she's looking forward to being home tomorrow," I told our daughter. "Now, go get some sleep."
"Yes, Daddy," Justine replied, walking over to me and giving me a kiss on the cheek. "I love you, Daddy. I love you, Mother."
"I love you too, Justine," Bo replied from the other line.
"I love you too, honey," I said, returning the kiss on her cheek.
"So, what's your news, Sheriff?" Bo asked.
"Oh! That reminds me: Justine made a new friend today."
"Aww how nice! What is this friend's name?"
"Chloe. She is very playful and attentive. She enjoyed dinner with us tonight."
"I'm so glad Justine is out making friends," Bo replied. "Even if school is out."
"Bo, Justine's new friend is a kitten. Emily got her for Justine to keep her company."
"Woody, a kitten can make a mess in the house."
"In Justine's defense, a kitten is less of a mess than a puppy. Dogs like to play outside and bring mud inside with them. Justine is planning for Chloe to be an indoor cat. It is fine with me."
"Chloe, where are you going?" I heard Justine ask from her room. "Chloe!"
I heard Chloe meow, and then I watched her walk into my room and jump onto my bed. Justine appeared in the doorway.
"Chloe, what are you doing?" Justine asked as she entered the room.
"Bo, are you still there?" I asked in the phone.
"Yeah, I'm here. Is everything alright, Woody?"
"Justine made a bed for Chloe in her room," I said as Chloe appeared on my bed. "And it seems that I have company."
I watched as Chloe walked onto my legs and got settled in between my legs. Then, she turned towards me and meowed with a sweet voice.
"Aww, Daddy, she wants to bond with you," Justine said with affection in her voice.
"Chloe?"
"Yep. Chloe. She's sitting on my legs and looking at me with love in her eyes."
"Aww, Sheriff, she likes you," Bo replied with her sweet accent. "I should let you go and bond with her. I think Chloe will like that."
"It sounds like I have no other choice," I said with a chuckle. "I love you, Bo."
"I love you too, Woody. I'll see you tomorrow."
I hung up the phone and looked at Chloe, then Justine, and Chloe again. Chloe now had her eyes closed as she cuddled herself in between my legs.
"Daddy, I think I'll leave her with you, tonight," Justine suggested. "I don't want to move her from her comfortable, warm place."
I heard Chloe purr, and I smiled, agreeing with my daughter.
"Go ahead to bed, Justine," I told her. "Chloe will be safe with me tonight."
We smiled at each other as Justine left the room. Then I took a look at myself. I was sitting up in bed with my legs spread out, and Chloe was sitting on my legs. I put my hands on my hips and chuckled.
"Now, little lady, how am I supposed to lie down and go to sleep?" I asked. "You're going to have to move eventually."
I sat for a few more minutes before deciding it was time to go to sleep. I picked Chloe up from my legs and set her down on another spot on the bed. I turned out the lights. I lied down and turned myself to the right to prepare myself to go to sleep. Suddenly, I felt little paws walking on my left leg and up to my left hip. I heard Chloe meow, and I turned my head to see Chloe lying down on my hip. I chuckled, petting her head for a minute, and then I finally went to sleep.
JUSTINE'S POV
I woke up to see Chloe curled up in a ball on my bed. I smiled and pet her on her head.
"Well good morning, Chloe," I said sweetly.
Chloe meowed back, appreciating the love I was giving her, and then I looked to see if she needed food and water; she needed both.
"You ate both already?" I asked, and Chloe meowed in response. "Awesome. Well, let me feed you for the day."
I took the cat food that Auntie Jessie gave me and placed one-half cup in her bowl. I took the other bowl to the bathroom and filled it with water from the sink. By the time I had returned, Chloe was already munching away. I smiled, and I got changed into a pink dress for Sunday service. I went down the stairs and saw my daddy with breakfast on the table.
"Good morning, Daddy."
"Good morning, sunshine," Daddy greeted me.
"Sunshine?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "I haven't been called that since I was a kid."
"Because you are our sunshine, Justine," Daddy explained with a smile. "When the world looks dark, we have you to make our world brighter."
"You really miss Mother, don't you?"
"Yes, I do. But, we'll see her tonight. And I've decided to teach you how to fly the car."
"Wait, seriously?" I asked. "Where did my daddy go and what did you do to him?"
We cracked up laughing.
"His daughter opened up his mind," Daddy answered. "Besides, you are sixteen. People your age know how to drive a car. When the time comes for you to go out into the world, you will need a car. I thought I'd give you a head start."
"Well, then let's go!"
"Hold on, Justine, did you feed the cat?"
"Yes."
"Did you clean her litter?"
"Oops," I answered, my smile fading.
"When I carried Chloe with me, she wanted down and she went straight for the litter box. The strange thing is, now it smells like trees up there."
"Auntie Jessie gave me pine litter," I explained. "She claims it's the best litter to use."
"That actually makes sense," Daddy said in awe. "Animals are of nature, after all. Why not use nature to take care of nature?"
"Which is why we take care of our barn animals outside, right, Daddy?"
"That's right. Well, take a seat and dig in! I made scrambled eggs and fried apples this morning."
We ate our breakfast, did our morning chores, made sure Mother's flock was tended to, and we went to church to learn about the Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Then came time for me to learn to drive.
"The first thing you do in a car is buckle your seatbelt," Daddy explained. "That way if you crash, you won't be flying through the car window."
"When riding horses, there are no windows to crash through," I replied. "The horse just throws you to the ground if he is spooked."
"The point is, Justine," Daddy said sternly. "If you don't want to die, put on your seatbelt."
I rolled my eyes and buckled my seatbelt.
"Now, there are no keys to a flying car. We have a remote to lock and unlock the car, and then there is a button you push to turn on the car. So, go ahead and push that black button."
I pushed the black button, which turned on the car as Daddy said.
"Now, this handle here is the gear shift. We are in park right now. If you shift it down one level, it will put you in reverse. Then there's neutral and drive."
"What does neutral do?" I asked.
"Say we're going through a car wash," Daddy explained. "There's a beltline that the car will go through as it is being washed. The neutral position simply allows the car to move on that beltline. Do not put it in neutral if you are parking the car on a decline or a hill."
"So, what do I do?"
"Put your foot on the brake pedal, which is the one on the left, put the gear in drive, and then slowly release the brake pedal to move forward out of the barn."
I followed Daddy's instructions until we safely made it out of the barn.
"Now, Tulsa is north, so we will go north."
After two hours of my daddy instructing me on how to drive, we made it to the airport. We made it through security and went close to the gate to wait on my mother's plane to arrive.
"Is Chloe safe?" Daddy asked.
"Daddy, you asked me that, like, ten times," I replied. "Yes, Chloe is safe at home."
"I'm just making sure, Justine. She's a small kitten. She could easily get lost in the house."
"Daddy, let's just worry about getting Mother home, okay?"
"You sound like your mom, you know that?" Daddy asked with a grin.
"Howdy, Sheriff, Justine."
We both looked up to see my mother right in front of us.
"Bo! You made it!"
I watched my parents hug and kiss each other, and I couldn't help but smile. Then, my mother turned and hugged me.
"I hope you were good for Daddy, Justine," Mother told me after kissing me on the forehead.
"I was, Mother. You missed a lot."
"I heard you made a friend while I was gone. What is she like?"
"Chloe is so fun to be with," I answered. "She loves to play and she really loves me and Daddy."
"Well, let's go so I can meet her!" Mother suggested with enthusiasm.
"So, what should I call you now Bo?" Daddy asked. "Bo Peep or Dr. Pride?"
"Hmm, it depends," Mother answered with a smirk. "You may call me Bo at home and Dr. Pride in town."
We drove home from the airport with Mother taking the wheel with her newfound confidence. Daddy found her medical license in her new bag as well as various certifications ranging from delivering babies to performing surgeries such as my appendectomy. Mother also caught us up on friends that she and Daddy had made in the past and how they were all doing in Todayland.
But perhaps the happiest feeling in the world was Chloe greeting me at the door with her sweet meows.
"Hi, Chloe!" I greeted her in a high-pitched voice before picking her up. "I'm going to introduce you to my mother."
I carried Chloe over to my mother, who put a big smile on her face once she saw Chloe.
"Oh, Justine, Woody, you two didn't tell me how beautiful this kitten is," Mother cooed.
Mother took Chloe from my arms and held her. Chloe purred loudly in my mother's arms and rubbed her chest.
"Chloe's taking a liking to you, Bo," Daddy said with a smile.
"She's bonded with all of us since Emily brought her yesterday," I replied.
"You should see what Justine created in her room."
"Justine created something?" Mother asked with surprise in her voice.
"Follow me," I told her.
I listened to my mother following me up the stairs, still carrying Chloe in her arms. I led her into my room to show her the cat bed and stairs I had created for Chloe.
"You know, Hamm told me that you were handy with tools," Mother told me. "But I never thought it would come to life at our home."
My mother put Chloe on my bed. Chloe then walked toward the window, got off the bed on to the floor, and then up the stairs to the window.
"So, where's the litter box at?" Mother asked.
"It's in the bathroom," I answered. "And don't worry, Daddy is happy with the litter. Auntie Jessie gave us the best kind."
My mother walked over to the window where Chloe was staring out to the world, and she pet the kitten on the back. Chloe meowed happily, arching her back.
"I was skeptical at first about having a cat in our house," Mother explained. "When Daddy and I were toys we encountered a cat named Dragon in an antique store. He loved to play with toys a little too much. Either he would shred a toy to pieces or he'd swallow a small toy whole."
I winced at the last statement.
"But this kitten, Chloe… she is already so very loving to all of us."
Mother smiled as Chloe purred.
"I think the four of us will be just fine."
"Welcome home, Mother," I said, hugging her.
"And welcome to the Pride family, Chloe," Mother added, with Chloe meowing in reply.