Chapter 2: Coming Alive
Andy raced back upstairs to his room. He opened the door, seeing Molly still banging Potato Head and knocking off his parts. "Howdy, little lady." Woody said as Andy tipped his hat. Molly squealed and dropped Potato Head. Andy pulled Woody's string and set him on his bed next to a Harry Potter 'doll.' 'Somebody's poisoned the water hole.' Andy opened the crib and picked up Molly. "Come on, Molly. You're getting heavy." He said as he carried Molly to the door. "See you later, Woody!" Andy called, shutting the door.
As soon as the door shut, Woody and Harry blinked and started to come alive. "Pull my string! The birthday party's today?!" Woody said in shock and began to think. "I think we should call a staff meeting, Woody." Harry suggested. "Yeah, you're right." Woody agreed. "Okay, everybody! Coast is clear!" He called out. The RC car peaked out of the closet. A little wind-up binocular hopped off the bookshelf. And a squeaky shark popped out of the toy chest. "About time! I thought I was never gonna get out from under there." Ron said, walking out from under the crib. "Oh honestly, Ron! We were under there for a few minutes." Hermione groaned. "I know, but it was still unpleasantly dirty." Ron complained. "Ages 3-up. It's on my box. Ages 3-up. I'm not supposed to be babysitting Princess Drool." Mr. Potato Head said, putting his pieces back on. "I don't know, dude. I think a little drool works for you." Peyton said, chuckling. "Don't you start with me today, Peyton." Mr. Potato Head warned.
RC exited the closet and started to drive around as the other toys and heroes started coming alive. A robot toy stopped a snake toy as RC passed. Some little tykes pushed their fire truck back on its wheels. The firemen tykes hopped on and drove away. Hamm the piggybank tossed the last of his loose change back into his slot and the truck passed by. "Hey, Hamm. Look. I'm Picasso." Mr. Potato Head said. His face was all wacky. "I don't get it." Hamm said, walking away. "You uncultured swine!" Mr. Potato-Head called. "What're you looking at, ya hockey puck?" He asked, walking past a hockey puck with little gloves and boots. The puck just shrugged. "Man, that potato has issues." Seamus deduced. "No kidding." Dean agreed.
As the toys and heroes interacted, Woody and Harry scooted over to the night stand. "Hey, Sarge, have you seen Slinky?" Woody asked a little green army man on the stand. "Sir! No, Sir!" Sarge answered with a salute. "Okay. Hey, thank you. At ease." Woody said. "Thank you, Sarge." Harry said.
Woody and Harry hopped down from the bed. "Hey, Slinky?" Woody called. "Right here, Woody." Slinky the slinky dog said, pushing a checkers board out from under the bed. "And I'm red this time." He said setting up the pieces. "No. Slink-" Woody started. "Slinky, there's no time for that." Harry said. "Well, alright. You can be red if you want." Slinky said. "Not now, Slink. I've got some bad news." Woody whispered. "Bad news?" Slinky yelled. Woody and Harry shushed him, getting the attention of the others. "Just gather everyone up for a staff meeting and be happy." Woody whispered. "Got it." Slinky said. "Be happy!" Woody and Harry demanded. Slinky then scattered away laughing. "Staff meeting, everybody!" Woody called, passing Snake and Robot under the bed. "Snake, Robot, podium duty." Snake ducked back under the bed, but Robot grabbed his neck and dragged him back out.
Woody and Harry walked past a passing Etch-a-Sketch. "Hey, Etch." Woody said, stopping and getting Etch's attention. "Draw!" They both turned to face each other. Etch quickly drew a western gun on Woody. "D'oh! Got me again." Woody said. "That's like the 30th time." Harry said. "Etch, you've been working on that draw." Woody deduced. Etch nodded. "Fastest knobs in the west." Woody said. "You said it." Harry agreed.
"Got a staff meeting, you guys. Come on, let's go." Slinky said. The other toys and heroes followed. "Another staff meeting?" Tangath Toborn groaned. "Oh, lighten up, Tangath." Tom said.
As Robot, Snake and Harry set up the podium, Woody looked around for something. "Now, where is that- oh." He walked over to a doodle pad. "Hey, who moved my doodle pad way over here?" He asked. Just then, Rex the dinosaur dropped down in front of him. "ROAR!" He yelled. "How you doing, Rex?" Woody asked. "Were you scared? Tell me honestly." Rex said. "I was close to being scared that time." Woody said. "Oh, I'm going for fearsome here, but I just don't feel it. I think I'm just coming off as annoying." Rex said, feeling down. "Don't worry. You'll get there someday, Rex." Harry said.
Suddenly, Woody was pulled back by a crook, belonging to Bo Peep. "Oh, hi Bo. Hi." He said. "I wanted to thank you, Woody, for saving my flock." Bo said. "Oh, hey, it was nothing." Woody said. "What do you say I get someone else to watch the sheep tonight?" Bo asked with seduction. "Oh yeah." Woody chuckled with embarrassment. "Remember, I'm just a couple of blocks away." Bo said, walking away. Woody stared after her.
"Come on, come on. Smaller toys up front." Slinkey said as the toys gathered at the podium. A Troika dog opened his mouth to release the other Troikas. A cat, a duck, a fish and a ladybug. "Hey, Woody, come on." Slinky called. Woody snapped out of his trance and headed for the podium.