Chapter 3: Staff Meeting
Woody stepped up onto the podium as the rest of the toys and heroes gathered. Someone cleared his throat. Woody turned to see a karaoke toy named Mr. Mike offering his microphone. "Oh thanks, Mike." Woody said, taking the microphone. "Okay." Woody started to talk, but since Mr. Mike was so close, the microphone gave off an ear bleeding screech. "Whoa, whoa. Step back." Woody said. Mr. Mike took a few steps back.
Woody blew into the microphone a few times. "Hello? Check. That better? Great." He said. "Everybody hear me? Up on the shelf, can you hear me? Great." He waved up to a teddy bear, a doll and a rubber duck on Andy's desk. "Okay. First item today: Uh… Oh yeah. Has everyone picked a moving buddy?" He asked. The toys and heroes murmured amongst each other. "Moving buddy? You can't be serious." Hamm said. "I didn't know we were supposed to have one already." Rex said. "Caught on have you? Took you long enough." Harry said. "Do we have to hold hands?" Potato Head asked, holding up his hand and making everyone laugh. "Okay. You guys think this is a big joke. We've only got one week left before the move. I don't want any toys left behind. A moving buddy, if you don't have one, GET one!" Woody said. "Already on it, Woody." Harry said, putting an arm around Ginny. "Got mine." Ron said, taking Hermione's hand. "Neville's with me." Luna said, linking her arm around Neville's. "I'm with Sarah." Tom said as he and Sarah took hands. "I'm with my beloved." Intress said, nuzzling next to Maxxor. Sly and Carmelita wrapped around each other. "You won't leave my side, will you, Ringtail?" Carmelita asked. "Never." Sly said. "I'm with him." Seamus said as he and Dean fist bumped. "Angelina's with me." George said, wrapping his arm around Angelina. "We'll be moving bros." Kaz said, fist bumping with Peyton. "Young Cho will be my moving buddy." Najarin said, putting a hand on Cho's shoulder. "We're moving buddies." Parvati said as she and Padma wrapped their arms around each other. Tangath growled. "Low man again." He said.
"All right. Next. Uh, oh, yes. Tuesday night's plastic corrosion awareness meeting was I think a big success. And we wanna thank Mr. Spell for putting that on for us. Thank you, Mr. Spell." Woody said. "You're welcome." Mr. Spell said. "Okay. Uh, oh, yes. One minor note here. Andy's birthday party's been moved to today." Woody muttered into the microphone. "Uh, next we have-" All of the toys and heroes started to gasp and ask questions. "What do you mean the party's today? His birthday's not 'til next week!" Rex said. "What's going on down there? Is his mom losing her marbles?" Hamm asked. "Well, obviously she wanted to have the party before the move." Woody said. "I'm not worried. You shouldn't be worried." Potato Head shoved through. "Of course, Woody ain't worried. He's been Andy's favorite since kindergarten." He said. "Hey, hey. Come on, Potato Head. If Woody says it's alright, then, well, darn it, it's good enough for me." Slinky said. Potato Head took his mouth and started kissing his own butt, referencing to Slinky being a butt kisser, making Snake and Mr. Spell laugh. "Boys." Hermione groaned. "Woody has never steered us wrong before." Slinky continued. "Slinky's right. We've made it through worse before, we can do it again." Harry said.
"Come on, guys. Every Christmas and birthday we go through this." Woody said. "But what if Andy gets another dinosaur? A mean one? I just don't think I can take that kind of rejection!" Rex said in worry. "Steady sailor." George said. "Hey, listen, no one's getting replaced. This is Andy we're talking about." Woody said, stepping off the podium. "It doesn't matter how much we're played with." Suddenly, his microphone was tugged back. Mr. Mike was still in place. Woody motioned him over and Mike huddled over. "What matters is that we're here for Andy when he needs us. That's what we're here for, right?" Woody asked. "He's right." Neville said. "Spoken like a true OverWorlder." Tangath said.
"Pardon me." Hamm said, getting everyone's attention. "I'd hate to break up the staff meeting, but THEY'RE HERE! BIRTHDAY GUESTS AT THREE O'CLOCK!" He shouted. Everyone started to freak out. "Stay calm, everyone!" Woody said. But everyone hurried over to the shelves. Well, except Lenny the wind-up binoculars, who slowly waddled as quick as he could. "Uh, meeting adjourned." Woody said.
Most of everyone joined Hamm on the top shelf as Andy's friends were arriving just outside the window. "Oh boy. Would you take a look at all those presents?" Hamm asked. Potato Head tried to get a look, but he couldn't see from behind Hamm and Slinky. "I can't see a thing." He said, taking out his eyes and raising them over his head. The toys and heroes watched as present to present was being brought to the house. "Yes sir, we're next month's garage sale fodder for sure." Hamm said. "Any dinosaur shaped ones?" Rex asked. "Oh, for crying out loud. They're all in boxes, you idiot." Hamm said. Rex looked on as bigger presents made their way to the house. "They're getting bigger." He said. "And bigger means badder for us." Intress added. "Wait, there's a nice little one over there." Slinky said, spying a boy with a small present. Until the boy turned around. The small present was as long as a gardener snake! Everyone started to panic. "We're doomed!" Rex said.
Woody facepalmed himself. He had had enough. "Alright! ALRIGHT!" He yelled, making everyone turn around. "If I send out the troops, will you all calm down?!" He asked. "Yes, yes, we promise!" Rex said in a mental panic. "Okay! Save your batteries." Woody said, walking away. "Yeah, very good, Woody. That's using the old noodle." Hamm called as Potato Head put his eyes back in.