*Okay, I am probably dating myself big time here, but humor me. Do any of you remember when McDonaldsused to give out Madame Alexander dolls with the kid's meals, back in the early 2000's? You know the ones, the small dolls that open and shut their eyes when you move them a certain way? Well in my version of the toon 'Small Fry' instead of it being a mini Buzz that wants to experience playtime, it will be a Madame Alexander Mickey Mouse doll. And Rosetta will be the one that is left at Poultry Palace. Buzz will still be with her. Let me know what you think!*
"Here's the small fry, and your toy." The cashier at Poultry Palace said. The toy was a Madame Alexander doll, but not one that Bonnie wanted.
"A Cruella De Vile? Bonnie cried. Can I have a Mickey Mouse one instead?" She saw a boy doll in a mickey mouse outfit in the case.
"We're all out of Mickey."
"Well, can she have that one?" Mrs. Anderson asked, pointing to the one on the counter.
"I'm sorry, that one's display only." Bonnie's mom thanked the boy and they walked away from the counter. Inside the display case, Mickey watched Bonnie go into the play area.
"Oh gee, what did I tell you, Pinocchio? He said. We are never going to get any playtime being stuck in here!"
"Um, I think we're just here to sell the chicken, Mick." Pinocchio said. Mickey rolled his eyes and watched Bonnie jump into the ball pit. He saw two toys with her: A Buzz Lightyear and a small porcelain girl doll. He suddenly got an idea.
"Hey, I think I just spotted a ticket to playtime!" Mickey said. He tugged at the supports holding him down until they gave way, setting him free. "Come on, buddy! Let's go!"
"Eh, I don't think so, Mickey. Pinocchio said. I wouldn't want to get in trouble with the chicken people."
"Oh phooey on you. I'm getting out of here. Woo boy, playtime here I come!" He left out the back of the display and headed to the ball pit. Meanwhile, Bonnie was playing at the top of the slide.
"Oh no! Hot lava!" Bonnie yelled. She put Buzz and Rosetta on the slide and let them go. They slid down and landed in the ball pit.
"Woo! That was fun, Uncle Buzz!" Rosetta cried.
"It's a little unsanitary, but yes, it was fun." Buzz said. Rosetta rolled her eyes and went to move closer to her uncle when something grabbed her, pulling her under. Mickey popped up in her place.
"Bonnie, time to go, hon!" Mom yelled.
"Yes! Playtime, here I come!" Mickey whispered as Bonnie grabbed Buzz and him.
"Heads up, folks. Hamm cried from the window. Mom's pulling into the driveway!"
"They're home! They're home!" Rex cried.
"Calm down, Rex. Woody said. Places people!" Everyone rushed to get into their spots just as Bonnie came bursting into the room. She put her bag on the bed and went to take out her toys when her mom called downstairs to help with chores. As soon as she was gone, Buzz dashed out of the backpack.
"Woody! We have to go back to Poultry Palace, right now!" Buzz shouted.
"What are you yelling about...Whoa! Something smells like chicken fingers." The cowboy said, holding a hand over his nose.
"Yeah, sorry pal. That would be me." They all turned and saw Mickey up on the bed. "A few months in a display case will do that to a kids meal toy. But that is far behind me! When does playtime start around here?"
"Who the heck is this?" Potato Head asked.
"The names Mickey, pal. It's great to meet ya!"
"He's, he's a kid...dressed in a Mickey Mouse costume." Buttercup said.
"He's adorable! Can we adopt him?" Mrs. Potato Head cried.
"Buzz? Quick question. Woody asked. Where's Rosetta?"
"She's back at the restaurant! Buzz cried. One minute she's right next to me in the ball pit, and the next second, that little cheapskate is in the bag with me instead. I don't even know how he got..."
"You mean to tell me that my daughter is trapped inside Poultry Palace!?"
Rosetta poked her head out of the pile of plastic balls, gasping. It was already nighttime and the restaurant was empty. Bonnie wasn't even there anymore with her mom and her uncle was nowhere in sight. That stupid mouse! I got to go home. Rosetta thought to herself. Climbing out of the ball pit, she dashed over to the door and tried to push it open, but it was locked. Looking around, she saw a vent in the corner. She flung it open, and with little difficulty, she climbed up. When she got to the top, she saw light under her feet. When she leaned down to take a closer look, the vent under her fell open, causing her to fall down in another room. Bracing for impact, she shut her eyes tight, but nothing happened. Opening her eyes, she saw she was in the arms of a stuffed Timon doll from The Lion King.
"Jesh, that was some fall, kid. Timon said. Are you alright?"
"Oh yes, I'm fine. Thank you for catching me." Rosetta said.
"Welcome, little one!" Rosetta looked up at a beautiful toy with blonde hair streaked with blue and pink. She had on a green dress and her arms were formed into wings. "My name is Queen Skyla. Welcome to the meeting for lost and discarded toys. You came just in time, we were just about to begin. "Lucky, will you push over a seat for our new friend please?" Lucky turned out to be a Dalmatian puppy. He pushed a sauce packet towards Rosetta who sat down on it. "Excellent, let me introduce you to everyone. You meet Lucky and Timon, but we also have Yogi and Nugget." Yogi was a brown bear standing atop a skateboard and Nugget was a plastic Poultry Palace chicken nugget in a Vampire costume. "Then we have Daffy Duck, Doc Oc, Inspector Gadget, and Professor Eggman. We have all been discarded or left behind by a different child, haven't we fellas?"
"I was given up for a better toy, AND THEN left behind." Doc Oc yelled.
"Same with me, tentacles. Eggman said. Because no kid wants the villain toys. No, they want the heroes!"
"Now, now, Eggman, let's not start this again. Skyla said. This is why we hold these meetings to express our feelings and help one another move forward. First, let's welcome our newcomer and have her tell us why she's here. What's your name, sweetheart?"
"Umm, I'm Rosetta, and I need to get back to my family." Rosetta said, getting up to leave.
"We're your family now, Rosetta. We've all been left behind or forgotten, so we have to stick together. Isn't that right, everyone?"
"Here, here!" The toys shouted. Rosetta slumped down on the sauce packet. I've got to get out of here. She thought.
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"Playtime is coming! I can feel it!" Mickey shouted.
"I cannot believe you didn't notice she was gone until you were halfway home!" Woody snapped.
"I'm so, so sorry, partner. Buzz said. We can get her back, we just have to find a way to get back to Poultry Palace, and fast!"
"Maybe Mickey knows a way back." Jessie said.
"Hey, Mickey! Would you come over here please? Woody asked. Listen son, about this playtime..."
"Yes, playtime! Finally! Can I be the cowboy?" Mickey asked, swiping Woody's hat from his head. He ran over to Hamm and slapped him on the rear. "Yee-haw! Get along there, little piggy!" He jumped on Hamm's back, but the pig shook him off. Mickey ran around the room, full of energy.
"Can someone please shut that kid up?" Potato Head said. Mickey started spinning in the middle of the room when suddenly Jessie slammed into him, tackling him to the ground. "Thank you!"
The discarded toys were reciting a affirmation, but all Rosetta was thinking was how to get back through the vent and home when Skyla spoke up again.
"Alright, now is a good time for some re-enchantment therapy. I want all of you to pair off in twos, and then..."
"I'm sorry, Queen Skyla, may I interrupt for a minute?" Rosetta asked. Skyla nodded. "Look, I like what you guys got going here, but there is a better way to move on from the feelings you all feel. Sure you were all once lost or discarded by a child, but that doesn't mean you have to stay lost. There are a whole lot of kids out there, ones that will want to play with you. You just got to get out there and find them, and I want to help you."
"What are you proposing, Rose?" Timon asked.
"I know of a daycare not too far from my owner's house. If we all work together, I can bring you home with me, and then take you to the daycare. They have plenty of kids who will want to play with you."
"You mean, actual playtime?" Lucky barked.
"Yes! We just need to get up that vent shaft."
"No need to. Yogi said. There's one over here." He pointed to a small vent behind some milk cartons. "Let's shred outta here, dudes!"
"Alright guys, we need to find a way to get inside Poultry Palace. Think, what would be the best way in?" Woody asked, looking at a map of the restaurant.
"Why on earth would you want to break into that cheesy place? I ain't ever going back!" Mickey yelled. The mouse was tied to a glue bottle, guarded by Jessie.
"Oh pipe down, squeaky!" Jessie snapped.
"Come on guys, let's focus here." Buzz said.
"Hey, what if we drive a truck through the front door?" Mrs. Potato Head said.
"Too extreme." Dolly said.
"We could act our way in." Pricklepants said.
"That's a dumb idea." Buttercup said.
"Or you can just use the ventilation system." Rosetta piped up.
"Rosetta!" They all cried. Woody and Buzz rushed over to her.
"Oh, Rose! Thank god you're alright!" he said.
"Rosie! I'm so sorry for leaving you sweetheart!" Buzz said.
"Daddy, Uncle Buzz, I'm fine. It's okay. Rosetta said. I found my way home with the help of some new friends. Everyone, meet Queen Skyla. She's the leader of a small group of fun meal toys. We're going to help them get to Sunnyside, to be played with." Everyone cheered. Rosetta looked past everyone and saw Mickey. "Hey Mick. You want to experience real playtime?"
"Oh yes, please!" Mickey said.
"I know of a place. But before we go there, you need to promise you won't try to take another toys place again, okay? I didn't care about being pulled under the plastic balls like that."
"I'm sorry about that. It will never happen again! I promise!"
The next day, Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and Rosetta went with the fun meal toys to Sunnyside. From the ceiling panel, they watched the toys being played with. None were more happy to be in playtime than Mickey.
"Woot woot! This is awesome! Mickey whispered to Yogi. Playtime is the best, ever!" Mickey looked up to the ceiling and winked at Rosetta. Rosetta winked back and smiled.
*And that is where I will leave it. I'll be honest, of all of the shorts that Toy story has put out, Small fry and partysaurus rex were my least favorites. I hated the original ending, so I tweaked it. My inspiration for the fun meal toys were 90's McDonald'stoys. I grew up in the 90's, so I know a few of these! Any who, I am going to write the rewrite for Toy Story that time forgot soon. I was a little busy the last few days, plus I celebrated my one year anniversary with my guy this past weekend, so sorry for the no posting! Till next time, partners!*
