Chapter Three

When recess came, Bonnie had to leave him behind. Woody wasn't practically fond of the idea but things apparently had changed from the days when Andy was in kindergarten.

That or like Bonnie's mom, the teacher didn't want him lost either.

The cowboy noticed right away that he wasn't the only toy in the room as he climbed out of Bonnie's backpack and brushed off imaginary dust from his clothed vest.

The Elena doll from earlier seemed to be still in Gabriel's cubby, playing with her ponytail sheepishly.

Woody walked gently and sat down beside her, taking off his hat in respect.

"My name's Woody," He introduced, smiling warmly. "Looks like I wasn't the only toy left behind."

"Elena Castillo Flores," Elena smiled, giving him a curtsy before sitting back down. "And I don't mind being left behind like this. Allows me to look at more things than just a backpack."

Woody placed his hat back on his head and rubbed his hands together apologetically. "Look, I'd like to apologize for my owner Bonnie. She didn't mean to make your kid upset like that."

"It's fine sheriff. Your kid didn't mean any harm," Elena assured, adjusting her hair clip. "Gabriel's just not ready to make friends yet. I used to be his sister's toy but I never got played with until recently so we're both struggling in our own way."

"What happened to his sister?"

"Woody, let's discuss that another time. Please. It's still a difficult subject for me to discuss with another toy. You look like you had owners long before Bonnie and are surprisingly still in good shape for being around this long."

Woody laughed. In a way Elena was right. He was in good shape for being over fifty years old. It was a miracle that his voice box still worked after decades of play.

He looked over, hearing a sigh escape from her lips. Elena's painted on smile seemed to be forming into a frown as she looked lost in thought.

Not wanting to disturb, the cowboy walked back to Bonnie's backpack and settled himself inside just as the bell rang, ending recess.

"Gabriel, I'm sorry I stared at you. I didn't mean to. "

Apologizing for being herself wasn't easy for Bonnie but as she sat down next to Gabriel during arts and crafts, she tried her best to be less insensitive.

"I'd stare at you too if I saw you with a boy doll," Gabriel admitted. He flapped his hands a little. "You like red?"

Bonnie shyly nodded. "It's a good color." She held up a drawing. "You like my drawing?"

Gabriel narrowed his eyes at the drawing of a cowboy with someone who looked just like his Elena doll. He had to giggle at the thought of a cowboy and a princess becoming friends.

"Woody's loyal. He looks out for everyone," Bonnie explained, frowning at Gabriel's giggling. "No matter who they are except bad guys. He puts them in jail."

"Why's Elena there?" Gabriel asked.

Bonnie brightened at his question, beginning an imaginative tale of evil potatoheads, a princess damsel, and a heroic cowboy while the two kids were unaware that the plastered on smiles of two toys in their backpacks had widened just a little.

Despite arts and crafts and reconciling with Gabriel over the morning's staring incident, Woody knew Bonnie had a rocky start to her first day of kindergarten. Andy had a similar experience years ago from what he could recall but never like Bonnie.

But he couldn't trouble the guys with that. Especially not Dolly who had been looking forward to a full report on her owner's first day.

"It went well," Woody reported much to the other toys' awe. "Bonnie had a few bumps along the way, but she made a friend in class."

"Aw. She's already making friends!" Dolly cooed.

"And yourself? Any toys to report?" Buzz asked.

"Just one. An Elena of Avalor doll." Woody gave the other toys a somber glance and sighed. "Poor girl seemed like she had been through a lot when I asked about her original owner."

"Did she say anything to you about what happened to her original owner?" Jessie asked.

The cowboy shook his head. "She didn't want to talk about it and I respect her for doing so but so far we're on good terms with one another."

He didn't have anything else to say so the meeting was adjourned as Woody sighed, looking up at Bonnie's newest drawing of him she had immediately put on the wall the moment she came home from school.

"You okay cowboy?" Buzz asked.

Woody sighed, turning towards the space ranger. "I don't know Buzz. You weren't around when Andy was Bonnie's age but I didn't imagine kindergarten being this hard. I only want to make her happy. What if I'm not doing enough?"

"You're doing just fine. Sure Bonnie's been a challenge but she's a really great kid."

"You're right. Thanks Buzz."

"Anytime," Buzz smiled.

As the space ranger left him alone, Woody couldn't help but smile.

Buzz was right. Bonnie was a great kid. She would get through the rest of kindergarten with ease.

One day at a time.

Elena on the other hand….

No. He could worry about her later.

Bonnie and her obstacle through the rest of kindergarten came first for he was a toy and a toy's number one priority was always their kid.

No matter what.