It's time. The breakdown. This is the painful chapter.
The next morning, Jessie tried to find Mitsy. She was going to ask her if she wanted to join the cowgirl in helping Dolly and Mrs. Potato Head in sorting out Bonnie's pencils, crayons, and markers while Bonnie was at the library. But Jessie couldn't find the princess.
Mr. Pricklepants was asking Woody to practice sailing through the air with his pull-string so they could rehearse for their upcoming Robin Hood play. "Now, how is that going to look?" Woody groaned. "Robin Hood wearing a cowboy hat, and without a feather?"
"I'm afraid you're slightly misled, dear Sheriff." Pricklepants corrected. "Might I remind you that you are only serving as a double for the stunt."
"Yeah," Woody shrugged. "But still, might I remind you doubles are supposed to match originals to a tee."
"If we were smart, we'd let him use your hat." Buzz said to Pricklepants.
"Ah-hem. I am afraid that that is out of the question." The hedgehog answered casually.
"Excuse me, guys?" Jessie said as she walked toward them. "Mitsy's under the bed again. And...and something's wrong this time."
"Nothing has been what I would call pleasant for the dear lady the past couple days." Pricklepants stated.
"Quiet. What do you mean, Jessie?" Buzz asked, concerned.
"She wouldn't talk to me, and she looks really, really upset this time." Jessie explained sadly. "She was shaking too. I tried to ask her what was wrong, but she just huddled up against the wall and looks like she's going to cry. I didn't know what else to do." The other toys' faces dropped. "It looked like...it was almost as if she didn't even hear me or know I was there!"
"Poor soul," Pricklepants moaned. "Such a tragically painful ending to a once beautiful friendship."
"I know she's feeling bad, but she can't stay under Bonnie's bed forever," Buzz remarked, shaking his head. He looked at Woody.
"No. You're right. I'll go see her." Woody said. "Slink. You come with me, huh?" And Woody took three steps forward.
"No, Woody!" Slinky answered sharply. Everyone stared at him, wide-eyed. Woody turned and looked at his old friend in disbelief.
"Slink?" The cowboy sputtered. Woody felt that at a time like this is when Mitsy needed her best pal the most, and he was refusing to do it? Also, it wasn't like Slinky at all to be so adamant in an angry manner towards Woody! Something had to be terribly wrong with the forlorn dog.
"I won't go with you, Woody!" Slinky burst out, his voice cracking with emotion. "I can't go. I can't bear to see her like this. And I don't know how to help her. Woody, please don't make me." Slinky hung his head sadly, and Jessie walked over to him.
"Oh, Slinky, you are a help," Jessie said sweetly. "Mitsy's always herself when she's with you. You always bring a smile to her face."
"Yeah, she always feels better when you're around," Buzz added. "No one can cheer her up like you do." But Slinky shook his head in dejected refusal.
"Please," Slinky sighed, his lips quivering. "Please, I can't. Just...please don't."
"All right, Slink. All right," Woody said kindly, patting his good friend on the head. "It's okay, little buddy. If it bothers you that much, you don't have to come. You just take it easy, partner."
"Thank you," Slinky whispered, his lips quivering.
"We'll come with you, Woody. Maybe we can do something to help." Buzz said, and Jessie nodded in agreement.
"Okay, Buzz." Woody said. "Thanks." The three toys walked to the bed. Woody was very worried. Ever since they'd made it out of the warehouse, Mitsy hadn't really said anything about the whole ordeal. Ever since Bonnie had brought them home, Mitsy had hardly spoken at all about what had happened, at least not to Woody anyway. The shock and pain was still so fresh that it heavily felt impossible to put into words. Woody knew she shouldn't keep it all inside, but this was something that ran very deep and required patience. All he knew was that Mitsy needed him, and he was going to be there for her!
Woody crouched down and lifted the blanket so he could see under the bed. "Oh man," the disheartened cowboy said under his breath. Mitsy was all curled up, lying on her side in the middle of the floor, her eyes squeezed shut, her hands clenched together, and her mouth quivering. She was whimpering like a whipped puppy and shivering violently. Woody winced at the sight of her like this and his shoulders sagged.
"Woody, is she all right?" Buzz asked.
Woody looked back miserably at his best friend, shook his head, and crawled inside toward the brokenhearted princess. "Mitsy. Hey, Mitsy? It's me. I'm here..." he said softly, but she didn't respond to his voice. He leaned closer and touched her hand. "Mitsy, it's..." Mitsy's eyes opened wide in fear, and she let out a high-pitched gasp. "Whoa, whoa! Hey, hey, it's okay. It's okay," Woody spoke soothingly to her, holding her hand tightly. "It's all right. I'm here. Shhh. It's okay."
Mitsy sighed heavily, and tightly clasped her other little hand on his large one, and pressed it firmly against her face. "Oh, Woody!" She moaned. "It's you. I'm so glad you're here! Oh, I...I thought..."
"Shhh. Don't talk. Just breathe. Easy, easy. Breathe, that's it," Woody whispered to her. "Yeah, good girl. It's okay." He was attempting to turn around toward Buzz and Jessie when Mitsy roughly jerked his hand back.
"Don't leave!" She begged, sounding abandoned. Woody was torn up inside.
"Hey! No, of course not. I'm not gonna leave." Woody tried to calm her. "I'm right here. I'm not going to leave you. It's okay." He looked back at Buzz and Jessie who were still looking in, concern and anxiety written all over their faces. He signed to them in Sign Language with his free hand: Keep everyone else out of here, except Slinky. Keep them distracted. Take them all to the living room and try to get a movie going, but make sure they stay there! Give us some time. Buzz nodded sadly, but Jessie lingered. Buzz gently pulled her arm and they reluctantly walked away. Woody helped Mitsy up and brought her to a container of beads and string, and set her in a sitting position up against the wall. A few minutes later Buzz quietly stuck his head in.
"Everyone's out of here, Woody." Buzz informed him. "Do you need anything else?"
"No. Thanks, Buzz." Woody nodded.
"Oh, sure. Slinky will be in the hallway in case you need something." Buzz glanced toward the sad little doll sitting against the wall, then back to Woody. "You sure you can handle this?" Buzz asked in a low tone. "She looks really shook up. Jessie and I can stay if you need us, it's no trouble."
Woody smiled a small smile. He sighed and bit his lip. "Thanks, Buzz. But I'll deal with this, well, uh...try to. Thanks for all your help, partner. I appreciate it."
"Hey, we're a family. That's what true friends do." Buzz smiled.
"Right." Woody nodded sadly. Then Buzz left. Woody threw up the blanket fold to his right so that they could have some light under the bed. Woody took a deep breath and looked at the princess: she was trembling all over. He came over and sat down next to her, rubbing her back. She clutched her arms around herself. "What's wrong, Little Bit?" Woody asked. It seemed like a very stupid question because it was obvious that she was grieving, but he hoped that she was beginning to let it out. "I know it hurts, but..." The princess gasped loudly.
"Why?!" Mitsy blurted out. "Why, Woody? Why did it have to be Jack?! Why did he have to be killed? It isn't fair! He didn't deserve to die. He didn't do anything. He never did a thing in his life to deserve this!" She gulped. "He was my friend. The very first friend I ever had! My best friend! How can I even think of...how can I live without him, knowing I'll never, ever see him again? I don't want to!" Her words all ran together. Woody's brows furrowed in sympathy. He continued to rub her shoulders. "Why does life have to be so upside down? Why do evil toys like Spike and...and Lotso even exist? Why do they get away with their crimes and innocent toys they attack suffer for their actions? It's not fair!"
"I don't understand that part either, Little Bit," Woody said solemnly. "At some point, life was unfair to Lotso and Spike, just as much as this is to you, but they made bad choices and let it control their lives. And now they want to punish anyone they can for it." Mitsy trembled harder and her teeth chattered.
"I don't care!" She exclaimed, her fingers digging into her cotton arms. "That doesn't give them any right to cause more pain in the world, to...to hurt other toys, or to...to M-MURDER!" Mitsy painstakingly looked up at the ceiling of Bonnie's bed. Woody firmly gripped her shoulders with his hands. "Jack never did anything to Spike, and he...he...that...that big, evil...heartless m-monster k-killed him! Just for the fun of it!" Mitsy screeched. "No one has the right to stoop so low as to hurt someone else for amusement! I don't ever want to meet anyone like that ever again! All they do is hurt you!" Mitsy clenched her fists and raised them up to her mouth.
"I'm sorry, Sweetheart." Woody shook his head and kept his arm around her. "I know. It's so not fair. And it's not right! But Jack was nothing like them. I thought last night that you were beginning to feel better. I guess we were all rushing you. I'm sorry. But, honey, you can't spend the rest of your life alone, in the dark, hiding under here." He gently ran his fingers through her hair.
"I understand that." Mitsy replied. "And I truly don't want to. It gets lonesome. But I...I..."
"What, Mitsy? What is it, Sweetie?" Woody asked. "I'm listening."
"I had a horrible dream and...it...it just made everything come back at once." Mitsy's voice was breaking up. She bit her lip and shook her head.
"What happened?" Woody asked tenderly, bracing himself. "Please tell me."
"Well," Mitsy began shakily, "we were back at the warehouse, and...and Jack was still in the hole. I...I was duct taped to the wall and I couldn't reach him. I'm not sure where you guys were, I couldn't see you! All of those horrid gang members were standing up on a ledge with Spike. But...but Potato Head was with them! And so was L-Lotso! They all took turns pushing the button that controlled the crate. They were saying the most terrible things about Jack, about...about how he was untrustworthy and didn't care about us! They also said that he was getting what he deserved. They said it every time they pushed the button! They were laughing too. Oh, Woody!" Mitsy shuddered, looking fearfully into his caring yet aching golden brown eyes. "It was just so horrible. Their hideous laughing was absolutely demonic! I'm not kidding! The crate kept banging on the floor on and off, crushing Jack, then coming up but giving him no time to escape.
'I yelled, I begged, I screamed at them to stop! But they sneered at me and kept doing it. Then...then..." Mitsy was gasping now, and Woody gripped her arms. "Then L-Lotso came up to me, to my f-face, smiling wickedly. Oh, Woody! It...it was that same look that was on his face when...when w-we were y-yelling at him to p-push the off button for the i-incinerator!'" Mitsy shivered with horror, clasping her head in her hands, as the terrifying memory remained etched in her mind.
"Oh, Mitsy," Woody groaned sadly, scooting closer to her and wrapping his arms around her. "It's all right, honey. I'm right here. I've got ya."
Mitsy shook her head and continued. "He stood in front of me and smirked at me...
'If your precious Jack loves you so much, why doesn't he rescue you? He's going to die, and it's your fault! If it wasn't for you, he wouldn't be in this situation. All your stupid friends are going to die too...because of YOU!' Then Lotso...then he...he slapped me across my face and laughed an evil laugh saying, 'Where's your hero now, princess?'"
Woody grimaced in anger and squeezed Mitsy tightly. She continued. "He went back and taunted Jack! 'What's the matter?' he said. 'Too weak to fight back, huh? Come on, save yourself, you big, brave hero!'"
"Oh, Mitsy. Sweetheart!" Woody exclaimed. "I'm so sorry! But it was a dream. I'm right here with you." Mitsy started gulping hard and her shoulders heaved up and down.
"Oh, Woody!" She cried. "I...I feel like this sadness is going to kill me!" She was wringing her hands. "I feel like something is pressing a brick on top of me, pinning me, and I can't get out! I...I feel like something's ripping me apart inside. Woody, you remember when Andy accidentally ripped your arm, and left you at home instead of taking you with him to Cowboy Camp?"
"I sure do." Woody said lowly.
"What did it feel like? Did it hurt much?"
"Yeah, it hurt some. But I felt worse when I was set on the shelf and he left me behind."
"I feel like my heart's been ripped apart! When you all try to comfort me, it feels patched back up a bit, but...but..." She was trying to find the right words.
"But it feels like it's seeping?" Woody finished for her. He perfectly understood that feeling from his own personal, grievous losses. He could empathize very much with her, losing a close loved one and never, ever seeing them again.
"Yes! That's it exactly. And then something, something always rips it back open! Oh, Woody! It...it hurts! It hurts so much!" She was clutching her chest. "I miss Jack so much!" Mitsy sobbed. "I loved him, like I've never loved any toy or kid before. I miss him! He was my dog. And I didn't even get to say good-bye to him, or...or tell him how much I loved him! I just...I just feel so lonely!" Then she broke out into uncontrollable weeping. Woody scooped her up onto his lap and held her close to his heart. She clung to him for dear life. His heart ached for her as he listened to her cries of despair. He felt helpless as he was vibrated by her small shoulders shaking with grief. He was supposed to protect her, take care of her.
From the beginning, Woody had felt a father's love and responsibility to Mitsy (just like his brotherly love, affection, and protection for Jessie, his little sister), even if he was a toy. She'd become like his 'adopted daughter', especially when he lost Bo Peep. Right now, he stroked Mitsy's long, curly hair and shushed to her, hoping it would calm her down. He'd remembered seeing Andy's mom do this before sometimes, when Andy was grieving for his dad. This was something Woody had hoped that he would never, ever have to do. Yet, what else could he do? He'd been Mitsy's guide and protector since she came. He'd been able to chase her fears away, or at least in her mind, he did. He was supposed to have the answer to her problems. And, here he was, unable to wipe away the heaviness that tormented her. Oh, how Woody wished that he could trample the pain into the ground and make it leave her alone!
Woody also sadly realized that all the false accusations made against her dog, whether they were uttered out of fear or malice, had hurt her more than he and the other toys had realized. They had been more than just offensive opinions, they'd cut her very much. He was glad that for once in his life, he hadn't said something he'd regret, at least not that he could remember. He was relieved that he'd given Jack a chance, though he couldn't deny his friends' opinions could've been true.
Oh, how rage had surged through his heart, body, down to his very core when they had all heard that chilling, devilish laugh that Spike bellowed after he'd murdered another toy! Woody would never, ever forget how the hateful anger had clashed into him like a bolt of electricity. That had been another tragic moment in their lives that none of them would ever forget, and apparently, that evil laugh was going to haunt Mitsy forever, for the rest of her life.
Woody rested his chin on top of her head as he kept her clasped against his chest with his arms around her in a protective circle. Toys couldn't shed tears, but he'd almost felt as if he actually was when Bo Peep was sold, when Andy gave him up, and...and now too. If toys could shed tears, he knew Mitsy would be crying a boatload. Right now he didn't care if it looked foolish or weird, he couldn't help himself: Woody actually softly brushed her face, wiping away imaginary tears, and she clung to him even tighter when he did. Woody tenderly kissed her cheek and rocked back and forth with her in his arms as she cried on.
"My poor little princess!" Woody whispered, shaking his head in agony.
Woody is so kind and compassionate. He is my absolute favorite! There was never any doubt or question, that he would be the comforter in this chapter.