1: A year after "Jessie's Choice"

Mom and Emily sat in the Davis kitchen. Mom was sporting her new glasses and Emily had her permed auburn hair drawn back in a loose ponytail. Her fingers were splayed on the table as Mom filed them.

Finishing, she opened her pink plastic kit, revealing three rows of nail polish. "What color do you want?"

"What was the one you used last time?" Asked Emily. "'Brownie?'"

"I accidentally knocked the rest of 'Brownie' down the bathroom sink." Said Mom. She pulled out a pinkish-lavender color. "How about 'China Doll?'"

"That's nice."

The front door slammed open and, moments later, Andy, holding his Sheriff Woody by the arm, skidded into the room.

"Andy, how many times do I have to tell you not to run in the house?"

Maxie came speeding behind him. She tried to stop in time, but ended up colliding into Andy's back anyway.

"Maxine!" Emily scolded.

"Sorry!" Both kids chorused.

Andy caught a breath then asked, "Hey Mom, you know that big hairy monster in the woods? Is his name Big Foot or Sasquatch?"

"Both." Mom answered absently as she continued the manicure.

Andy and Maxie were quiet for a moment. "I still say 'Big Foot.'" Andy muttered.

"Only 'cause you can't say 'Sasquatch.'"

"Hey Mom," Andy reached over the table and grabbed two nectarines. He tossed one to Maxie, who took a big bite. "You think we'll see Big Foot on our camping trip?"

"Even if we do," Mom said, turning to look at him. "We'll be inside the cabin where he can't get you."

"Maybe we should leave some food out on the porch just in case."

"No," Mom replied. "That'll just attract bears."

"Cool!" Maxie tugged on Emily's shirt. "Mom, I wanna go too! Can I go with Andy?"

Emily looked up in surprise. "Maxie!" She admonished. "You don't invite yourself along on other people's trips!"

"It's ok, Em." Said Mom. "You know," and at this she smiled. "The cabin has seemed awfully big since Andy's father passed away. Why don't you all come? We have the room!"

Maxie latched herself around Emily's waist and under her arm. "Can we, Mom? Please?"

Emily looked a little abashed. "Oh, we couldn't impose!"

"Nonsense!" Mom leaned across the table and grabbed Emily's arm in a friendly gesture. "You'd be our guests!"

"Please?" Andy joined in Maxie's pleading.

Emily sighed. "I guess we could..."

Both cheered. Andy actually jumped up and down, forgetting he was carrying his favorite Cowboy doll. The toy flew out of his hand, flew across the room and crashed into the doorframe. "Oops!" Andy leaned down and grabbed him. "Sorry, Woody!"

Maxie tugged on his arm. "Come on and put your toy in your room so you can help me pack!"

"Pack?"

"Duh!" Maxie said over her shoulder as she raced out of the kitchen. "I've never been camping before!"

After depositing Woody in his bedroom, Andy joined Maxie as they clomped down the stairs, out the door and across the street.

Woody sat up and rubbed under his hat where he had hit the door. He winced as his fingers touched the sore spot on his scalp. Buzz appeared from the other side of the toy box. "What's the matter, Sheriff?"

"Just a little headache."

Out of nowhere, Jessie raced across the room like a maniac. "Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya!" She sang as loud as she could. "Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya! Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya! O Lord, kumbaya!" She hopped on Buzz's back and hugged him around the neck. "Yeeeeee-haw! I LOVE camping!"

Woody frowned at her. "Yeah well, you'd better not lead us on another Snipe Hunt this year!"

Jessie jumped off Buzz's back. "Aw, come on!" She said. "You came out of the woods...eventually."

Woody shot her an icy glare. "I had poison ivy for three weeks."

The bedroom door creaked open and Bo walked in. She was carrying two doll blankets. She held them out for Woody to see. "Which do you think I should bring for the trip? The red, white, and blue patchwork or the fuzzy pea green?"

Woody tipped his hat back. "Gee Bo, do you really think we'll need them?"

"I don't care if it is the last week of August. It still may get cold." She put the blankets in his arms. "Better put both in Andy's bag, just in case. And we'll probably need extra batteries for the flashlight. And here," She put a silver whistle on the blankets. "Just in case you get lost again."

"Wait a minute!" Woody shoved the pile into Buzz's arms; it covered half his face. "Bo, Sweetie, we aren't leaving for another three days!"

"It doesn't hurt to be prepared."

Woody smiled and put his arm around her waist. "You know, you're beginning to sound like me."

Bo paused. "You're right. We'd better stop seeing each other." She playfully turned toward the door as if she were going to leave. Woody twirled her back around into his arms and she giggled.

Suddenly aware of how cuddly he was being in public, the Cowboy's cheeks began to burn hot. He turned to Jessie and Buzz, who were snickering at the red color creeping up on his face.

There was only one thing he could think of to break the awkward moment. "Hey, guess what? Maxie and her family are coming on our trip."

Jessie's emerald green eyes lit up. "Emily's coming?"

"Yeah, I was down in the kitchen when Mom invited them.
Bo looked thoughtful. "So was Maxie excited?"

"Yeah," Answered Woody. "It was her idea."

"Hmm? Oh really?" Bo and Jessie exchanged amused glances.

Buzz and Woody looked at each other in confusion. "What?" Buzz asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing." Jessie walked past him and joined her best friend. Bo whispered something in her ear and they both giggled.

The Cowboy and the Space Ranger watched in bewilderment as the two girls walked away.

"What was that all about?" Buzz asked.

Woody stuck his thumbs through his belt loops and shrugged. "I have no idea. Go figure girls."