9:

The Cowboy looked around the dining area. "Barb?"

Barbara appeared from behind a chair. "Woody!" She came over and grabbed his hand. "Come here! I want you to…"

"Wait a minute!" Woody removed his hand. "Barbara, I need to talk to you about something!"

"Ok."

Woody mustered up all his courage. "Barbara…I…" She looked at him expectantly. He sighed. "Barbara, I'm in love with Bo."

"Really, that's great!"

"I don't…" Woody stopped in mid sentence. "Huh?"

Barbara looked at him wryly. "Well, I didn't expect you to still have a crush on me."

Woody felt the heat rise from under his collar and to the top of his forehead. "So you did know."

"Well, it was pretty obvious." She paused. "I had a crush on you too."

"You did?" Woody said in surprise. "Why didn't you ever say anything?"

"Why didn't you?"

"I…" Woody drawled then shrugged. "I was too embarrassed I guess."

"Well, there you have it." Said Barbara plainly. "So was I."

"But we're just friends now."

"Absolutely."

"Ok." There was silence. Woody rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "So…what'd you want to talk to me about?" It was then for the first time he noticed another male toy by the table. He was tanned with a black beard and a white turban that matched his clothes. As he walked up beside Barbara, he smiled and bowed.

"Punjab, I'd like you to meet Woody." Barbara put a hand on the tanned toy's back. "Woody, this is my husband. We've been married almost four months."

"Dinner's almost ready!" Mom called. Maxie was nearby, shooting daggers at the picnic table where Andy was sitting next to Elsie. To Maxie, Mom said, "Maxie, will you please serve the fruit salad real quick?"

Maxie shrugged. "Sure, why not?" She dragged her feet over to the table, stuck the big plastic spoon inside and began slopping the fruit on the paper plates.

As she did so, Andy said, "Where do you live now, Elsie?"

"We relocated to San Francisco when Daddy decided to expand his business." She answered.

"Really?" Andy's face brightened. "I live in Emeryville! That's just seven or eight miles!"

Elsie looked excited. "Do you realize what this means, Andy? That means we can see each other all the time!"

The bowl of fruit salad slipped from Maxie's hands into the dirt with a thud. Emily turned from the lawn chair where she had been sitting with Ellis and Elva. "Oh no! Maxie!" She cried.

Maxie grabbed a napkin and scrambled around the dirt, trying to scoop up the mess. Andy stood up and leaned over the table. "It's no good, Max. It's dead."

"Well, there goes one of our side dishes," Said Mom. "I guess we'll just have to make due with the scalloped potatoes and baked beans."

"Maybe not," said Elsie, standing up. "We have some canned pineapple! Why don't I go put it in a bowl and we can eat that instead."

Mom sighed, relieved. "That would be wonderful! Thank you, Elsie."

Maxie was still trying to clean up the mess. Elsie leaned down. "Come on, Maxie! Why don't you help me?"

Maxie frowned as she stood. "I hate pineapple!" Elsie grabbed her arm and ran toward the other cabin. "Whoa! Where's the fire!"

Inside, Elsie grabbed the can from inside the pantry. She handed it to Maxie with a can opener. "Here. Open it while I find a bowl." Maxie grumbled but complied.

As she searched through the cabinets, she said casually, "So, how long have you had a crush on Andy?"

The can opener clanged to the counter. Maxie whirled around. "I do not!"

Elsie grabbed a sea green plastic tub. "Come on, everyone knows. Everyone except Andy that is."

Maxie stuck the edge back into the top of the can. "I don't know what you're talking about." She said, not taking her eyes off the lid.

"It's ok. I'm not going to tell him." Said Elsie. The top was almost off, and Elsie took the can. Holding the lid over the pineapple, she drained the juice into a glass, then emptied the fruit into the bowl. "I like a guy in my class anyway."

"Well, good for you." Said Maxie, a little uneasily.

"So you don't have to be so unfriendly. He's all yours."

Maxie grabbed a spoon and stuck it in the bowl. "Well…big deal! We're just friends that's all!" Elsie smiled and took the bowl and the glass.

"Whatever you say."

Maxie pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "Uh, Elsie?"

Elsie turned. "Yes?"

Maxie looked uneasy. "I…just wanted to…I mean…I really don't really hate pineapple. Actually, it's my favorite fruit."

Elsie looked genial. "Mine too." She set the dishes back on the counter. Getting another glass, she poured half the juice from hers inside and handed it to Maxie.

Maxie gave a small smile. "Thanks, Elsie."

"No problem."