Bo and I sat on that windowsill for most of the day. Someone was always in the room, so we never had any time to actually move. It was just like being back in that frame!

One morning, Mom came into the room to (re)decorate. She took wallpaper and pictures down. Then, the powder pink walls were painted blue.

She took a quick glance in our direction, where Bo's head had fallen to my shoulder. Mom slowly stood up and waddled over to us. She scooped us up and placed us on a shelf across from the window, so we could see too. Fluffy clouds were added to the walls. They matched the beautiful ones floating outside the window.

When the decorating was finished, a man joined Mom in the room, smiling at the walls in approval.

"Andy'll love it." He said softly. He reached out for her stomach and rubbed his hand in circles over it.

"But what do I do with all these?" She gestured at the box of pink pictures and wallpaper.

"We'll find someone who needs them… Someone with a beautiful baby girl."

"Oh!" Mom had an epiphany, "Jan that I work with is due in a few months, after Andy."

"Perfect. I can drop them off at your office next week."

They continued their conversation and wandered into the hallway, closing the door as they left. The bedroom was lit by a single lamp, set on the floor in the corner of the room. Where Bo and I sat, we could hardly see its glow… but we had a perfect view of the stars.

The porcelain doll reached a hand behind my back, running it in small circles around and between my pull-string. Admittedly, I twitched a bit.

We remained on the shelf another few days. Early in the morning, Mom came in to get the box of… pink. She reached up onto our shelf, feeling for Bo Peep.

"I guess this is goodbye, Sheriff." She whispered, stroking my hand as she left.

What? The first toy I meet had to leave so soon? I didn't understand, but I followed her.

Once Mom left the room, I jumped off the shelf. I pursued her down an exhausting flight of stairs. Fortunately, Mom's pregnancy allowed me to match her in speed. I actually had to work to stay behind her. From what Bo told me about people, they weren't supposed to see you moving... it freaked them out. We couldn't talk around them either.

Mom set the box down on the landing, between the two flights of stairs, and went searching for the man. I crept towards the box and climbed inside.

"Woody? Are you out of your mind?"

"Let's get you out of here."

Bo was wedged in between two of the pictures. The pink borders matched her cheeks perfectly.

I lifted one of the pictures up and held it until Bo moved. I climbed out of the box, then helped her do the same. We could hear Mom's voice and several sets of footsteps.

"Sorry hun. I can't carry it down the stairs..."

"Don't worry about it. Go rest."

I pulled Bo away from the box and we hid in the shadow of the bottom step. The man took the box and continued his peaceful descent. He would never know we were gone.

The stairs were clear, now that Mom was resting on a recliner downstairs and the man was outside.

"Come on, Bo Peep."

"I'm made of glass, Woody. I can't bend to climb stairs."

That was indeed a problem. I sat down on the ledge of the lowest step to think. Bo looked up at me, barely blinking.

"Can you hold on to me? I will carry you up these stairs, Bo Peep."

"Bo. Please call me Bo."

"Bo... come on."

I joined her on the landing and handed her the end of my pull-string. It was wrapped around her, and she held the end. I swept her into my arms and we began the journey back up the stairs.

There were ten of them, each glaring at me and the weight I carried. Each seemed taller, narrower, and further away. Everything was wrong. I wasn't even sure what I was doing or why.

It was dark outside when we made it back to Andy's room. The lamp in the corner was on, and the stars were starting to shine in through the window.

Even though the stairs ended way before Andy's doorway, I felt the need to carry Bo all the way to the front of our shelf. Climbing back up it would be enough of a problem.

I set her carefully on the carpeting and untangled her from my pull-string.

"Thanks, Sheriff." She let go of my string.

"Someone's poisoned the waterhole!" I announced, beyond my control.

Silence for a moment. I pondered the whole 'getting back to the top of the shelf' issue. Bo sat down in front of me.

There was a faint rustling downstairs. A yawn. Soft footsteps approaching.

"You woke her up!" Bo accused me. I don't think she was serious... but we were definitely in trouble now, "You need to get up that shelf!"

"What about you?" I called down, tossing myself up the levels of shelving.

"I'll hide for awhile."

She strutted into the closet and, with difficulty, slid the door shut. Mom entered the room.

I froze where I was: the shelf directly under the top one. I fell to rest on my back, and had to catch my hat before Mom saw it falling.

Mom looked around the room, shifting a few things. I assume she was looking for the source of the talking that woke her up. Told you we freak people out when we do that.

She picked me up and examined me.

"I didn't know you could talk... you'll be Andy's favorite, I know it."

"This town ain't big enough for the two of us." What is with everyone's fascination with my pull-string? I hate the thing!

"Maybe when he's older." She sighed. I was set back on the very top shelf.

She left the room and went to her own.

I waited on the shelf all night, silently, hoping Bo was okay.

What do you think? :D

~Sally