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Bonnie's toys were crammed inside her bedroom closet, waiting to play.
“It's getting hot in here,” said Trixie, a toy dinosaur.
“Where's my ear?” said Mr. Potato Head.
“Ow! Hey, quit shoving!” said Buttercup, a stuffed unicorn.
“Sorry,” said Trixie. “That was my horn.”
Dolly, the leader of Bonnie's toys, stood on a stack of board games. “Everyone listen. I thought I told you—when Mom quickly cleans the bedroom like that, expect to be put in the closet.”
Woody wandered through the toys, checking on his friends to make sure they were all okay.
Jessie, uncomfortable in the dark closet, was breathing fast.
“Deep breaths, Jessie,” said Woody, trying to calm her. “Deep breaths.” He walked by Slinky, whose wagging tail was jangling his metal coils. “Settle down, Slink. Sit. Good boy.”
Dolly stepped up to Woody. “Sheriff, do I need to be worried?”
“Nah, nah, nah,” said Woody. “My guys are veterans. They'll hang in there.”
“Good. Just keep ’em calm until we get word,” said Dolly.
Woody saluted her. “Yes, ma’am.” He headed off and began pacing back and forth.
Buzz watched Woody, concerned. “How are you, uh ... feeling about today?” he asked.
“Uh, good, good,” said Woody. “Yeah ... good. I'm good.”
Buzz frowned, trying to read Woody's expression. He could see his friend was nervous about playtime but didn't want to talk about it. “Uh ... good,” said Buzz.
Dolly's attention turned to the slats in the closet door as she peered at a toy dangling from the bedroom doorknob. The toy kicked its legs, causing bells to chime, a warning that Bonnie was coming.
Dolly faced everyone and reported the news. “We're on. Bonnie's done with breakfast.”
“Any minute now,” said Dolly.
“Ya hear that?” said Woody, turning to his crew. “Any minute now. Wind ’em if you got ’em. Keep your batteries clean. Your joints unlocked.”
“Thanks, Woody. I got it,” said Dolly, trying to remind him that she was in charge.
“Yes, I'm sorry,” said Woody. He had led Andy's toys for so long that he often forgot it wasn't his job anymore.
The toys went silent when they heard the sound of small, quick footsteps in the hall. Before they knew it, the closet door was flung open and Bonnie shouted, “The town is open!” She scooped up her toys and placed them all around, creating a pretend town.
“Hi, mayor!” she said, grabbing Dolly. “Banker!” She grabbed Hamm. “Hi, ice cream man!” She picked up Slinky. “Hat-shop owner,” she said when she held Trixie. “Mailman.” She grabbed Buzz.
“And the sheriff!” Bonnie picked up Woody, but she didn't take him out of the closet to play. She plucked the badge from his shirt and dropped him back to the floor.
“Okay—bye, toys!” Bonnie closed the door and began to play on the carpet.
Woody looked through the slats in the door and watched Bonnie put Woody's badge on Jessie's shirt and hold her up.
“YEE-HAW! Sheriff Jessie!” she said. “Giddy up, Bullseye!”
Woody sat up and noticed that he wasn't alone in the closet. There were some toddler toys nearby, looking at him with pity. Woody ignored their sad faces and pulled out a deck of cards to play by himself. The toddler toys shuffled closer to the closet door to watch through the slats as Bonnie and the others played hat shop.
An old toy clock gazed at Woody. “That's the third time you haven't been picked this week,” he said. Woody continued to focus on the cards.
“I don't know. I don't keep count,” said Woody, slightly irritated.
“Oh, you don't have to. I'll do it for you! ”said the clock.
“Okay, okay, okay. I get it. It's been a while,” said Woody, his voice sounding strained. He walked away and peered through the door slats with the toddler toys.
“Bonnie?” her dad said as he entered the bedroom. “Go get your shoes on, we gotta go. You don't want to be late for kindergarten orientation, do you?”
Bonnie's smile fell as she looked at the floor. “But ... I don't want to go,” she said quietly.
“We talked about this,” said her dad. “We're going to meet your teachers, see your classroom—” He tried to sound upbeat.
“Can I bring a toy?” she asked.
“Toys don't go to school, that's the rule,” he said. He took her hand and gently led her out of the room.
Dolly popped up. “Freeze!” she shouted. “Nobody move! Bonnie always forgets something. She'll be back any second.”
Woody opened the closet door and quickly walked past Buzz.
“You all right, Woody? I'm sure she'll pick you next time,” said Buzz.
“Come on,” Woody said with a chuckle, “I'm fine, no problem.”
Jessie scurried over. “Hey, Woody. Here,” she said, handing him his badge. The cowboy thanked her and continued to walk toward Dolly as he pinned the badge back onto his shirt. Buzz and Jessie exchanged a concerned look.
“Excuse me, Dolly?” said Woody.
“Woody, can't you see I'm threatening everyone? Go back to the closet!” she ordered.
“Yeah, I know, I know,” said Woody. “It's just—I'm worried about Bonnie. A toy should go with her to orientation.”
Dolly ushered him back toward the closet. “Didn't you hear Dad?” she said sternly. “You'll get Bonnie in trouble.”
“Yeah, but kindergarten is so different. It can be too much for a kid. Having a buddy with them to get through it can really help things. I remember with Andy, I would go to school with him—”
“Uh-huh. I'm sorry, Woody,” said Dolly, annoyed. “I hate to sound like a broken record, but Bonnie is not Andy.”
“No, no, no, of course, I get that, but if you would just hear me—”
Before he could finish, Dolly shut the closet door with Woody inside. “Places, everyone!” she whispered.
Bonnie burst back into her bedroom and threw herself under the bed, crying.
Her mom came into the room, followed closely by her dad. They gently coaxed Bonnie out until she wiped her eyes, took a deep breath, and got up. “That's my big girl.”
“Don't forget your backpack,” added her dad.
Bonnie grabbed it from the floor.
“You're gonna have so much fun ...” her mom said as they all left together.
Dolly opened the closet door and peered inside. “All right. Now, what was it you were saying, Woody?”
The preschool toys looked at her blankly.
“Woody?” Dolly looked around for him, confused. Woody wasn't there.