Complete Play Set

Family Reunion

Woody and Jessie held on to each other for a while, Bullseye nuzzling against them. The cowboy placed a hand on the horse's head, hoping to calm him, his mind racing for an idea. There had to be some way out.

'THUMP.'

The trio went still. Woody stared straight ahead. "Did you hear that?" he muttered to Jessie.

"Uh-huh."

"Hold tight." Woody carefully released his friend, and slowly bent down to pick up a pencil. With the speed of a military spy, he crept closer and closer to the edge of the counter...

"Hello there." He and Jessie screamed, and jumped back. Jessie hid behind Woody, the cowboy brandishing the pencil defensively.

Prospector held up his hands in a surrender motion. "Whoa, easy there! Rough ride in the car, hm?"

"Don't play with us, Prospector." Woody snapped. "We know your tricks. We're armed this time!"

"Tricks? Armed?" The Prospector tapped his chin. "I don't remember being a villain in the show. Then again, my roll  wasn't the most dignified." he broke off on a chuckle. "Listen to me! Well, I guess that's why they call me Stinky Pete."

Woody lessened his grip on the pencil, but only just. "Prospector, what do you want?"

"Just thought I'd give the new arrivals a welcome." He answered cheerfully. As if it were the most normal thing on Earth, he opened his Box and stepped out, slinging his pick ax over one shoulder. "It's so nice to see my family again."

"Family?"! Jessie snapped, her arms wrapped around Bullseye's neck. "What kind of family member forces the others to move away from everything they've known and loved?! What kind of family won't let the others see their friends!" Prospector's brows furrowed. "Excuse me?"

"You lied to us!" Jessie continued, pointing at him accusingly. "You're a liar and a bully, just like Lotso! You ripped Woody's arm and knocked our friend off a conveyor belt. You locked us in a suitcase!"

"What? No! I never did that? I've never even met you before!" He looked absolutely befuddled. "The last Jessie I saw wasn't in mint condition. She had one eye missing, and her braid was frazzled..."

"Wait." Woody cut him off. "You're sure you never tried to ship us to japan?"

"I'm positive. You HAVE TO be thinking of another Prospector....That's new. No one's ever called me Prospector before. It was always Stinky Pete, or Pete."

Woody, Jessie, and Bullseye glanced at each other, wondering if this was a trick. "When did you get here?"

"About two weeks ago. I used to belong to this old fan of the show. He had so much merchandise, I worried I would get lost in there. Of course, he...died, and his merchandise was auctioned off. Al scooped me up right away for a measly twenty dollars." he rolled his eyes. "If you ask me, that man needs to find a better purpose in life."

Woody and Jessie laughed. This Prospector was actually kind of funny. But Woody got his bearings together quickly. "This has to be some sort of trick. Don't come near us."

"Alright, I'll give you some space." The Prospector backed off, and Woody, Jessie and Bullseye gathered in a huddle. "What do you think, Woody?"

"I don't know." Woody answered. "If this is the Prospector, the one we knew, then he's a pretty good liar."

Jessie thought for a moment. "What was the name of that little girl we sent the Prospector too?"

"I don't know...Amy."

"And every child writes their name on their toy?"

"Yes. It's kind of a law for lost things."

"Then Amy's name should be on him!" Jessie walked over to the Prospector. "Can we look you over for a name?"

"Of course." The trio looked over him carefully. "There were no marks of the artistic little girl. No Amy on his foot. Just dust. No stickers or ink or anything that would've signaled he was played with. Just the new toy smell, the squeak of clean plastic, and the smoothness of untouched rubber.

"He's legit." Jessie mumbled to Woody, who put his pencil down. No one could ever clean a toy like that, not without leaving a few hints. The cleaner who had fixed Woody's arm had left him smelling like oils. But Prospector smelled just like a new toy of his brand: plastic, rubber, and fresh air.

"Now," Prospector dusted himself off. "I don't know what all that fuss was about, so I'll assume it was a VERY rough ride in the truck."

"Is Al going to try and take us to Japan?" Jessie asked, suddenly breathless with fear again.

"I haven't heard of any travel plans." The Prospector revealed truthfully. "I was in my box all those two weeks.

"So...you don't know of any way to get out of here?" Woody looked downcast.

"Go? Why, you just got here. Why would you want to leave?" The Prospector suddenly turned serious. "You weren't robed of your owner, were you?"

"Well...yes." Jessie sighed, and sat down, putting her head against her knees. "What do we do now?" Woody put an arm around her shoulders. "We'll think of something."

"...We almost died." Jessie breathed, helping Woody finish up the story. "But we'd do anything for our kid."

"Now, we live with Bonnie." Woody explained, showing Prospector the name on his boot. The older toy nodded, thoughtfully. "And...this Bonnie? She doesn't know where you are?"

"No." Woody slumped. "She's probably worried sick."

"Mr. Prospector, that's why we need to go home." Jessie told him, petting Bullseye nervously.

It was nighttime, and AL had long since turned in. Prospector had stayed up with the other three, to hear their story.

"You certainly can't just leave." The Prospector informed them, his face serious and grave. "It's a dangerous world out there, for a toy. I've seen things. The last Bullseye doll I'd ever seen was run over by a car before he got across the street."

Bullseye jumped, and hid behind Jessie.

"We know." Woody replied, petting the horse's head. "Trust me, we've seen it. But, Bonnie needs us. We have to get back to her. And we certainly can't go to Tokyo."

"I've never had a child." Prospector admitted wistfully. He put a hand to his chin. "But, if it's as important as you say it is, getting home, then...I'm willing to help you."

"You are?" Jessie gasped. Prospector nodded. "Thank you!" Jessie enveloped him in a hug. "And maybe, we can find YOU a kid!"

Woody smiled, and stood up. "It sounds like a fair deal. What's the first step, Prospector?"