Chapter Text
Bonnie smiled in the back seat of her mother’s car, swinging her feet back and forth. The little girl held her favorite toys close in her arms.
“I'm so excited to show Jessie and Bullseye to my friends, Mom! We're going to have a lot of fun today.” She smiled.
“I’m sure you all will, honey.” Mrs. Anderson replied, stopping at the stoplight. “We're almost there!”
Bonnie squealed and smiled down at Jessie, lifting her in her arms.
“You'll like Isaac, Malina, and Kilani! Those guys are my new best friends. Besides you of course. You know you’ll always be my best friend.” The little girl promised, giving the cowgirl a tight squeeze.
Though Jessie couldn't show it at the moment, she was so happy to be held by her kid. She was excited to meet Bonnie’s friends. If they were as nice as Bonnie said, maybe she’d get some playtime in with them as well!
After a quick turn onto a street, Bonnie finally arrived at her friend Issac’s house. Mrs. Anderson kissed her daughter goodbye.
“Remember, behave yourself and keep up with your things.” She reminded her.
“I will. Bye, mom!” Bonnie grinned, leaping out of the car.
Bonnie ran up to the three children on the porch. As she stood in front of them, she waited for at least one of them to speak to her. Bonnie raised a brow at the devices in their hands.
“Hello? Guys?” She said, waving a hand in front of their faces.
The first girl to look up was Kilani, then Issac, then Malina. The children smiled at the girl.
“Hey Bonnie! What did you bring?” Issac asked, raising a brow at the toys.
“Oh, I brought my horse, Bullseye. And my favorite toy ever, Jessie! Isn't she cool?” Bonnie answered, showing off the doll.
The trio’s smiles faded upon seeing the stuffed horse and rag doll. Kilani turned her nose up while Issac and Malina just whispered to each other. Bonnie frowned.
“What's wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing, it's just… Aren't dolls and stuff for babies?” Malina asked.
“Yeah, you're eight. My momma told me that's the big kid age. And no big kid plays with toys.” Kilani sneered.
Bonnie winced at her friend’s sharp reaction, slowly lowering her toys down by her sides. She clutched Jessie's little hand tightly in hers as she spoke.
“Then, what do you guys play with?” Bonnie asked.
“Check this out! This is my new LilyPad. You can play games, talk to us online, and watch videos!” Issac smiled, handing her the device.
Bonnie set her toys on the chair and grabbed the froggy-faced tablet. She scrolled through the games and picked one. Before she knew it, she was hooked on it…
“So, how do I play?” Bonnie asked.
“Glad you asked. Come on, we'll show you!” Kilani giggled, running inside Issac's house
The other children followed her into the house with their tablets, Bonnie following right behind them and leaving Jessie and Bullseye outside. Jessie's smile faded as she sat up in the lawn chair and looked toward the now closed front door.
“Bonnie…?” She whispered, hopping down from the chair and running to the door. “She didn't forget me. I'm sure Bonnie will come running back out here and rescue us both, right Bullseye?”
The horse nodded as Jessie placed a hand on his snout. Just then, thunder started to crack, lightning started to flash and light rain was beginning to fall…
“Oh no… She’d better come soon!” Jessie sighed, trying her best to cover herself from the rain.
She hoped Bonnie would come and get her soon. Jessie felt she would…
About half an hour later after the storm died down a bit, Bonnie still hadn't come. Jessie and Bullseye were soaking wet and cold. She felt sad, neglected… Then, after what seemed like an eternity, Issac's mother opened the door to clean off the porch.
The toys went limp as the woman looked down at them and picked them up. She smiled at them and squeezed out Jessie's wet ponytail and Bullseye’s body.
“What are you guys doing out here? You poor things are soaking wet…” The mother said, taking the two toys into the house.
Finally; Jessie thought. Finally, she didn't have to sit in the rain anymore. Issac’s mom walked into the living room and held up the toys.
“Are these anyone's little friends? I found them outside…” She said,
Bonnie looked up from the device, her eyes wide with guilt. She ran over to the woman and grabbed the toys from her hands.
“They're mine. Oh, you two are all wet!” Bonnie frowned.
“It's alright, dear. I'll get them a towel.”
As the woman left to grab a towel, Bonnie sat back down on the couch next to Issac and wiped the raindrops from Bullseye’s hooves and Jessie's eyes. The fact that the drops of water looked like tears only made her feel worse.
“Aw… Jessie, I'm so sorry… Are you okay?” Bonnie asked, pulling the string on Jessie’s back.
“It's mighty fine having you by my side, cowpoke!” She responded.
“I'm sure your doll is fine! It's not like she can hear you…” Kilani scoffed.
“Hey now, be nice. I’d be sad too.” Issac warned. “Hey Bonnie, maybe you could come back again next time with your own LilyPad!”
“If I can get it in time…” Bonnie sighed.
Issac's mother returned with the towel and handed it to Bonnie. The girl bundled them up in the towel and hugged them close.
“Missus Alfred, I think I want to go home… But I'll come back again soon,” she said.
Issac's mom nodded sympathetically and went to call Bonnie's mother. Once Mrs. Anderson picked her up, the girl looked up at her mother.
“Mom, they didn't really like Jessie and Bullseye… They said to be cool I need a LilyPad so I can play with them!” Bonnie explained, fidgeting with her fingers.
“A LilyPad? But honey, your friends should like you for you. You probably shouldn't hang out with them again…” Mrs. Anderson said.
“Mom, please! I'll be good and I'll even help you clean out Sammy's tank today! Please?”
Mrs. Anderson sighed, but nodded.
“Fine… I'll see what I can do,” she answered.
Bonnie smiled and leaned back in her seat, satisfied with her answer.
When they arrived home, Bonnie ran to her room and sat Jessie and Bullseye on her bed.
“I'm really sorry about today guys. But don't worry, you know I still love you.” She smiled, kissing Jessie’s cheek before walking out of the room.
After Bonnie left, Jessie sat up and looked at the other toys on the bed. Dolly and Buzz walked over to her and gave her a warm smile.
“How was the playdate?” Dolly asked.
“Terrible… I knew they wouldn't like us, and Bonnie accidentally left us outside. So apart from being wet and cold, I'm so irritated. She ditched me for some LilyPad…” Jessie pouted, crossing her arms.
“She left you in the rain for a… pond leaf that frogs like?” Knifey asked.
“No, it's some device… Hopefully, she'll get over it soon. Until then, who wants to do some charades?”
“I'm in! It might cheer you up some.” Buzz smiled, giving Jessie a pat on the back.
“That’s exactly why I gave you that star sticker. You always know just what to do…” Jessie giggled.
A few days later, Bonnie got a package in the mail.. And sure enough, it was a bright green LilyPad tablet. Jessie watched Bonnie unbox the device from afar.
She began to pace back and forth in front of Bonnie’s tea table.
“No… No! No! This is exactly what I warned you guys about!” Jessie whimpered.
“Oh, come on, Jessie. I’m sure it won’t be that bad.” Hamm said.
“Yeah. Why don’t you just try to be nice to it? I’m sure it’ll leave you alone.” Mr. Potato Head teased.
“That’s not funny, Potato Head… You weren’t there that day.” Jessie hissed.
“I agree with Jessie. But I also agree that we should try and be nice to it. I don’t know much about tech, but I’m sure it won’t be as bad as it was that day.” Dolly assured Jessie.
Jessie’s hyperventilating began to calm down. Maybe Dolly was right… Just be nice, and maybe we can co-exist. The toys went limp as Bonnie ran into the room and sat on the bed.
The little girl played a game or two before putting the tablet on its charger and running into the kitchen to have lunch with her parents. After Bonnie was gone, Jessie and the toys climbed onto the bed and started eyeing the device.
“Well, it doesn’t look that menacing! Frogs are some of the nicest animals.” Rex said.
“Excuse me, Miss LilyPad? We’d like to introduce ourselves.” Buzz said, his hands on his hips.
Then, LilyPad lit up and blinked at the toys. With a bright smile, she leaped off the charger and onto Bonnie’s bed.
“Hi there! You guys look interesting.” She said,
“Howdy, I’m Jessie. I’m the leader of Bonnie’s room.” Jessie introduced. “The man you just spoke to is Buzz Lightyear, my co-leader.”
“It’s nice to meet you guys but, what exactly are you…?” LilyPad asked.
“Uh… Toys?” Forky answered.
“Oh, those things. Got it…”
Jessie raised a brow. What did LilyPad mean by that? And why was she so passive-aggressive about it?
“Yeah… Well, our job is to make Bonnie happy. We’re trying to help her make friends and-“
“Yeah yeah, that’s nice, Jessica. Can I get back to charging now?” LilyPad scoffed.
“It’s Jessie, and fine… Sure I guess. One more thing, don’t you ever call me by my full first name again!” Jessie hissed, waving a dismissive hand at the tablet.
“Sure, ragdoll.”
LilyPad chuckled and hopped back onto her charger and closed her eyes. Jessie groaned in annoyance as she turned around to face the other toys.
“See? What did I tell you?” She asked.
“Yeah, I see what you mean now. She was so doggone rude!” Slinky exclaimed.
“It’s probably best that we stay on her good side…” Rex added.
“No, Rex. If she wants war, then this. means. War.” Jessie growled, straightening her hat as she jumped off the bed.