Being alone can be hard. It can be very hard. Especially if all your friends aren’t.
“What’s the matter with him?” Woody jerked his thumb over by the bed. Wheezy was by his lonesome, looking forlorn.
Buzz shrugged. “Beats me. I thought getting his new squeaker cheered him up.”
“Buzz, that was two months ago.” Woody tipped his hat backwards. “Let’s go see if we can help.”
Wheezy was sunk in his own thoughts (none too pleasant) when he was approached by the Cowboy and the Space Man.
“Cheer up Wheezy!” Buzz smiled.
“Yeah, there’s nothing more pathetic than a perky penguin gone pooped.” Woody quipped. Wheezy didn’t smile.
“I’m just not feeling myself today.” He sighed.
“Or any other day.” Woody muttered to Buzz.
“Shush!” The shorter toy jabbed him where his ribs would have been. “Anything we can do?”
“I don’t think you can help me.”
“Sure we can! Try us!” The squeaky toy looked up and smiled slightly:
“I want a girlfriend!”
Woody and Buzz glanced at each other. “Uh…” Woody cleared his throat. “Buzz?”
“Um, we can find a girlfriend for you.”
“We can?”
“You can?” Wheezy gave a slight leap for joy. “Oh boy! Thanks you guys! You’re the best! Wait until I tell Rex! Rex!” He hopped off to find his friend.
Woody grabbed Buzz. “We can find a girlfriend for Wheezy?”
“It couldn’t be that hard. Besides, we can’t go back on our word!”
“You’re right.” Woody sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Let’s go to Molly’s…”
In Molly’s Room:
“So…” Buzz scanned the area.
“Taken, taken, mine…” Woody pointed. “How about there?”
“You’re kidding.”
“It’s worth a shot.” His friend led the way.
“Hi Barbies!” Woody flashed his biggest smile. The flock of blondes just looked at him. “How would one of you like a date Saturday night?”
“Oh Buzzy!” They squealed and rushed to his side.
“Woody, help.”
“No, no! Not Buzz!” They loosened their grip. “I’m talking about someone else.”
“Who?” The Pink Barbie asked. “Is he cute?”
“Uh,” Buzz looked at Woody. “Sure, I guess.”
“Does he have great style?” Asked the Blue Barbie.
“He wears a tux.” Woody answered truthfully.
“Ooh! He sounds dreamy!” Said Mermaid Fantasy Barbie. “I wanna go out with him!”
“No! I’m the leader!” Snapped the Pink Barbie. “I’m going out with him!”
“But you’re going steady with Shaving Fun Ken!” Whined the Green Barbie.
“I’m the most elegant!” Argued the Happy Holidays Barbie. “I wanna go out with him!”
Woody whistled. “Girls! Girls!”
“Are you sure you want to set one of them up with Wheezy?” Buzz asked.
“Wheezy?” The group chorused. “You want us to go out with Wheezy?”
“Yeah, why not?”
“Well, he’s…Wheezy!” The Pink Barbie shrugged.
“Yeah, he’s not really our type!” The Green Barbie added.
“Aw,” Woody waved them off. “You don’t know what you’re missing!”
When they were out of earshot, Buzz shook his head. “Did you really think they would agree to go out with Wheezy?”
“Well…no. But at least we tried.”
“Uh-oh.” Buzz poked the lanky sheriff. “Here comes our rubber buddy now!” Sure enough, Wheezy was coming towards them.
“Hi guys. Have you found a girlfriend for me yet?” He smiled hopefully.
“Well,” Woody scratched the back of his neck. “Wheezy, we…”
“Oh what’s the use!” He interrupted, his face falling. “I’ll never find a girl and I’ll be alone for the rest of my life.”
Buzz couldn’t stand to see his friend look so down. “Hold on, Wheezy! You got it all wrong! We have found a girlfriend for you!”
Woody looked at him. One look and he got the hint. “Oh. Oh yeah! We’ve found a real pretty girl that likes you a lot!”
“Really?” The tiny penguin smiled bigger than he had in weeks. His face lit up. “Where is she?”
“Now, now. She…” Buzz tried to improvise. “Wants to get ready before you meet her!”
“Uh huh!” Woody nodded.
“Wow.” Wheezy thought. “I gotta get ready too! Bye guys!”
Woody and Buzz breathed sighs of relief. “That was close!”
“Buzz Lightyear!”
“We’re not safe yet.” Woody said in a low voice.
The two toys turned. Their own girlfriends had heard the whole thing.
“Shame on you!” Jessie scolded. “You lied to Wheezy!”
“You too, Woody.” Bo didn’t look happy either.
“Oh come on! Haven’t you ever told a white lie to make someone feel better?” Woody searched their faces. “Well, haven’t you?”
“That wasn’t a white lie.” Jessie crossed her arms. “That was a fib.”
“It wasn’t a bad fib. It made him feel better.” Buzz argued.
Bo raised her eyebrows. “And what are you going to do if you can’t find Wheezy a girlfriend?”
They looked at each other. Neither of them had even considered that. Woody smacked his forehead. “Gah! Stupid, stupid, stupid!”
“Well, instead of just standing there, why don’t you get started? Because now you HAVE to find him a girlfriend!”
All day long the two toys searched. They looked in the toy box, the closet and under the bed to no avail.
Woody sat down in the center of the room. “Buzz, I give up. We’re not going to find Wheezy a girlfriend.”
Buzz took a seat next to him. “What about the Strawberry Shortcake doll?”
“She likes Rocky for some reason.” Buzz let out a groan.
“So how do we tell him?”
“Quickly.” Woody stood. “And now.”
Woody pushed open the door to Andy’s room. “He’s over by the book shelf.” The toy was humming.
“He looks so happy.” Buzz sighed. “Do you think it would hurt to let him think he’s going to have a girlfriend for a few more hours?”
Before Woody could reply, Wheezy spotted them. He waved and hopped over. “Is she ready yet? I really want to meet her!”
“Uh, Wheezy?”
“Then again, I shouldn’t appear too eager.”
“Wheeze?”
“But I do want to appear interested.” He looked up at them. “What do you two think I should do?”
Woody took a deep breath. “Wheezy, we need to tell you something. We…”
“Want you to meet someone!” Said a new voice.
“Huh?” The guys turned. Bo and Jessie were leading a female penguin who looked exactly like Wheezy with a red bow on top of her head.
“Wheezy, this is Woozy!” Bo nudged gently her forward.
Wheezy waved shyly. “Hi, Woozy.”
“Wheezy, why don’t you show Woozy around the room?” Jessie suggested. “Introduce her to the other toys?”
“Oh. Ok.” Wheezy smiled. “Do you want to do that?”
“Sure!” Woozy took his flipper and they hopped off.
“But but but…” Woody stuttered.
“Andy’s mom bought her from a flea market.” Bo slipped her arm through Woody’s.
“She’s Wheezy’s companion!” Jessie grinned. “Ain’t that something? You two spent all this time looking for a gal for Wheezy and it turns out he’s already got one!” She and Bo laughed, but Woody and Buzz didn’t think it was that funny.