WRANGLING STARS: PROLOGUE
“South Arkansas ranch in need of farm hand! Fully paid with room and all utilities covered.”
Buzz Lightyear read this advertisement in the paper over and over again, going over every little detail to find any catches or suspicious wording. He was more at war with himself over it than anything these farm owners could be snaking in. For months he’s been debating whether or not to take this leap. Departing from his research crew for a year long personal study in the southern USA. Minimal light pollution, mostly quiet; it seemed like the perfect place to conduct his “star study”, as he put it.
But, there’s no reward without risk, and he knows that better than anyone. He takes a deep breath and writes out a letter.
A few weeks later, sheriff Woody Pride is glancing over his own newspaper with a steaming cup of coffee over his mouth. A particular article catches his eye, making the sheriff turn his eyes slightly to the right. “Renowned astrophysicist Buzz Lightyear announces year-long departure for unknown reasons!” This line makes Woody click his tongue, shake his head and turn the page. “I’m so tired of these hotshot space guys..” he rolls his eyes.
Interrupting his quiet apathy, in comes Woody’s sister, Jessie; chipper as ever on this slow Sunday morning. With a bounce of her braid and a click of her boots on the wood floors of their shared farmhouse, she waves a paper in her hand before bringing it down to her level to actually read its contents again. “Woody! Someone responded to our ad about the farmhand position!” This does make him turn his head. With silence for almost a month, they started to believe their ad was a failure and they were going to be working harder than ever this season. Their last farmhand left after complaining about not being able to handle the labor, so the two were in desperate need of assistance. With Woody already working two jobs, he couldn’t handle the extra load on his own without risking himself in an early grave. As for Jessie, he’d never expect her to handle the load herself. She deserves to have her own life too.
“Really, who?” He tilts his head at his younger sister, waiting her response. She looks back down at the page. “Some fella named Buzz Lightyear. That’s a pretty interesting name, huh? He said he can stay for over a year! Isn’t that great?” She says with an upward turn of her lip.
Woody’s tired eyes widen upon hearing the name, swearing it was painfully familiar. “Let me see that.” He takes the paper from Jessie’s hand, and puts it next to his newspaper, darting his eyes between the two. He wasn’t crazy. It was the name guy. Jessie notices his puzzled, almost irritated expression. “You don’t seem very excited, Woody.” He pinches his fingers to the bridge of his nose before running his hand down his face in some failed attempt to wipe the sleep from his body.
“This is going to be a long year.”