This story takes place when Woody and the toys finally return to Andy’s house, and have a final meeting with Buster - but for Woody, it’s just as emotional to him as it was to later say goodbye to Andy. The story ends just as Woody and the toys get ready to wash themselves of their Sunnyside “battle damage” with the water hose.
“Okay, now!” Woody ordered the others, as Andy and his mother went inside. The group pelted across the street to Andy’s backyard – the toys began feeling pangs of nostalgia, joy, and grief upon their return. Nostalgia, because of their years of playtime adventures with Andy and their passed friends; joy, because they were out of harm’s way at last, and back home; and grief, because it dawned on them that this might very well be the last time they ever venture outside Andy’s attic again.
Buster had been lazily shuffling around the backyard, when he saw Woody and the other toys approaching. Too lazy to bark, he happily began licking Woody’s face and nudging the other toys, his strong albeit aged memory serving him well. Again, more pangs of nostalgia, joy and grief shot through them all – they remembered all the times they had with Buster, and they were again, happy to see Buster, their old friend. But the pain came twice as hard for the toys, as they embraced the aged dog: unlike the outside world, where there was a chance they would venture into it once more… this would be the very last time they’d ever see Buster. His old age and physical condition would one day soon catch up to him at last, and he would pass away.
Even Potato Head was softened by this realization, and hugged Buster’s snout warmly, and said, “Take care, you yellow-bellied fur rug!” his voice breaking slightly, as then Mrs. Potato Head comforted him.
The toys all patted and hugged Buster, putting as much love as they could into this final moment with the dog. After a moment of silence as they watched the still ecstatic dog pant happily, they slowly turned away, and ran to the water hose to clean themselves.
Woody, however, did not follow them, instead staying behind to give Buster a more meaningful farewell. Pangs of sorrow shot through him as he sat next to the dog – no longer a puppy, he remembered – who had grown up just as Andy had.
“Oh wow! A puppy!” Andy cried happily on Christmas morning at least 12 years ago, while Woody and Buzz listened through Sarge’s radio. They exchanged an uneasy glance and a chuckle at this newest development.”
A few months of Buster later, Woody and the toys tried to get rid of Buster – they made it look like Buster had wrecked Andy’s room, and thrown themselves all around the floor to make it look messy, and Buster’s fault. Woody remembered with lament the sad, sad look Andy had on his face the first night without Buster sleeping in his room. They eventually let Buster into Andy’s room again – and this time into the toy family.
Even still, Buster’s wild behavior began to push the toys the wrong way – it was only when Woody was saved by Buster from a van crushing him did the dog finally be accepted into the family at last, and forever more.
This was the dog that had once been a puppy, who Woody would ride triumphantly through Andy’s house to rescue Wheezy from a yard sale…now a grown and aged dog, panting, and wheezing, too lazy to even run anymore.
This was the dog that wrecked Andy’s colossal tinker-toy bridge/train track – who would run around, and playfully chase RC whenever Andy used his second, backup remote on the toy car. This was the dog who Woody would challenge to find him in Andy’s room in record time – the dog who Woody taught tricks to, and had so many more to teach him… that was before Woody was sent to Andy’s toy chest for years and years, only seeing Buster sporadically for that long imprisonment.
This is the dog that Woody would remember as the last time he ever saw him – old, weary, overweight, and grayed. It pained him to see his old friend who was once so happy and full of life, now ready to leave this world. It was like having to watch his friends panic in the incinerator all over again – heartbreaking, and devastating.
Woody knew time was limited, so he started. “Buster… well… I’m going away now… I just wanted to say… goodbye, old pal. You’ve been… a great dog, and a great friend, old-timer. So long, Buster.”
Woody looked at Buster rather then his lap, and saw the dog had fallen asleep, with a smile on his face. Woody smiled, while his heart ached horrifically. He patted him one last time, and got up and began to walk away.
Returning to his friends, he heard a quick shuffling, and whipped around, afraid it was Andy or his mom or Molly. Nothing…He turned back to walking away, but this time, he really did hear something – and see something. In only a moment, he felt himself having the wind knocked out of him, yet again by Buster. The old dog licked Woody’s face as if he understood every word the toy had said, and was putting as much effort into this farewell as Woody had.
Woody was briefly taken aback, but quickly returned the embrace sadly, knowing this was the final time he’d ever see Buster.
After a few moments, Woody heard a voice cry, “Buster! Here boy, over here!” Molly was calling the dog inside. Buster licked Woody one final time, and trotted off to Molly, going through the dog door. But just before he went in, he turned around one last time, and barked happily at Woody – Woody sadly waved – and went in the house.
Woody only stood there for a second, and said, “So long, old timer.” And, feeling relieved by the reassurance Buster would one day die in the house he was Woody’s best friend, Woody smiled and jogged back to join the other toys at the water spout for the hose.