Today, the Heckler must take a step back to honor one of the greats. We are, of course, referring to the tragic passing of Wheezy the Penguin this weekend. We all know about Wheezy’s unfortunate medical condition— discussed at length in the documentary Toy Story 2—  but some claim this was still a preventable loss.

Mr. Lightyear, preaching common-sense safety measures, and Woody, with his rootin’, tootin’, anti-mask stubbornness, held many a public debate atop Andy’s toy chest, but as a result of Woody’s indescribable ability to sway public opinion, Buzz’s policies never saw the light of day. Mr. Lightyear’s helmet always stayed on, but Woody refused to even don a bandana, arguing that “small risks must be taken for the sake of playtime.” For this reason, many toys claim he is to blame for this needless death.

Recent CDC guidelines warn that toys, especially those who are immunocompromised, are just as vulnerable as humans— arguably more so due to their inability to distance themselves from the germ factory that is the average American child. “The leaders of bedrooms around the world are making these tough decisions,” says Lightyear. “We can only hope Andy’s room will someday catch up to the standard.”

According to a Letterboxd account that may or may not be mine, a thematic motif in Toy Story is Woody’s hesitance to take responsibility for his actions. This begs a few questions: Will Woody finally see the need for safety precautions in Andy’s room? Will the toys ever listen to the educated Mr. Lightyear? Is this entire pandemic just part of the narrative arc of a Pixar movie? The only way to find out is to stay with the Heckler for updates.