What buried object does Jessie find near Emily's old play tree?

Jessie finds a lunchbox buried near Emily’s old play tree.

The discovery occurs after Jessie and Bullseye return to the farmhouse where Jessie’s former owner, Emily, once lived. Beneath the tree where Emily and Jessie used to play, Jessie notices a carving and uncovers an old metal lunchbox.

Inside are keepsakes, including a photograph showing an adult Emily with her young daughter. A note reveals that Emily named her daughter Jessie after the cowgirl toy, giving Jessie proof that she remained an important part of Emily’s memory even after being donated.

This scene expands the emotional history introduced in Toy Story 2, especially the song “When She Loved Me,” which established Jessie’s painful memories of Emily abandoning her. The buried lunchbox is not a photo album, journal, or toy chest; it functions more like a personal time capsule linking Emily’s childhood to her adult life.