3/21 11:42pm
I know I should be asleep but I just can’t do it! I’m just too excited about tomorrow! I’ll try again to get to sleep. I’ll just turn all the lights off and close my eyes. If it doesn’t work I’ll write in you again. Good night. I hope.
3/22 6:03pm
I did get to sleep. I’m a little tired but I’ll write everything down. I remember all of it. Every single word.
I got up at 8:30 and then took a shower and ate breakfast. After I was done I went to my room and got dressed in black denim shorts, a light blue tank top, and white tennis shoes. I also put on the gold anklet my parents gave me for my Birthday. It’s beautiful! It’s a gold chain with the silhouette of a Vulpix head with my name engraved on it in script.
After I finished dressing I found a gold box with a blue bow on it. I read the label. It said: To my little PokeTrainer, From: Mom and Dad. I opened it and found a purple and white bottle that read: Potion. I put it in my backpack then ran downstairs.
I was coming down the stairs when I saw my family standing at the foot of them, looking at me with watery eyes. I continued down the stairs, but slower.
Once I got to the bottom step my mom- no longer able to resist her emotions- opened her arms for a hug and said, ”Oh honey.”
I hugged her back and when I pulled away my dad grinned at me.
“Hey Squirt," he said. “You’ll be all right. I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too, dad,” I responded.
“Bye Hope,” Faith said. “Good luck. People are really nice out there, but watch out for Bikers and Team Rocket members.”
“I will.”
“Meow Meowth!”
“Oh Whiskers. I’ll miss you too,” I said as I picked up our family pet and looked into his eyes. “Don’t worry my little Meowth. Faith's here now. She’ll take care of you.”
“Meowth!”
“Good Boy,” I said as I put Whiskers down. I looked at my family and sighed. “Bye everyone. I’ll miss you all.” Then I turned around and went out the door.
I didn’t want to look back. I knew if I did, I wouldn’t want to leave. I closed the door behind me. I knew that my family would follow me out the door, but this would stall them. All I needed was for my family to watch me go to Prof. Oak’s lab, tempting me to look back. I walked to Prof. Oak’s lab quickly, thinking I will NOT go back. I’m strong. I can do this. If Faith can do it, I can too. There’s nothing to worry about. Nothing. Faith even told me. Just watch out for Bikers and Team Rocket. I’m strong. I CAN do this.
I got to the lab’s door, and after taking a deep breath I opened it. Sitting on the left side of the room was a lady with 2 men in white lab coats sitting on either side of her.
The lady had dark brown hair that went about an inch under her ears. She had on a purple dress that had a white lace collar, white high-heals, big pearl earrings with a matching bracelet, and thin-framed glasses.
Both men had on brown dress-pants, dress-shoes, the left one had on a green turtle neck, the right one had on a blue dress-shirt, and of course they had their lab coats on. The left one had dirty blonde hair and looked tall, even though he was sitting down. The right one had brown hair and thick glasses. He looked shorter than the lady. Both the men were scribbling something on clipboards.
The tall dirty blonde man saw me and stood up. I was right he was very tall. I mean TALL. “Hello. Can I help you?” he asked me.
I strained my neck to look up at his face. “Is Professor Oak here?” I asked him.
He shook his head. “I’m sorry. Professor Oak isn’t here right now.”
“Okay. Thanks anyway.”
He nodded then went back to his seat.
I thought maybe the lady could tell me where he was so I walked to her and said, ”Do you know where Prof. Oak is?”
She looked up at me. Her glasses caused a glare with the lights and it shined in my eyes. I blinked and rubbed them.
She said,” Prof. Oak is the authority on Pokemon. Many Pokemon Trainers hold him in high regard. Therefore he is on an errand.”
“Thanks,” I said.
“Your welcome.”
I left the lab and sat on a bench that was right outside, on the sidewalk. I waited for about 15 mins. then got tired of waiting. I decided I could do without a starting Pokemon. I could catch my own. I stood up and started walking away from the lab.
“Hey you! Wait!” I heard a voice say to me.
I stopped and turned around to face the person who was talking to me It was Prof. Oak! He was half walking, half running towards me. He asked, ”Why were you waiting at this bench? Were you waiting for me?”
I couldn’t lie to him so I tried to say ‘yes’ but I couldn’t open my mouth. I was never that close to Prof. Oak before. I always hear people talk about him. Even the people on TV. I couldn’t believe I was so close to someone who was known so well.
“Hey. You’re one of those kids who are supposed to start their Pokemon Journey today, huh? Come with me.” He started walking towards his lab.
I took a deep breath and followed him. He lead me in to the room I was in earlier. The shorter man saw him and stood up. He was only a few inches taller than me.
Short man said, ”Prof. Oak! I got the Nidorino status. Here.” He handed the clipboard to Prof. Oak.
Prof. Oak scanned over the paper then said, ”Good job, Robert. Keep up the good work .” Then he gave the clipboard back.
Robert nodded then sat back down.
“Now then,” Prof. Oak said turning to me. “Follow me.” He started walking again I followed him. He took me to a door I didn’t notice before. He opened it and said, ”Ladies first.”
Finally I was able to speak to him. “Thank you,” I said. I stepped in the room and saw a boy sitting in the corner of the room.
I saw the boy before. His name is David. He’s taller then me, he’s probably taller than Robert. He has dark green hair that is pulled back in a low pony tail. He has hazel eyes like me and a scar across his right eyebrow not like me. He was wearing a blue T-shirt that had a Beedrill on it and jeans. He had on hiking boots and also had his ‘good luck’ key chain on his backpack. His arms were crossed and he was tapping his foot which meant he was annoyed.
“Finally!” he yelled. “I’m tired of waiting!”
I couldn’t believe how inconsiderate he was being!
“I’m sorry David. I had a very important errand to run. But now I’m here. You can both pick a starting Pokemon. Hope, go ahead and pick one.” He went to a circular table that had a dome-like glass covering the top of it. He pressed a big red button that was on the side facing us. The dome-like thing slid in to a slit that was on one side of the table, exposing 3 Pokeballs. “Every month on the 21 we get a shipment of the 3 starting Pokemon from the Pokemon League.”
“Why does Hope get to go first?” David asked Prof. Oak. Walking towards the table which the Pokeballs were on.
I couldn’t believe he was acting this way! He was a complete jerk. Two can play at this game I thought. I grabbed his arm. He looked at me like I shouldn’t be touching him because he was too wonderful or something.
“Ladies first,” I said in a sassy tone.
David glared at me.
“I believe she’s right,” Prof. Oak said.
He grunted then said, ”Fine. Go ahead lady.”
I walked in front of him and looked at the Pokeballs on the table. I remembered the Pokemon book my parents gave me. I had a choice of Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur. I always had a fondness for fire so I picked up the Pokeball Charmander was in and said, ”I choose this one.”
Prof. Oak said, ”Good choice. But remember: That Pokemon is energetic. Do you want to give Charmander a nickname?”
“Yeah,” I responded. ” I’ll name it Charcoal.”
“What a corny name!” David said. Then he went to the table and grabbed the Squirtle Pokeball. He said, ”I want this one! And I’m not gonna name it.”
“A Pokemon’s a living thing right?” I said. “Well so is a baby and you don’t keep a baby’s name just ‘Baby’ do you?”
David glared at me then with a smile said, ”Well a plant’s a living thing. And you don’t name a plant do you?”
“Just shut-up, David.”
“Good come back.”
“Enough! Both of you!” Prof. Oak yelled. “If you’re going to fight use your Pokemon."
“Good idea,” David said. “Then you can see how awful you really are.”
“You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?” I said.
“You bet I can!”
“Then why don’t you walk for us?”
“As soon as you throw your Pokeball!”
“Fine!” I still had the Pokeball in my hands. I threw it and yelled, “Charcoal go!”
David threw his Pokeball and said,” Squirtle go!”
When my Pokeball landed on the floor Charcoal popped out of his Pokeball and said, "Char!”
Squirtle popped out of David’s Pokeball and said, ”Squirtle!”
I studied about Charmander before, so I knew it’s attacks: Scratch and Growl. Scratch is more effective so I said, “Charcoal, Scratch attack now!”
Charcoal drew back his right arm then he brought it forward. Four scratch mars appeared on Squirtle’s face.
David narrowed his eyes and said, ”Squirtle, Tackle attack!”
Squirtle lunged and landed on Charcoal.
Charcoal was being crushed by Squirtle’s shell. There was pain all over Charcoal’s face. I couldn’t stand it. I said, “Charcoal, Growl!”
Charcoal opened it’s mouth and a high pitched tone filled the room. Everyone couldn’t stand the noise. We all covered our ears, even Squirtle.
Dazed, Squirtle stepped back and off Charcoal. Then Squirtle fell on it’s back.
David saw this and said, “Squirtle return!” A beam of light shot out of the Pokeball button and surrounded Squirtle. Then the beam and Squirtle got sucked into the Pokeball.
Charcoal still Growled.
“Charcoal, stop!” I yelled.
It stopped Growling and I called it back. The same thing happened with Charcoal that happened with Squirtle. I pushed the button and the Pokeball shrunk. Then I put it in my backpack.
“I don’t understand. How can that happen?” David said.
“Do I get something for winning?” I asked David.
“Here.” David said. He placed money in my hand.
I counted it. He gave me $1.75. “Thanks,” I said.
“Yeah, yeah.”
Prof. Oak said, ”Good job, Hope. But before I forget, here. Take this.” Prof. Oak handed each of us a red electronic thing.
“What is it?” David asked.
“It’s a Pokedex. You record all the Pokemon you see and catch in there.”
“Thanks,” me and David said at the same time.
I left the lab and started out of town. After a few hours of walking, I noticed it was getting dark. I set up my sleeping bag and took out my lantern. then I wrote in you. That’s all I have to write today. I’ll see you tomorrow.
