The girl with red hair was here again. The boy sighed. “Do I have to play with her? She is so mean to me.” His father shook his head. It was unbelievable that this boy was so resistant. “Jessebelle will make a fine wife for you.”
“But I do not wish to be married to her.” The boy folded his arms in defience. The father held the boy’s shoulders.
“You shall thank me one day, James. This arrangment will save you the trouble of searching.” The boy frowned. He wasn’t too sure of the scarlet-headed girl who harassed him constantly whenever she visited.
“I will tolerate her, father. But only for yours and mother’s sake,” he said finally. His father seemed satisfied with this. So he left James to change into his dinner suit. Jessebelle had visited the family every winter in the hopes that she and James would ‘hit it off’. But James couldn’t stand her bossiness. But he felt that he shouldn’t go against his parents’ wishes.
When James entered the room, Jessebelle flung herself at him. “James dearest,” she cooed and patted his arm. “You must see my new Pokémon. It is an adorable little Oddish. Much more attractive than your Koffing. And as for that Growlithe…” Jessebelle droned on about how wonderful she was, and how everthing associated with her was wonderful too. James was not good enough for her. She corrected him throughout the meal: “Don’t slurp” and “That’s not the correct spoon!” In the end he left the table early. Even then, Jessebelle complained that he didn’t ask properly! He went outside to see Growly the Growlithe. As he patted the puppy on the head he drew a circle in the ground with his index finger.
“Growly, I will leave this place tomorrow evening. Do not tell anyone.” Growly barked in agreement. “I must leave you behind though. One day I shall return to you, and confront my parents.” Tears welled in the puppy’s eyes.
“Growl…”
James knew of nowhere to run to. Where could an eight-year-old hide? He struck upon a brilliant idea. He could go to school. A place where any common child could go. He would go to Pokémon Technical. There, he could continue with his training. He wrote his plans in his journal. Before he went to sleep, he held his Koffing’s pokeball and whispered to it. He heard Jessebelle go to her room next-door not long after him. He rested Koffing on his bedside table and drifted to sleep. The lullaby of adult chatter wafted through the ceiling. A small tear ran from the corner of his eye and made a pattern on the pillow. He did not dream that night.
He tried to stay on good terms with everyone the next day. He wanted the last day to be perfect. He fed the Magikarp and took Growly for an extra long walk. He packed as secretly as possible; making sure no one saw as he stole food from the kitchen or supplies from the shed. He thoroughly checked his collection: he had matches, a lighter, a torch, clean underwear, maps, food, drink, a sleeping bag, an army knife, comics, and a coat. He prayed it would be all he needed. He hid the bag in the bushes outside the gates and hoped it would still be there later. That evening, James said goodnight to his parents and Jessebelle’s family, one last time. He looked back as he left the room. Another tear ran down his face.
James ran down the winding path towards the gates. “James!” He stared behind him. Jessebelle! She ran after him carrying her Oddish in her arms. “I know you are running away. You are not running properly! Let me show you the right way.”
He stared at her incredulously. “How did you know?”
“I read your diary of course.”
“It is a journal!” he yelled. “Go away, leave me alone!”
“Why, pray tell?”
“I want to do things my way, Jessebelle.” He knew he could outrun her and with one final look at his following Growly, he speeded up and lost her past the gates. As he approached the town, he realised he’d left his bag behind. Growly had stayed with him. James hugged his coat around him, shivering. It was too late to go back for his stuff. He continued wandering the streets. Typical, that he’d run away in the winter. The snow pelted him from all sides and he fell to the ground. “Growly?” he looked around, but his vision was distorted from hunger and the snow. He gazed up at a stained glass display with angels. He thought they were real and simply gave in. he fell asleep in the cobble-stoned road. The Growlithe ran home to get James’ parents. When it returned, they scolded it for disappearing and locked it in the doghouse. It tried to tell them about James, but they couldn’t understand it. Growly was left to pace up and down with worry as the humans outside rushed around, looking for James. Jessebelle was a great actress; tearfully, she explained how he had run off into the night and had said horrible things to her when she tried to stop him.
James slowly opened his eyes. It was morning and he was still in the street. His eyes were still blurry, but he was sure that Jessebelle was running towards him. He tried to run, but his body felt weak. A foot landed on his back. He yelped and sprung up. But another foot swung into his head and knocked him out cold. The girl gasped. “I’m sorry for– oh, it’s only some boy.” She started to walk away.
“Stop right there!” Officer Jenny shouted. The girl turned around. Officer Jenny was standing over the boy. “You just viciously attacked this young man. You better come down to the station.”
The girl panicked. “No, I’m his friend Jesse. I was just going to find Nurse Joy.” Officer Jenny was sceptical. Jesse was worried that if Jenny found out that she was an orphan, she would be sent to a home. She had no interest in helping the boy.
Joy came out with the boy after an hour. “Your friend James is fine. I bandaged his head. Bring him back soon for a check up.” He looks dazed, Jesse thought to herself. “Are you sure he’s okay?” James and Joy nodded their heads. James wanted to get out of there before they asked for his details. He and Jesse walked out together.
“Well, kid. See you around,” Jesse waved as she walked down the road. Poor James had forgotten everything but his name and purpose. He had to get to Pokémon Technical. He looked the signpost and saw that it was the same way the girl was walking. “Oh, great. She shall think I am following her.” He had no wish to be anywhere near that horrible young girl. He walked as far behind her as possible. But she saw him out of the corner of her eye. She growled, “What do you want?”
“Nothing,” he said. “I happen to be travelling this way. I am recruiting into Pokémon Technical.”
“So am I. But I’m warning you, don’t get in my way.”
He frowned. “I do not wish for our paths to cross again, EVER!”
She giggled at him. “You talk really weird.”
“Weirdly!” He cringed at her terrible English.
“Exactly,” she laughed. They didn’t speak again until they reached the school. James went to the reception first and enrolled successfully. Then Jesse went. As James walked over to the boy’s sleeping quarters he looked back at the girl. Pretty, he thought. Pity she is such a bitch!
Some months went by. They both avoided each other as much as possible during this time. They had a few lessons together. In Pokémon Biology, they dissected a Rattata together and in Pokémon Religious Studies, they argued on opposite sides on whether Pokémon had the same rights as humans. One day, Jesse had an argument with one of her friends. As is usual in feminine fights, the group quickly chose sides and ganged up on Jesse. She ran away crying, and sat in the corner of the playground. Suddenly she heard laughter. She peeked around the school wall and saw James. Some other boys were pushing him around in a circle.
“Come on, nancy boy. Correct my speech!” The others jeered with their leader.
“Yeah, get a hair cut, girly!”
Jesse felt an urge; she was compelled to help him. She didn’t know why. “Hey!” she called to them. “Leave him alone.”
The lads laughed even more. “Need a girl to save you, eh Jimmy?” They turned to face Jesse. There were about six of them. “So you want your boyfriend back? Come get him.” She had no time to argue that he wasn’t her boyfriend. She grabbed the nearest boy and kneed him in the stomach. A quick chop to the neck finished him off. The other kids gathered around to watch the fight.
James began cheering. “Go Jesse, go Jesse! Give me a J, give me an E, double S, E! What does that spell? Jesse!” A huge sweat drop appeared on everyone’s heads. The leader bowed to Jesse in respect. “Sorry,” he mumbled. James clung to Jesse’s legs. He thanked her a thousand times. Once everyone had left, she flung him away.
“I only helped you to make myself look good.” James was distraught. He thought that maybe she had changed and was nice now. No such luck. “I know you do not mean that.” She ignored him. She felt that their paths need not cross again and so left him to himself.
As time went on, Jesse got to know James better. His vocabulary slowly took on some slang, and he began abbreviating. They spent as much time with each other as possible; during the night they would sneak to each other’s dormitory to chat or study. Of course, we all know that the studying didn’t pay off. The night before their final exam, there was a huge party in the woods. Most people had left by midnight, but Jesse and James were still guzzling down the stolen booze (alcoholic drink). They eventually passed out at 5 o’clock. They both slept through the exam and when they got their results they were devastated. “I cannot – sorry – can’t believe I got the lowest score.”
“No you didn’t, I did.” Jesse scowled. “It doesn’t matter anyway. Team rocket will take on just about anyone!” Jesse had metioned Team Rocket to James before. She longed to join them because her mother had been a member. She knew very little about it, but she had no other choice with such bad grades.
“Jesse?” he asked tentativly. “Can I come with you?” She seemed surprised at this request. But she understood why he’d asked. He wasn’t very confident in himself. He had always relied on her to do everything. He wouldn’t last on his own.
“Well,” she began. “All right then. But if the boss doesn’t want you, you’re on your own.”
Giovanni had expected Jesse to arrive sooner or later. His mother left him with strict instruction: don’t let her leave...EVER! He was not sure why Madame Boss was so interested in the girl. “Jesse Miyamoto,” he blew a column of smoke as he skimmed over her file. “Age…16. Sex…female. Qualifications…C grade at Pokémon Nurse School.” He absentmindedly bent the corner of the paper, over and over. Only the trill of the video-phone’s ring brought him back. Turning towards the screen, he stubbed out his cigar on his pine desktop. His secretary’s image flashed on the screen. “A Miss Miyamoto and a Mr Morgan to see you Sir. Shall I set the Houndoom on them?”
“No. It’s quite alright. Send them in.”
“Also, Professor Holly has captured a rare Pokémon near Hollywood.”
“How rare?”
“It’s a Meowth…”
“They’re as common as Muk!”
“It speaks…human.”
Giovanni drew back in his chair. “Our new mascot! The top cat! Bring it here at once. I’ll get the new recruits to train it for me.”
“Yes sir.” She logged off of the phone and indicated for Jesse and James to follow her into Giovanni’s office.
When they entered, all they could see were the faint outlines of some furniture. James spotted a cage in the corner. It had a cloth draped over it. “Forgive the darkness of the room,” a voice bellowed through the black. “I do not wish to frighten your new Pokémon. It is rather special. Unique.” It was Giovanni. As he spoke, the cage rattled and Jesse clung to James’ arm. He clung back. Giovanni rose from his seat and walked over to the cage. He fondled the dank material thoughtfully. Then he gazed at them and sneered, “Want to see it?” They nodded unsurely. He swept the cloth away in one swift movement. Jesse and James stared at the Meowth in the cage. It gripped the bars with determination.
“Whatcha lookin’ at? Ya neva sin a Pokémon before? I’m a talkin’ Meowth, called Meowth. So get ova it ya bums!”
“What a big me-outh!” Jesse growled. Giovanni was glad that they were getting along. “Excuse me,” began James, “But why are you giving us Meowth?”
The boss explained that each team had a mascot Pokémon, as well as their own. “Meowth is going to be my favourite Pokémon.” He held Jesse’s hand. “And you’re going to be my favourite team.” She blushed as he kissed it. James glared at Giovanni. Meowth was excited to be the top Pokémon. He’d never been accepted anywhere, except among his own kind. Jesse and James collected their uniforms and a mode of transportation of their choice (the balloon). They enjoyed a perfect sunset on their first night of pilfering. The three of them pledged then and there, that they would be friends forever. And so far…it’s stuck!
