From: Gopher Boy <jk286@aol.cometPunch> Subject: [PW!] Chris Leaves Home Date: Friday, July 30, 1999 2:12 AM "I don't see what you find fascinating about those Pokeymon, Gold Dust," Matt said, sitting on Chris's bed. "It's pronounced Pokamon, not Pokeymon," Chris responded, packing his extra black contacts, "there, done packing." "Still though, they're just stupid little animals that should be kept in zoos, for people to see, not for people to fight with," Matt responded. Chris shot Matt a look, his black contacts glistening in the room's light, while looking for Persephone's Pokéball. "Where could it be?" Chris muttered to himself. Suddenly, a red and white ball rolls across the room, followed by a Meowth named Persephone, who isn't concerned about anything but the Pokéball. The ball rolls to a stop at Chris's feet. He picks it up just in time for the Meowth to come crashing into his legs. The impact caused Chris to fall backwards, and the Pokéball came flying out of his hands. Matt caught the Pokéball and tossed it in Chris's general direction, the Meowth chasing after it. Chris caught the ball in time to regain his composure. "Meowth get in the ball now," Chris yelled from his back. A red flash came out and the Meowth disappeared into the Pokéball, ending her little playing session. Chris placed the Pokéball on his belt, next to Tubby his Chansey, Oscar his Growlithe, and Slims the Dratini. Chris put on his backpack on, and waved his arm in the "let's go" fashion towards Matt. They both went down the steps to the Living Room. There his mother and father stood both teary eyed. Matt and Chris slowed their walking pace, to almost a standstill. Everybody was silent, and then Chris's mother broke the silence. "Oh, I can't believe little Chris is going to leave home," Chris's mother said, a tear rolling down her cheek, "he's grown up so quickly, it seems like just yesterday we got him his Meowth." Chris's mother gave him a big hug. "Mom, not with Matt here," Chris whispered. "I don't care if your friends are here," she said. "Matt, why don't you take Mrs. Mikard and get her some tissues?" Chris's father asked. "Sure I guess," Matt responded, taking Mrs. Mikard into the kitchen. Chris's father pulled him aside, and handed him a small item wrapped in a handkerchief. Chris opened it to reveal a small gun and five bullets. "What's this for?" Chris whispered to his father. "You are going on a long trip by yourself, you need protection," his father responded. Chris looked at his mother in the next room, then turned back to his father, "Fine I'll take it. But only because I don't want to return to you guys in a casket," Chris whispered as he put it in his backpack. "Good, I'm glad you made the right decision. Remember, its better to have it and not need it than..." Chris finished his sentence, "Need it and not have it. I know, I know." Chris's father smiled, "I'm so proud of you already." Chris's father yelled to Chris's mother and Matt, "I think its time to go to the docks! After all Chris has a Lapras to catch for Pallet Town." The four stepped out onto the porch. They breathed in the sea air, and a familiar aroma filled their nostrils. "I'm gonna miss this island." Chris said to himself. Silent, the four walked to the docks, a short five-minute walk from the Mikard residence. They reached the docks, and Chris gave one last hug to his mom, his dad, and even Matt. Tears formed in Chris's eyes. "I'm gonna miss you three, but I'll be back, and the next time you see me I will have six badges," Chris sniffled out. "I look forward to that day," his father said. "I've got a Lapras for a Chris Mikard ready!" a dockworker yelled. "Well, that's me," Chris said to the three most important people in his life, "bye." Silently, Chris boarded his Lapras as his mother, father and only friend watched. The dockworkers untied the ropes, and Chris's Lapras started toward Pallet. He felt a tear coming, but he forced it down, telling himself that this is not goodbye. "I will see them again someday, I will," Chris told himself. Chris's eyes were fixed on the three people most important to him, as they became smaller and smaller until he did not see them any longer. TBC ----- Gopher Boy ----- Padawan Learner ----- AIM: Jk286 ----- "You're just about as useless as Jpegs to Helen Keller" -"Weird Al" Yankovic ----- "I Am Gopher Boy, Pondering Reality. I am Gopher Boy, Who Will Buy My Raspberries?"