Sleepy

by Doctor B.

The sun had just risen over the docks. The sky was a little dark and the air was cool. Not too many people were awake yet, except for the smart fishermen and sailors who knew when the fish would be biting. Fishing is considered a sport and a delicacy down on the docks, so there are special things at the PokéMarts there that you can't get anywhere else. At the docks PokéMarts, you could rent a boat, bait, fishing rods, and all the stuff you find at the usual PokéMarts also because a lot of Pokémon trainers come by to buy supplies.

Some fishermen have houses at the docks because they love to fish so much. Bryan's dad loves to go fishing, so Bryan and his family moved from his former home in Celadon City, and lived at the docks.

Around 9:30, Bryan woke up. He was in a happy mood today. Bryan had a terrible habit of spending all his money, so his dad said he would take him on a fishing trip if Bryan saved up enough money to buy his own fishing rod. Bryan finally had saved up enough money to buy a fishing rod in his wallet. So he got up out of bed, got dressed, and went into the kitchen.

His mother was sitting down at the kitchen table, drinking a morning cup of coffee. "Good morning, Bryan," she said cheerfully. "Good morning, mom," he said casually as he fixed his breakfast of cereal and burnt toast. Bryan wasn't much of a cook, but he ate it anyway. "Mom, can I go to the store and go visit the PokéCenter?" His mom took a sip of coffee and nodded yes. Bryan said thank-you and left with a goodbye.

Bryan ran along the docks, toward the PokéMart, making sharp turns at the dock's corners. He was very anxious to buy his fishing rod. He slowed to a normal pace and stepped in the PokéMart. He went up to the counter and was greeted by the clerk. "How may I help you?" Bryan said hello and looked at the fishing rods. They were shiny and new-looking, all different sizes and reels. He could only afford one rod though, and it didn't look like the others. It was the right size for him, but the rod looked like it was used before. Bryan didn't care. Besides, he could always have his dad repair it if it broke.

"I'll take that one fishing rod over there," Bryan said, pointing to the old rod. The sales clerk nodded, then turned around and took it off the rack. The clerk punched on the cash register. Then he smiled and said, "That'll be 100 dollars please." Bryan paid the money and the clerk gave him the fishing rod. "Anything else?" asked the clerk. Bryan had a little more cash left over so he bought three Pokéballs.

After he left, he headed for the PokéCenter. For a old rod like this, it costed a shit load of cash, he thought. His thoughts kept him from looking where he was going. He stumbled back as he bumped into something. He looked around and saw what he bumped into. "Hey, that's a Snorlax! This one isn't as big as a regular Snorlax though, it must be a baby." Being only a baby, the Snorlax started to cry. Bryan felt sorry for it. He accidentally hurt it. "Aww... great," he said, as the baby cried louder.

He eventually calmed it down by letting it play with a Pokéball. Bryan made sure to keep the ball from capturing it, after all, it would be better off and more happy with its mom than with him. Though, Bryan couldn't get over how cute it was. It had a pair of little paws and feet. And like all Snorlax, it had a round little belly. Bryan saw it's eyes too, they had a blue color. Bryan eventually realized what he'd done. The Snorlax was just a baby, but it was very, very heavy. He must weigh 200 pounds, if not heavier! Bryan thought as he held it, putting immense strain on his arms. Though it hurt him, he searched for it's mother.

It was lunchtime now, and to make things worse, Bryan was hungry. The Snorlax began crying again. Now the baby Snorlax was hungry. "Just great," Bryan moaned, "now he's hungry."

He sung a lullaby to the Snorlax to get it asleep until he could get food and get the baby to it's mother. He sung softly, and after several tries, the baby quieted, fluttered it's eyes shut, and began to take a nap. "Thank God," Bryan said in a thankful tone. The weight of the Snorlax was bearing down on him, and despite Bryan's strength, he could no longer stand to hold the baby. He sat at the edge of the dock, took his coat off, and laid it on his side. Then he comfortably set the Snorlax baby down.

"I'll be stuck here a while," Bryan mumbled, "might as well see if I can catch something." So he took out his rod, and casted it with no bait on the hook. The line plopped in the water about three yards from the dock. He kept on eye on the Snorlax rather than his rod. "Snorlax sleep for 20 hours a day. I can just sit here; my family would go nuts if I were gone to long. I hope someone can help me carry it to the PokéCenter."

The line gave a tug. He set his line and got ready to reel it in, and started cranking the reel like a madman. The fish put up a very good fight. Bryan used all his strength, and thought he was going to break the rod. The line gave a huge pull and Bryan slipped his foot, letting go of the rod and landing in the water. "Damn! How in hell am I going to explain this?!" Bryan cursed.

"Tell the truth," said a voice. Bryan climbed up to the dock, soaked. He looked up and saw a sailor dressed in white. "Saw the whole thing. Looks like you could use some help, lad," said the sailor. Bryan nodded, his face red with embarassment. "Who's this little fellar?" asked the sailor. Bryan took a deep breath and answered, "My name is Bryan. I found that baby Snorlax abandoned at the pier. I need to get him to the PokéCenter. Could you help?" The sailor nodded and the both carried the baby Snorlax to the PokéCenter using the coat Bryan layed it on like a stretcher.

At the PokéCenter:

A nurse raced to the door as soon as she saw the drenched kid and the sailor both carrying a small Snorlax. "Oh my God! I'll examine the Snorlax in a moment. Are you two OK?" "I'm fine but the lad next to me here, fell in the water and could use some dry clothes," answered the sailor. The nurse smiled. She gave the boy a change of clothes and gave him directions to the bathroom. Bryan thanked her over and over and went to change. The sailor sat on a bench and waited.

She took the Snorlax baby. She fed it and gave him a check up. When Bryan returned dressed in jeans and a red T-shirt with tenneshoes that fit him perfectly. The nurse saw him and motioned him to approach the counter. He walked up. "There are no serious injuries, and he is all better. Here is your Snorlax."

Bryan explained how he found the Snorlax abandoned with no sight of his mother. The nurse replied afterward, "Legally, even as a baby, you can have the Snorlax. You are old enough. And it was nice of you to look for it's mother, but you won't find her. I saw another kid who found the mother of the baby Snorlax, who had a story just like yours. But he caught the Snorlax. Either you can register yourself as a trainer in the Pokémon League, or put it in an orphanage. I can register you here. You just need to decide."

Bryan didn't reply. He was silent for a moment, then after a few minutes, he took the Pokéball the Snorlax was playing with gently pressed the white button on it twice. The Snorlax knew what he was doing. The baby Snorlax got on his hands and knees and slowly crawled over to the ball. With a deep trust with Bryan he let the ball capture it.

After he thanked the sailor and nurse, he left. As he began walking home, he let the Snorlax out of the Pokéball. The baby Snorlax crawled out of the ball, sat, and, turned his head at his master for orders. Bryan said to his cute Snorlax baby, "I think I'll name you Sleepy." The Snorlaz hugged his leg in appreciation. Then Sleepy followed Bryan home, crawling.