A/N: Originally written on November 14, 2012, and recited on November 15, 2012, as a press conference speech for a public speaking class that I was taking at college. The teacher was great because she let me turn in this kind of stuff for an assignment.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or Pocket Monsters. I invented the company Pocket Monsters for my speech, but all Pokemon characters, logos, and merchandise belong to their respective owners. And, just like Ash, I'm making no money with this little paragraph.
The Death of Ash Ketchum
Good morning. My name is Wonderstorm, public relations coordinator for the internationally acclaimed company Pocket Monsters. On behalf of Pocket Monsters, I must make the following statement. One hour ago, the president of Pocket Monsters and twenty-two time regional Pokémon League Tournament champion Ash Ketchum passed away in his sleep at his home in Pallet Town at the age of eighty-eight.
The presidency of Pocket Monsters will pass to Mr. Ketchum's oldest son, Brock. Mr. Ketchum apportioned one third of his monetary earnings to his organization Calling All Trainers, which provides resources to Pokémon trainers worldwide. The remaining sum total of his assets will be passed on to his family.
To aspiring Pokémon trainers, Mr. Ketchum had this to say: "Being a great Pokémon trainer does not mean having strong Pokémon. If you are able to treat your Pokémon as friends, then you will become a great trainer."
A/N: The requirement for this speech was that it had to be roughly one minute in length when recited from the paper, and it had to include a newsworthy item. Of course I used my real name in place of Wonderstorm when I made the speech. I had ideas that never made it to the speech. One idea was that Ash was the founder and former leader of the Pallet Town Gym. Another idea was that Ash was survived by his wife Misty; sons (oldest to youngest) Brock, Richie, Samuel, Drake, and Lance; daughters (oldest to youngest) Misty Jr., Prima, Daisy, and Lillian; and grandchildren Gary and Ash.