The Pokemon Clerk
Chapter 1
"Have you heard? Two kids have just defeated the elite four!"
Lex could hear a conversation from across the room. He didn't pay much attention to it; instead he continued reading Guide to Water Pokémon.
"It was these two kids from Pallet Town. They must be very strong to have defeated the elite four, maybe the strongest in the whole region!"
Lex turned the page; he was trying to not pay attention to the conversation that was going on from the other side of the Poke Mart. He stood there behind the counter still reading up on water Pokémon.
"Excuse me, do you have any Ultra Balls?" asked the kid who not long ago was talking about the new champions of the Kanto region. His friend was standing beside him with his hands in his pockets.
"Uhh no, we don't have those" Lex answered still not looking up from his book.
"How about Great Balls then?" the kid asked.
"We don't have those either, we only have normal poke balls. You might want to try Pewter City's Poke Mart for Great Balls" Lex said still not looking up from his book. He then remembered what his father had always said "We don't have the best store in Kanto, so we have to be the one with the best customer service."
Lex looked up at the two kids. The one asking the questions was at least 10 years old wearing his baseball cap backwards with a red backpack that was almost as big as him. The other had shaggy light brown hair that also seemed to be the same age as his friend and like his friend, he also had a backpack. The boy with the baseball cap seemed annoyed at Lex's rudeness.
"I'm sorry we don't have Great Balls or Ultra Balls, but we have half price poke balls just for this month." Lex was now making eye contact with the baseball cap boy.
The boy's face lit up "Oh really? Then I guess we'll take ten"
Lex gave the ten Poke Balls to the boy; in return he got 1,000 Pokémon Dollars. "By the way… how old are you kids?"
The baseball cap boy gave five Poke Balls to his friend who hadn't said a word. "We both just turned 10, were starting our Pokémon journey and we want to be prepared"
"Hmm, well good luck" said Lex.
"Thank you mister!" said the baseball cap boy as he and his friend walked out the door.
Lex shook his head "I'm fifteen, how am I already referred to as mister." Lex was very envious of the two kids. They barely turned ten and were lucky enough to start their Pokémon journey. Lex had always dreamed on going on his own Pokémon journey, where he would catch the best water Pokémon and become the best trainer in the Kanto region.
Yes, that was Lex's dream, to become the best Pokemon trainer. That's all it was though, a dream. He had to live in reality where he had to help his father with the Poke Mart. The store was open for 24 hours which meant he had to take the day shift and his father would take the night shift. Lex did not resent his father for keeping him in Viridian City; he knew it was his responsibility to help his father. If he left he would leave his father alone in Viridian City to take care of the store, something Lex could not live with.
An hour later his father showed up with Poliwhirl. Lex looked up happy to see his father and his Pokemon. Lex had befriended Poliwhirl a year ago when he was just a Poliwag. Lex did not use a Poke ball to catch Poliwag; Lex would go to the small lake on the south side of the city to feed him, eventually through the course of time they became friends.
"Any customer's today son?" asked Lex's father.
"Yeah two boys came in and bought ten Poke Balls, they were beginning their Pokemon journey." said Lex looking back at his book. "The half price promotion actually works, we should keep it."
Lex's dad had a worried look on his face. Lex's father worried too much which might be the reason for his head full of white hairs. Lex's father knew about Lex's dream. He put on his blue apron, walked behind the counter and took off Lex's black beanie exposing his dark black hair. "I told you to not wear the beanie when you're working, it's not professional."
"Yeah I know, I just figured people would be less intimidated be a beanie than by a Mohawk" said Lex, his lazy Mohawk flapping around his head. "Yeah and I told you to get a different hairstyle too, you look like those bird keepers."
"Someday dad, someday" sighted Lex as he closed his book. Lex took off his apron and handed it to Poliwhirl who had been standing by the door, waiting for Lex. He was about to leave the store when his father spoke up.
"Listen… Lex… I know it's hard for you to see so many trainers around the store… and…" Lex cut him off, "don't worry dad, I'm used to it."
"No, I don't want you to be used to it. I don't want you to be a clerk the rest of your life. I know you want to be a Pokemon trainer and seeing all those kids going out into the world while you stay inside these four walls…it's not fair to you." Lex's father said rubbing the back of his neck. "I've heard from the neighbors that you go to Viridian forest almost every night with Poliwhirl, your heart aches for adventure."
Lex was looking at the floor while his father made his speech. Lex had been going every night to the forest with Poliwhirl to train. It had been the sole reason why he had evolved in the first place. "Dad… I can't leave you here alone…"
"Well I can't keep you here any longer either, son. I think you're old enough to go out into the world and give your dream a shot." Lex's father paused for a while. "Remember when you turned ten…? You were so excited to begin your Pokemon journey; I had never seen you so happy." His eyes began to tear up "I stopped you from going because I was afraid you were going to get hurt, so I made you stay and help with the store. I know now that you're old enough to take care of yourself…and you have Poliwhirl to protect you… I just can't keep you here any longer…"
Lex rushed to his father to hug him. Lex felt like he was ten again, he was as happy as he had ever been. His father grabbed him by the shoulders, and looked at Lex's dark brown eyes "Go get some rest, tomorrow you should go to Pallet Town, I hear that's where Professor Oak resides… and then you will be off living your dream."
Lex wiped his eyes "what about the store though…and you…"
"Don't worry about it; I'm sure I can hire someone else to work the store during the day, and the old man the lives just a block from here told me he could teach me how to catch a Pokemon, so I don't have to be alone." His dad said with a smile on his face, but still had a rather worried look. "Just be sure to visit your old man from time to time."
"Well… I'll go get some rest dad… see you tomorrow." Lex began walking out the door "come on Poliwhirl, let's go, tomorrow's a big day!"