I can still recall that day with every detail, the day my father left...
"No! You can't just leave like this!" I was standing outside my house in the rain...
"Traft, I'm doing this for a reason," I still don't understand...
"So you're, you're... just going to leave."
"You're a big boy now, you're almost ten, take care of your mother for me." I started to cry then...
"Why..." I tried to cover my tears but the sobbing was too noticeable...
"Goodbye... Traft."
"No..." I fell to the ground as he left crying my eyes out, I stayed out there for hours in the rain...
It has been five years since that day...
My names Traft Hale. I go to school, I never really had the chance to do the whole 'Pokemon journey' thing, I don't really see too many Pokemon trainers, living in Lavender town would do that. The only thing we have is that tower, thats the only time I see trainers...
You see the tower is a seven floor graveyard, I've never been in it even though I have lived here all my life, and I don't plan on it. The trainers that show up are laying there once partners to rest, I don't approach them because of the situation, they need time to be alone I understand that.
Well in all honesty not everyone can be trainers, a majority of us have to go to school and get jobs to contribute to society. It's... it's not if I care anyways all those other fools can waste their time, I have better things to do.
I live with my mother, I take care of things around the house, try to make myself useful. Though lately...
A loud noise could be heard from the backyard causing Traft to run up to glass door to look.
"Not you again!" It was a wild Sandshrew grabbing some of the vegetables from the garden.
"Put those down! Those are my mothers!" Traft opened the the door but just like that Sandshrew disappeared. Traft growled.
"You better run!"
I've been having this problem with it for about a week now, it's strange how it never eats anything. It just carries the food off somewhere else.
"Well, he's gone now."
"Hey traft! You there! Traft!" Thats Dermin...
"Yeah yeah, I'm coming. Just wait a sec." Well you see Dermin can be a bit...
"Hey Traft! Hows it going!" A shout came from inside the house.
Annoying... though hes the only person here my age so it seems I' m obligated to hang with him.
"How did you get in..."
"What do you mean?"
"The door was locked..."
"Don't worry about silly things like that, look." Dermin pulled out a Pokeball from his pocket and pressed the button on the center enlarging it.
"It's just a Pokeball Dermin."
"Pfft don't give me that attitude just because you don't have any Pokemon."
Right.. I forget, even though Dermins parents didn't let him go on a journey he insists on still catching Pokemon.
He threw the Pokeball in the air and Butterfree came out.
"Check it, I caught a Butterfree, anyways I'm gonna go train with it, I'll talk you later Traft, see ya!"
And just like that he's gone, I'm sure he'll come back with some partially made up story.
"You should at least humor him haha" A feminine voice came from another room.
"Come on mom, how long do you expect me to stay sane doing that?"
She laughed, her laugh seems so genuine, but I know she still hurts because of dad... That asshole.
Another noise was heard from the backyard, this time Traft just bolted right to the backyard to confront his vegetable thief.
"You wont get away this time!" The Sandrew ran.
"Damn he's fast, what! He has a hole under the fence, then I just gotta jump it!" Traft took a deep breath and leaped the fence and was right on the trail.
"Eating all that food must be making you slow!" Traft laughed as he chased him. The chase lasted awhile
"Where is he running to, what..."
When the chase stopped Traft came across the Sandshrew giving the food to a sickly looking Sandslash under a tree.
"The Sandshrew, the Sandshrew took the food for this one. Is it... it's mother, she doesn't look to good." Traft sighed.
"I guess it can't be helped" The Sandshrew noticed Traft as he began to walk back home.
"I'm home!" Traft yelled as he walked back into his house. His mother came in from the living room.
"What happend? Out of nowhere you just bolted off through the backyard?"
"Oh that.. Yeah nothing to worry about." Traft mother just sighed.
"Right... Dinner will be in an hour."
"Alright, I'll be in my room." Traft went to his room and plopped on his bed and looked up to the ceiling and sighed.
"I can't stop thinking about that Sandshrew, he was very loyal to stick with his mother in her time of need. Perhaps I can leave food out for it." He rolled onto his side to look out the window.
"Well I can't be worrying about it forever"
The next day Traft placed a plate of food in his backyard.
"This should be good, at least he wont be messing up the garden now."
The day passed but it never came.
"Strange, now that I'm ok with it taking food it doesn't come by, well I do know where it could be." Traft sighed, he went to where the chase with Sandshrew lead him yesterday.
"Why do I care so much. Now if I remember correctly the tree should be over... No..."
The Sandshrew was curled up with its mother... she wasn't moving.
Trafts eyes started to water as he realized the situation.
Why! Why didn't I go and get a doctor yesterday. Why was I so stupid, why did I think food was going to help!
Traft walked up to the Sanshrew and got to his knees.
"I'm sorry," tears fell down his face. "I'm so sorry" his voice was cracking up. He hugged it. He picked up the dead Sandshrew and took a deep breath.
"Come with me we'll put her to rest."
This is my first time going in the tower, I never thought I'd be going in here. Sandshrew slowly followed him. The walk was dead silent only their quiet footprints could be heard.
Traft and the Sandshrew buried her there. When they left the tower Sandshrew began to leave. Traft looked at the ground for awhile until he looked up and shouted.
"Wait!" The Sandshrew turned around slowly looking at Traft. He opened his arms wide. "You can come home with me if you want." Traft said quietly.
The Sandshrew looked puzzled, then started running towards him. Traft did the same, and Sandshrew jumped in his arms.
"From now on, we'll be partners."