Capitolo Duo
Espeon and I were walking along the darkened street. It was so late the only people who were out now were the drunks from the pubs and clubs. We didn't exactly live in the greatest neighborhood. I wasn't worried about them. Espeon and I could take on anyone. I stopped out the front of the apartment I shared with my dad. My dad was a doctor in the emergency room at the hospital. He worked the late night shift. I glanced at my watch.
1:23 am.
He'd be home in a few minutes.
{He. We beat him back.} I notified Espeon silently.
That meant I'd have time to make dinner. We always ate dinner late. I usually trained from the afternoon, and it wasn't unusual for me to stay at the Gym later than this. I slept for most of the day- like my dad. We walked up the concrete steps to our apartment building, Espeon walking daintily on the railing next to me. I let myself into the foyer then punched our code into the lift, grateful for the gentle yellow glow of the lights that lit up the various objects in the foyer and illuminated Espeon and I. Our neighbourhood may not be great, but our apartment building is very nice indeed. Espeon trotted into the lift and we went up. I watched her as we ascended. She jiggled slightly, bouncing on her paws as we went up. Don't ask me why she jiggles, it's one of those weird habits people have. I get the feeling she doesn't enjoy the lift. With a ding, the doors opened onto our hallway. I stepped out and Espeon raced out and over to the door, relieved to be out of the lift.
{What do you feel like for dinner tonight?} I asked Espeon as I unlocked the door and turned on the light.
{Chicken.} she replied a matter-of-factly.
{Right. Let's get some chicken.}
I walked into the kitchen and dug through the freezer for a minute, searching for chicken, then pulled out three microwave meals. Ahhh, microwave meals, mans greatest invention, and the extent of my cooking abilities.
"Teriyaki chicken and rice. Will this do?" I asked, stepping back and closing the freezer door.
Espeon wasn't listening. She was sitting on the couch and trying to turn on the TV. The remote control was not designed for paws.
{Gri, this remote is broken.} she informed me.
I didn't have the heart to tell her it wasn't. I sighed and stuck the plastic bowls in the microwave, then pressed 'Heat'.
I heard the sound of the door being unlocked.
"Hello?" asked my dad as he stepped through the door. Espeon leaped off the couch and climbed onto him like a monkey, purring loudly. I smiled at him.
"Hi Dad. I was just fixing dinner."
My dad returned the smile and rubbed his hands together, as he moved his head to the side, trying to remove Espeon's nose from his ear.
"Great. I'm starving. Espeon, your whiskers are tickling me." He announced enthusiastically.
"So, how was your shift?" I asked my dad as I set the table.
He yawned as he somehow managed to disentangle Espeon from his shoulders and remove his coat at the same time.
"Interesting…" he said thoughtfully.
DING! our microwave declared.
"Dinners ready." I told him.
My dad sat down at the table. Espeon strolled over to her placemat on the floor next the table and sat waiting expectantly. I took the bowls out of the microwave and plonked them on the table, then took the top one and peeled off the wrapper for Espeon. She twined around my legs as I set it on the floor, purring happily.
{Chicken is good.} she decided as she buried her head in the bowl and started eating.
"Teriyaki chicken. My favourite!" said my dad.
He started eating. I poked my fork into the rice and studied it for a moment. There was a question I wanted to ask, and it was annoying me. We ate microwave meals every single night. We had done so ever since I could remember.
"Dad… when was the last time we ate real food?"
He stopped and fixed me with an astonished look.
"This isn't real food? What are they putting into instant food these days?" he exclaimed, shaking his head and preparing to take another mouthful.
"No," I said patiently "I mean non-instant food. Cooked food made from scratch."
My dad thought for a moment.
"Christmas." he said through a mouthful of rice.
"At Grandma's?" I supplemented.
{Turkey…is good} interrupted Espeon helpfully as she sat, cleaning teriyaki sauce off her whiskers.
"Is food all you think about?" I asked her crossly.
My dad looked confused for a moment. The link was only between Espeon and I, so he could only hear one side of the conversation.
I pushed my chair out and picked up my bowl and put in the bin.
"I'm going to bed. Night Dad."
I blew a kiss to him and clicked my fingers.
Espeon scampered over to trot at my heels as I walked out of the kitchen. As I walked through the hall to my bedroom I thought about 'real food'. I don't even know why I asked the question. Strange things come into your mind when you're attempting to make conversation. I did like Grandma's turkey, but it didn't compare to my mothers. I could hardly remember her now, but I remembered her cooking. She was a great cook. When I was 7 she had left to become a Poke'mon trainer. The last I had heard of her was when I was eight. She had sent me Espeon's (Evee's) Poke'ball in the mail. There had been a letter with it, but I had forgotten to take in the mail and it had rained. The Poke'ball was the only part that didn't disintegrate. I had often wondered what that letter had contained. I don't regard letters as being that important though. All that romantic stuff about the poetry of letters and how much nicer they are than email is rubbish. Our letterbox is better now; an airtight stainless steel number, but we never did get another letter from her.
***
I opened my door and flicked on the light. My bed growled sleepily. The tip of a black nose appeared and Growlithe's head poked out from under the covers. He realized who I was. With it an excited yip, he leapt from my bed and onto me in a blur of orange stripes. I felt like he'd performed a Takedown on me. Growlithe washed my face vigorously. I had received him for Christmas from my dad. He was still too young to be training with me, so he stayed at home and slept, which was fine with him. He finished with me and sat there with a huge grin on his little orange face, wagging his tail and panting. Then he noticed Espeon sitting next to me. She regarded him gravely as he stood up and sank down on his two front paws, then wagged his lower half exuberantly in an invitation to play. Espeon continued to stare at him
with a regal air. He leaped at her, and she gently batted him away.
{Oh go away you silly thing!} She told him in a vexed thought-voice.
He couldn't understand her of course, but he settled back onto his haunches with a pitiful look. I scooped him up.
"Let's feed you." I told him with a smile.
When I got to the kitchen Dad wasn't there. He was already in bed, and by the time I finished feeding Growlithe he'd be snoring. I rummaged through our pantry and produced a can of Poke'mon food. I scooped it out of the can and into a bowl, then stuck it in the microwave. Growlithe sat at my feet, wagging his tail with delight and drooling. Espeon watched him carefully from the top of the microwave, as though she was afraid he'd try to play with her again. The microwave 'dinged' and I retrieved Growlithe's food bowl, trying not to get knock over as he leaped at me, barking and drooling in ecstasy at the prospect of food. I set it on the ground. Growlithe attacked the bowl of food with great ferocity and by the time I had counted to two the food was gone. Espeon twined gracefully down her perch onto my shoulders.
{No manners at all.} she snootily said in clipped tones, settling around my neck.
Growlithe sat on the floor, wagging his tail.
"That's it, G-Chan." I informed him sadly as I scooped him up and headed toward my bedroom. It was well past 2 am, but I didn't feel tired. My body's emergency store of adrenaline and sugar was kicking in. But my eyes ached from staying open. I rubbed them roughly with my fists to stop the itch behind my lids. Nothing happened. Definitely bed time. I strained to keep my eyes open as I changed for bed. Espeon watched me from my bedside table. Growlithe was snoring gently already.
{What is it with humans and clothes?} she inquired.
I finished buttoning my pajama top and scratched my head, thinking of a reply that wouldn't confuse her or make her feel silly.
"Well, most people think that clothes are good. They cover us up… from weather, and things… like… erm… tree branches and insects." I said awkwardly.
{Then why do you wear them? The weather is always nice here, and there are no trees or insects around here.}
"Geez, I dunno. Habit. Go to bed, Espeon."
It annoyed me when Espeon asked questions like this. It was a constant reminder that she would never even be close to human. I had a tendency to forget that sometimes.
I clambered in, suddenly tired as my body's energy reserves began to run low. Espeon slipped under the covers with me.
"Night."
I flicked my light switch and the room grew dark. Espeon fell asleep quickly. I stayed awake; too agitated to sleep despite the growing blanket of tiredness that threatened to engulf me. I stared at the wall. I hated insomnia. I never knew when I would get it,
{Shut up. Get some sleep.}Espeon ordered me sluggishly.
I sighed again and closed my eyes. Espeon was right. I needed some sleep.
Espeon and I were walking along the darkened street. It was so late the only people who were out now were the drunks from the pubs and clubs. We didn't exactly live in the greatest neighborhood. I wasn't worried about them. Espeon and I could take on anyone. I stopped out the front of the apartment I shared with my dad. My dad was a doctor in the emergency room at the hospital. He worked the late night shift. I glanced at my watch.
1:23 am.
He'd be home in a few minutes.
{He. We beat him back.} I notified Espeon silently.
That meant I'd have time to make dinner. We always ate dinner late. I usually trained from the afternoon, and it wasn't unusual for me to stay at the Gym later than this. I slept for most of the day- like my dad. We walked up the concrete steps to our apartment building, Espeon walking daintily on the railing next to me. I let myself into the foyer then punched our code into the lift, grateful for the gentle yellow glow of the lights that lit up the various objects in the foyer and illuminated Espeon and I. Our neighbourhood may not be great, but our apartment building is very nice indeed. Espeon trotted into the lift and we went up. I watched her as we ascended. She jiggled slightly, bouncing on her paws as we went up. Don't ask me why she jiggles, it's one of those weird habits people have. I get the feeling she doesn't enjoy the lift. With a ding, the doors opened onto our hallway. I stepped out and Espeon raced out and over to the door, relieved to be out of the lift.
{What do you feel like for dinner tonight?} I asked Espeon as I unlocked the door and turned on the light.
{Chicken.} she replied a matter-of-factly.
{Right. Let's get some chicken.}
I walked into the kitchen and dug through the freezer for a minute, searching for chicken, then pulled out three microwave meals. Ahhh, microwave meals, mans greatest invention, and the extent of my cooking abilities.
"Teriyaki chicken and rice. Will this do?" I asked, stepping back and closing the freezer door.
Espeon wasn't listening. She was sitting on the couch and trying to turn on the TV. The remote control was not designed for paws.
{Gri, this remote is broken.} she informed me.
I didn't have the heart to tell her it wasn't. I sighed and stuck the plastic bowls in the microwave, then pressed 'Heat'.
I heard the sound of the door being unlocked.
"Hello?" asked my dad as he stepped through the door. Espeon leaped off the couch and climbed onto him like a monkey, purring loudly. I smiled at him.
"Hi Dad. I was just fixing dinner."
My dad returned the smile and rubbed his hands together, as he moved his head to the side, trying to remove Espeon's nose from his ear.
"Great. I'm starving. Espeon, your whiskers are tickling me." He announced enthusiastically.
"So, how was your shift?" I asked my dad as I set the table.
He yawned as he somehow managed to disentangle Espeon from his shoulders and remove his coat at the same time.
"Interesting…" he said thoughtfully.
DING! our microwave declared.
"Dinners ready." I told him.
My dad sat down at the table. Espeon strolled over to her placemat on the floor next the table and sat waiting expectantly. I took the bowls out of the microwave and plonked them on the table, then took the top one and peeled off the wrapper for Espeon. She twined around my legs as I set it on the floor, purring happily.
{Chicken is good.} she decided as she buried her head in the bowl and started eating.
"Teriyaki chicken. My favourite!" said my dad.
He started eating. I poked my fork into the rice and studied it for a moment. There was a question I wanted to ask, and it was annoying me. We ate microwave meals every single night. We had done so ever since I could remember.
"Dad… when was the last time we ate real food?"
He stopped and fixed me with an astonished look.
"This isn't real food? What are they putting into instant food these days?" he exclaimed, shaking his head and preparing to take another mouthful.
"No," I said patiently "I mean non-instant food. Cooked food made from scratch."
My dad thought for a moment.
"Christmas." he said through a mouthful of rice.
"At Grandma's?" I supplemented.
{Turkey…is good} interrupted Espeon helpfully as she sat, cleaning teriyaki sauce off her whiskers.
"Is food all you think about?" I asked her crossly.
My dad looked confused for a moment. The link was only between Espeon and I, so he could only hear one side of the conversation.
I pushed my chair out and picked up my bowl and put in the bin.
"I'm going to bed. Night Dad."
I blew a kiss to him and clicked my fingers.
Espeon scampered over to trot at my heels as I walked out of the kitchen. As I walked through the hall to my bedroom I thought about 'real food'. I don't even know why I asked the question. Strange things come into your mind when you're attempting to make conversation. I did like Grandma's turkey, but it didn't compare to my mothers. I could hardly remember her now, but I remembered her cooking. She was a great cook. When I was 7 she had left to become a Poke'mon trainer. The last I had heard of her was when I was eight. She had sent me Espeon's (Evee's) Poke'ball in the mail. There had been a letter with it, but I had forgotten to take in the mail and it had rained. The Poke'ball was the only part that didn't disintegrate. I had often wondered what that letter had contained. I don't regard letters as being that important though. All that romantic stuff about the poetry of letters and how much nicer they are than email is rubbish. Our letterbox is better now; an airtight stainless steel number, but we never did get another letter from her.
***
I opened my door and flicked on the light. My bed growled sleepily. The tip of a black nose appeared and Growlithe's head poked out from under the covers. He realized who I was. With it an excited yip, he leapt from my bed and onto me in a blur of orange stripes. I felt like he'd performed a Takedown on me. Growlithe washed my face vigorously. I had received him for Christmas from my dad. He was still too young to be training with me, so he stayed at home and slept, which was fine with him. He finished with me and sat there with a huge grin on his little orange face, wagging his tail and panting. Then he noticed Espeon sitting next to me. She regarded him gravely as he stood up and sank down on his two front paws, then wagged his lower half exuberantly in an invitation to play. Espeon continued to stare at him
with a regal air. He leaped at her, and she gently batted him away.
{Oh go away you silly thing!} She told him in a vexed thought-voice.
He couldn't understand her of course, but he settled back onto his haunches with a pitiful look. I scooped him up.
"Let's feed you." I told him with a smile.
When I got to the kitchen Dad wasn't there. He was already in bed, and by the time I finished feeding Growlithe he'd be snoring. I rummaged through our pantry and produced a can of Poke'mon food. I scooped it out of the can and into a bowl, then stuck it in the microwave. Growlithe sat at my feet, wagging his tail with delight and drooling. Espeon watched him carefully from the top of the microwave, as though she was afraid he'd try to play with her again. The microwave 'dinged' and I retrieved Growlithe's food bowl, trying not to get knock over as he leaped at me, barking and drooling in ecstasy at the prospect of food. I set it on the ground. Growlithe attacked the bowl of food with great ferocity and by the time I had counted to two the food was gone. Espeon twined gracefully down her perch onto my shoulders.
{No manners at all.} she snootily said in clipped tones, settling around my neck.
Growlithe sat on the floor, wagging his tail.
"That's it, G-Chan." I informed him sadly as I scooped him up and headed toward my bedroom. It was well past 2 am, but I didn't feel tired. My body's emergency store of adrenaline and sugar was kicking in. But my eyes ached from staying open. I rubbed them roughly with my fists to stop the itch behind my lids. Nothing happened. Definitely bed time. I strained to keep my eyes open as I changed for bed. Espeon watched me from my bedside table. Growlithe was snoring gently already.
{What is it with humans and clothes?} she inquired.
I finished buttoning my pajama top and scratched my head, thinking of a reply that wouldn't confuse her or make her feel silly.
"Well, most people think that clothes are good. They cover us up… from weather, and things… like… erm… tree branches and insects." I said awkwardly.
{Then why do you wear them? The weather is always nice here, and there are no trees or insects around here.}
"Geez, I dunno. Habit. Go to bed, Espeon."
It annoyed me when Espeon asked questions like this. It was a constant reminder that she would never even be close to human. I had a tendency to forget that sometimes.
I clambered in, suddenly tired as my body's energy reserves began to run low. Espeon slipped under the covers with me.
"Night."
I flicked my light switch and the room grew dark. Espeon fell asleep quickly. I stayed awake; too agitated to sleep despite the growing blanket of tiredness that threatened to engulf me. I stared at the wall. I hated insomnia. I never knew when I would get it,
{Shut up. Get some sleep.}Espeon ordered me sluggishly.
I sighed again and closed my eyes. Espeon was right. I needed some sleep.
