A Good Day – Janine sums up
This was a bit more than a vacation in the islands. Correction: It was a lot more than I bargained for. However, I actually accomplished a lot of my goals and then some. I got to know Sabrina and mom better, I sure as heck forgot about Pokémon Tech for a few days, and I got to test myself in some challenging real world situations. The bonuses were getting to know Jessie better – now I have another hero to look up to, meeting dear sweet true blue Mondo, and discovering I have a hidden talent – I recognized that Articuno was Jessie's lost mother after she hugged the bird.
I was horribly scared of Cassidy when I met her. She is a very angry and aggressive woman, but she was so tender and loyal to the injured Butch I couldn't hate or fear her any longer. I slipped into a chair next to her as she watched Butch sleep. "You okay?" I asked half-whispering,
She jumped and looked irritably at me, "Huh? Oh it's you, Koga's girl. I guess I'll be alright," she looked tiredly at Kosburou. "It kind of turns everything upside down getting beat and seeing Butch…like this. I don't know what I'll do now." She turned and looked hard at me with her sharp violet eyes, "You're one heckuva tough kid, um…"
"Janine," I said, "I'm Janine Kunoichi."
"So you are, your dad gave me fits when I faced him," she observed.
"You were a regular trainer?" I asked.
"Yeah I tried it for awhile, but I was impatient, maybe a bit lazy too. I found I could get farther with my ambition in Team Rocket. I suppose that was a mistake after all," she looked at her partner again, "Oh Butch, look at you, this is all wrong."
Jessie came in from her talk with her bizarre mother. "Has your mom, er, changed again? That is so strange," I said.
Cassidy pried her eyes from Butch, "No wonder you fought so hard. Can't say I'd do that for my mother."
"I didn't know until yesterday. I was helping my friends and trying to be a hero again," Jessie offered matter-of-factly.
"Again? Since when were you ever a hero?" Cassidy challenged.
"I was instrumental in averting the natural disaster set in motion by the Collector here several years ago. Nobody knows it so you'll just have to take my word for it. The kid who got all the credit seems to have forgotten James and I had anything to do with it," Jessie explained.
"Sounds like you Jess, even when you do something right you lose," Cassidy said with surprisingly little malice, "Guess I'm not much of a winner either."
"I don't feel like a loser anymore, and it's not because I got the better of you this once. It has to do with things you can't hold in your hands, I wish I had known that a long time ago," Jessie said thoughtfully.
"I still need to have that sink in," Cassidy said letting her hand gently stray to Butch's forehead.
"Your mom still has your picture on her desk," I said to Cassidy.
"Does she really?" Cassidy asked trying to seem uncaring but her eyes looked a little wistful.
"Uh huh, she gets really sorrowful when she talks about you."
"Mission accomplished," the blond said with false satisfaction, then more seriously, "I wonder what she looks like after all these years."
"Why not go and see?" I suggested.
"Maybe I will, I dunno," Cassidy said trying to sound disinterested.
"I'd let you sleep on the floor in my dorm room," I offered jokingly.
"Never again," Cassidy muttered, but she smiled faintly at the thought. "Hey kid could I ask Jessie something; alone?" she added pointedly.
"Oh, um, sure," I responded, "Where's Mondo?" I asked Jessie.
"He's talking to your mom and Sabrina," Jessie said gesturing with her thumb, "He's in awe of those two."
I sauntered over to the three, and snuggled up to Mondo a little, "Oh Miss Janine! It's not that I don't enjoy your company, but aren't you being a bit familiar?" he said ingenuously.
"Don't like it?" I said batting my eyes at him.
He turned crimson, "Well no, I…ah, it's just…" and he looked sidelong at Sabrina and mom who were smiling knowingly at us.
"Embarassing?" I said.
"Well…yes," he admitted.
"Okay," I said with a giggle and backed off, "Now that I've got your attention, what are your plans Master Mondo?"
"I don't know. I imagine I can't go back to Team Rocket really."
"Not really," I agreed, "Why not apprentice in my dad's gym?"
"He would have me?" Mondo asked doubtfully.
I rolled my eyes subtly and sighed, "I think I have a little influence with him and my aunt."
"I will consider this."
"Pardon me?" I said locking an arm through his elbow, "I just made an offer you can't refuse. Say yes or I'll give your arm such a twist."
"Oh, how could one argue with such a persuasive woman?" mom laughed, "And so subtle too."
"I must agree," smiled Sabrina, "It would be in your interest to accept. Girls like Janine are rare. You also have an open invitation to visit my gym. Your old friends Jessie, James and Meowth would be glad to help host you."
Mondo produced one of his heart melting smiles, "It is so helpful having others be more sure of your future than yourself. I will give it a try."
I gripped his upper arm tightly and kissed him on the cheek, "Thank you! You won't regret it, I promise!"
Not letting go of the blushing lad I looked to my mom and my mentor, "Do I have to go back to Poké Tech?" I said with a trace of whine in my voice.
"If you wish to spend time with me you will," mom said enigmatically.
I looked quizzically at her. She continued, "I have decided to stop being selfish and return to teaching. It's my true calling, and how else could I spend time with my precious daughter?" I was struck dumb. "I know it won't make your classmates any more friendly. But perhaps we could discuss your problems woman to woman sometimes. I'll make every effort to respect your need for space as you grow more independent, but perhaps you could use my advice."
Sabrina spoke, "Ever since I noticed your mother's second sight I have been observing you dear. You definitely have the skill. It would be an honour to instruct you in the development of your talents."
I remained silent trying to take in these announcements. I released Mondo's arm. He looked with pride at me and said, "I believe you have been made two offers you cannot refuse."
"Um, sure, wow," I mumbled still at a loss for coherence.
I slept awfully well that night under the stars in a sleeping bag next to Mondo's. I awoke near dawn and rolled over. I marveled at Mondo's sweet face in the light of the quarter moon and enjoyed the sound of his soft breathing. I drifted peacefully back into a happy dream.
Today we deposited Millie and Butch at the local infirmary on Shamouti Island. Sabrina said a tearful goodbye to Millie and extracted a promise of reciprocal visits. We then said goodbye to Cassidy before she turned herself in. She sighed, "I suspect I can get Butch and me off by telling Jenny what we were up to."
"Won't that get you into trouble with your boss?" Sabrina asked.
Cassidy looked wary but determined, "I'm smart enough to walk that fine line. I think the boss will keep his head down for awhile after getting his ears pinned back like this. Imagine Mewtwo came out of hiding to spoil the boss's plan. I just might turn up at Poké Tech sometime," she said giving me a subtle wink.
We stopped at the pier to make some visiphone calls. I talked to dad after Sabrina. Dad beamed at me, "Sabrina says you have matured wonderfully on this journey. I am proud and pleased for you. I understand you will be doing some training with Sabrina. I fear I will have two mind readers around soon, how is a ninja to keep secrets?"
"I found a new gym apprentice for you dad," I said shyly.
"From what Sabrina says about him you will attempt to make a son-in-law of him someday. Don't rush things my dear," father said cautiously.
"No need to rush," I answered, "I still need to finish my studies. Did you hear? Mom's coming back to Poké Tech," I said enthusiastically.
"So I hear. Tell her to cease being such a stranger. Sabrina and I would enjoy her company here. I suppose you had better hear it from me. I have offered Sabrina a ring and she has accepted me. Could you stand calling two women 'mom'?"
"You have made this woman happy dad," I said with feeling.
The next call went through to Saffron City. Sabrina talked to her parents and Jessie caught up with James and Meowth. Returning from the phone Jessie was blushing bright pink. "What's with you?" I asked.
"Oh nothing really, it's just that James, well…I caught a glimpse of what I am sure was a Hanes waistband instead of his belt…damn, he did it, didn't he?"