"Doesn't this place need a little color?"asked Crystal, looking around the gym. "It looks a little depressing. All gray and everything."
"I never thought about that."admitted Brock.
"But it's pretty big for a Pokemon gym. And what do you do here all day?"
"Not all day."
"Well, when you are here. Just wait, and see who comes along?"
"Yeah, that and training my Pokemon."
"That doesn't sound like much fun. I hope they pay you well for just doing that. I personally, would demand at least fifty dollars for every hour of sitting here doing nothing. It seems like a great way to have a party when there's no one around, though. You just invite some friends over, turn the music on and…party."she giggled.
"I never thought of that. It does sound like fun."said Brock.
"And the place could use a little more…joie de vivre."
"Uh, yeah, I guess so."Brock had no idea what she meant, but didn't want her to think he was stupid. "I guess while you're here, we could make plans to give the gym a more cheerful aspect."
"What a great idea!"exclaimed Crystal. "You know, originally, it was planned that I just stay here a couple of weeks to keep my aunt company, thought I know just why my parents wanted me to come. It was to get me away from an unhealthy match. You know, he was very distinguished, I was very fond of him, however, his father and my father never did get along. Something having to do with business, I guess,"she shrugged. "But anyway, I think I may just come to thank them. I have decided that I should stay more time with my aunt. My parents didn't suspect that, but they seem to be all right with it. Happy, even."she added.
"Oh, your parents wanted to get you away from a guy?"he asked.
"They used to say he was a bad influence on me. He had a lot of money, though, and he was quite a bad boy."
"Oh, well, now we can add some liveliness to the gym, now that you're here."said Brock.
"You're absolutely right, just why will I dwell on sad memories? Right?"
"Uh, yeah, exactly. And why did you decide to stay?"
"Oh, because…I thought it's kind of nice here. You're much better than the cook we have at home, that's for sure. I may just take you back with me,"she joked.
Brock only smiled, knowing that even if she wasn't joking, he could never follow her. He had to take care of his brothers and sisters.
"Are you all right? What are you thinking about that you suddenly became so quiet?"
"Oh, nothing."
"By the way, do you have any siblings? I don't. I'm an only child."she said.
"Oh, me, too."lied Brock.
Crystal sighed.
"Weren't you ever lonely?"he asked.
She shook her head.
"No, there has always been my nurse. She's always very nice to me. You?"
"Oh, I just fill my time with my Pokemon."
"I'm not allowed to keep pets. My mother doesn't like them much."
"Oh, perhaps you could get to know Onyx. My bro-friend's brothers and sisters like him a lot."
"And your neighbor's brats?"
"Well, I let them play with him every now and then, too."
"That's just what I wouldn't do to a defenseless creature. Expose it to little brats."
"Onyx doesn't mind kids. He's very good with them."
David was serving dinner, when all the kids started to complain.
"I want cornflakes."said Tommy.
"We're having this again?"
"I don't like this."
"I want to play outside."
"I want to the park."
"I want to see Brock."
"I'm tired."
"I want to go home."
"I want to watch tv."
"I have a headache."
David was about to explode, but he told himself to calm down just in time.
"This is all there is. And Brock can't come because he's busy. He has a lot to do, you know."
"That's what you said yesterday."
"And the day before."
"And before."
"And before."
"Listen, kids, Brock just can't take care of you guys right now. Okay?"
"Why? I miss him."
"He misses everybody, too, I'm sure, but…well, he just can't. Now stop arguing, and whoever doesn't eat their chicken will simply not get anything else."
"You're mean! Brock's never mean."
David sighed.
"Well, I'm not Brock, okay? I'm me! And I'm mean! That's that!"
The girls began to cry.
"I'm trying to watch tv over here!"he heard Mike say.
"Believe it or not,"Crystal was telling Brock, as she sipped her chocolate shake. "I would ask my chauffer to wait for me in front of the store, saying I was going to go there with some friends, only to sneak into the ice cream shop and buy the biggest sundaes they sold! The lady already knew me, and practically had my order ready."
Brock looked up. In front was the electronics store, and coming out, with a new video game in his hand, was Mike. Mike looked up, and saw Brock. His jaw fell. As he started to walk towards them, Brock grabbed Crystal's hand.
"Uh, this way. I want to show you something."
"Wha…"
He dragged Crystal practically all the way to the other side of town. He looked back to make sure that Mike hadn't followed them.
"What are we doing here? What is this place? What a dump! What exactly did you want to show me?"she demanded.
Brock didn't know what to say. He tried to think of some explanation.
"Oh! I see! The sky! I've never seen a sky jeweled to such magnificence!"she exclaimed. "Well, I guess I have. I have, after all, been to the country, where there is no smog. However…well it seems much more…dazzling here. How romantic! Or perhaps it's because there's a full moon out. This reminds me so much of the description of a the sky on a different planet I read about! Just how did you know?"
"Well, I've always liked the stars."said Brock.
"Interested in astronomy, astrology, and such?"
"Uh, yeah. Yeah, that's right."
Crystal smiled.
"That's nice. I used to want to travel through the stars, but…that's not possible. Only in my imagination."
"Anything is possible."
"You think so."
"I didn't think so before, but now I do."