Unexpected Hospitality
The airplane landed at the airport in Goldenrod city late that night. Mrs. Ketchum, Tracey, and Professor Oak got off of the plane, and proceeded towards the luggage pick-up point.
"Well it's getting pretty late, and it'll be a bit of a trip to Mahogany town. Why don't we stay at a hotel for the night?" said Professor Oak."But I must get to the hospital," said Mrs. Ketchum desperately.
"Now Delilah, you must take it easy. You've had a hard day and need rest," Professor Oak insisted.
Truly Mrs. Ketchum was a wreck of her usual self. Her hair was messed up and the expression on her face was that of an old worn out woman.
"Tracey would you fetch the luggage, while Delilah and I go call for a cab. Well meet up over there," said Professor Oak pointing at a large circular lobby. Professor Oak put his arm around Mrs. Ketchum's shoulder as he and she walked towards the lobby. Mrs. Ketchum was wringing her hands thinking about her son there at the hospital all alone.
"Now Delilah, all this worrying doesn't do anybody any good. Now you just sit here while I make a phone call."
Misty and Brock sat in the hospital waiting room impatiently waiting for any updates. Pikachu had grown restless wanting to see his friend and trainer. Misty gently stroked Pikachu behind the ears trying to calm the frantic mouse pokémon. The waiting room was eerily silent. The receptionist had left hours ago, and since this was a small hospital there were hardly any funds for a full nighttime staff. The janitor, a slim middle aged man with graying hair, walked by the dismayed group while mopping the floors.
"You folks still here?"
"Huh? Yeah we're staying here to check on our friend," said Brock.
"You look rather worn out. You really should find a place for the night," the janitor commented.
"Yeah it has been a long day, but I'm afraid that we don't really have anywhere to stay."
"There's a nice little place right down the street from here. They don't charge too much either."
"Well I'm afraid that we don't have much money either," said Brock.
"What have you folks been doing for sleeping arrangements?"
"Well we usually camp out."
"Well that won't work here in town. Let me call my wife, and we'll see what we can work out."
"Oh no, you don't have to do that."
"No, I insist."
The janitor set down his mop and walked over to the phone behind the desk.
"Hello honey. Yep they've got me working late again tonight. Listen there's some young'uns here that need a place to stay for the night. They've been here since all day waiting for word on a friend of theirs in Intensive Care. Oh, well if it's okay with you. Bye hon, see you later."
The janitor put down the receiver and said "Well my wife is on her way here. She'll take care of you for the night."
"Isn't that a bit much?" said Brock.
"No, it's no problem. It's been awhile since we've had guests. By the way the name's Johnathan. What's yours?"
"The name's Brock, and this is Misty. Sir if there's any way we can repay you," said Brock.
"Just forget about it. It's no big problem. Well I'd better get back to work." Johnathan replied returning to his mopping.
About twenty minutes later a middle aged woman came through the doors. She looked as if she had just gotten out of bed, her hair was in a bit of a mess, and she had just thrown a jacket on over her night wear.
"Hi honey" Johnathan said cheerfully.
"Are these the young'uns?"
"Yep."
"Hi mam, my name's Brock."
"Nice to meet you young man, the name's Harriet."
"Misty wake up."
Misty yawned and mumbled incoherently. She had fallen asleep in her chair from sheer exhaustion.
"Come now young lady, well get you a nice warm bed," said the Harriet as she helped Misty up and lead her out to the car. Brock carried the slumbering Pikachu out to the car.
"You don't mind us bringing our pokémon with do you?" asked Brock.
"Of course not. Our daughter used to keep all sorts of pokémon. I tell you the house just hasn't been the same without the little buggers," chuckled Harriet to herself.
The group got into the car and drove to the house.
"So where are you folks from?" asked Harriet.
When she got no response she looked back and saw that her passengers had dozed off.
"The poor things. Must have had a long day," she said to herself as she continued driving.
The car pulled into the small driveway in front of the little two story house in which Harriet and the janitor lived.
"Wake up dearies. Let's get you inside into some nice comfy beds."
Brock, Misty, Pikachu stirred slightly as they got up and out of the car. The cold night air woke them up slightly, but they still were quite zombieish as they followed Harriet into the house. They walked from the front porch into the living room and stopped.
"Now you just wait here while I go fix up some beds for you" said Harriet as she scurried off.
A few minutes later she came back down the stair case.
"Now just follow me and I'll show you to your rooms" she said leading the group up the staircase.
"The bathroom is right there" she said pointing to a small door on the left.
"Young lady your room is right down that way" she said pointing to the end of the hall.
Misty walked down the hall in a half slumbering state, and gently closed the door behind her as she entered.
"This way young man," Harriet said going back down the staircase. Brock blindly followed her down the staircase. Once they reached the bottom she pointed to a room to the left of the staircase and said "This will be your room young man." Brock walked in a zombie like manner into the room carrying Pikachu in his arms.
"A bit of rest will do the poor darlings good," said Harriet to herself as she went and locked the front door, and then returned to her bedroom at the top of the stair case.