Chapter 4-December 21

Since Mrs. Ketchum had 'moved in' per say, she was constantly helping Professor Oak and didn't really need Mimie's help. When he found out that there was a Geodude and a Machoke that liked to play cards he was usually found playing poker upstairs with the other pokémon.

!ELDERSHIPPING!

Samuel and Delia sat at a table downstairs, taking a small reprieve from their work while they ate lunch. The radio played in the background. They had left it on so they could hear if any more blizzard warnings were sounded. Professor Oak ate the grilled cheese Mrs. Ketchum had provided as he read her notes. She ate in silence so as not to bother him. Her ears perked at the announcement of a song. She ran over and turned the radio up as loud as it would go.

Da, da, da, da, da, da, da-dum.

Professor Oak looked up to see Mrs. Ketchum slide across the floor in her sock feet, her back to him.

Da, da, da, da, da, da, da-dum.

She suddenly turned around; empty pop bottle in her hand like it was a microphone.

Just take those old records off the shelf
I'll sit and listen to 'em by myself
Today's new music ain't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll.

She bounced around dancing and singing and altogether making a spectacle of herself. Professor Oak laughed as he watched her and sang along, too. He probably would've gotten up and danced with her, if it wasn't for his leg.

Don't try to take me to a disco
You'll never even get me out on the floor
In ten minutes I'll be late for the door
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll.

He eagerly watched her sway and swing. He admired how her hair danced around her and when her feet kicked up in the air. You should be ashamed of yourself Samuel. You really are a dirty old man.

Won't go to hear them play a tango
I'd rather hear some blues or funky old soul
There's only one sure way to get me to go
Start playing old time rock 'n' roll.

Mrs. Ketchum was dealing with her own conscience as well. You're making a complete fool of yourself Delia. What would Professor Oak think? What would the Professor think?

Call me a relic, call me what you will
Say I'm old-fashioned, say I'm over the hill
Today's music ain't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll.

Mrs. Ketchum sat down at the table, her face flushed. "Whew, what a work out. I love that song. It's so much fun."

Professor Oak had a cheeky grin on his face. "Yeah, but I thought you were supposed to slide out in your underwear."

She did the only mature thing she could think of at the moment; she stuck her tongue out at him.

Professor Oak smiled as he stretched. "Well, I don't know about you, but I think I'm ready to get back to work."

As he did his polo shirt rode up exposing his now stone colored abdomen.

"Professor!"

He immediately dropped his arms. "What?"

She was around the table and fighting to pull his shirt up in a matter of seconds.

"What are you doing!"

"I'm trying to see something."

"Stop it!"

"No. Let me see your stomach."

"Why? Ahh! Stop it! Stop it! I'm ticklish there."

"Oh, really!" She proceeded to tickle his sensitive sides until she was able to pull his shirt up and get a good look at around his waist. Professor Oak gave a resigned sigh and let her look.

"Talk about rock-hard abs."

"You are one sneaky woman, Delia Ketchum."

She looked quizzically up at him. "What?"

"I said you're one sneaky woman."

"No, what did you call me?"

"What, Delia Ketchum? That is your name, isn't it?"

"Yes. I've just never heard you call me by my first name."

"If you'd rather, I won't call you Delia."

"No, I don't mind. We have been friends for a long time. Why shouldn't we be on a first name basis?"

"Alright then, I'll call you Delia, but only if you call me Samuel."

!ELDERSHIPPING!

Delia looked up at the clock. It was midnight and she was dead tired. Samuel, as he wanted to be called, was beginning to yawn and was rubbing his bleary eyes as he tried to read his computer screen.

"It's 12:00."

"So, go on upstairs and go to bed. I still have work to do."

"Don't kid yourself. You're not going to be very useful if you're going to keep falling asleep all day tomorrow. You need to go to bed Prof…uh, Samuel."

"Fine." He shut down his laptop and tried to get up.

"Uh, oh."

"What?"

"I think you're going to have to help me."

She slung his arm over her shoulder and wrapped hers around his waist. "Come on Mimie we have to help this old fogey."

"Mime, my-mime, mimie (Yeah, you old fogey)."

"Hey, respect your elders!"