My name is Rick. Today I turn 10 years old! It's a big step in every kid's life, especially because today I can get my official pokemon license! Once you're 10 you're qualified for a pokemon license. At the moment, I'm still sleeping. Man, I sleep like a rock! Well, I guess I should tell you a little about myself. You already know my name and you know how old I am. Hm… What else is there? Well, I'm a bit taller than average for my age. I've got brown hair and eyes, just like my dad. I don't see him much, though… Um, I live in Viridian City. It's a nice place and all my friends live here. My best friends Chris and Morgan already have their pokemon 'cause they're older than me. Their pokemon are really cool! I only hope mine is cool too… Oh! Look! I'm waking up! 'Bout time!

"Grrr, mumble mumble mumble…"

My hand reaches out from under the blankets to shut off my alarm clock. The blaring buzzing noise that has been going on for nearly an hour stops and I grab the clock to see what time it is. My eyes take a bit to focus and then I have to ask myself if that's really the time. I look out the window and the sun is shining through. I look back at the clock, hoping that my eyes have adjusted better. Nope. It still says 1:53pm.

"Man! I slept in again!"

I really don't like sleeping in. I like to get a good full day in! Otherwise I miss out on a lot of fun. And I sleep like I'm dead, too, which really sucks for me! Sometimes my alarm clock'll be going off for hours before I even notice it! But today, it meant more than just missing some good fun. Today, I could have missed getting my first pokemon!

I throw the purple blankets back and quickly close the curtains. I don't want anyone seeing me in my underwear! They might make fun of me… You see, I still wear briefs. All of the boys I know wear boxers but they just feel weird on me… I can't stand them! I quickly grab some clothes out of my dresser and throw them on. A nice pair of jeans and a shirt with a dress shirt over that, yup, looking cool! I run down the stairs and jump off the last two. My mom's already gone off to run some errands. She left me a note though! It's on the microwave under a heart shaped magnet. It says:

You'd better hurry to

Professor Oak's!

He says he'll keep a lookout for

you!

Love,

Mom

Remind me to thank my Mom later. But no time to dilly-dally! I've gotta go! As I run to the door I grab a scarf and some gloves. It's the end of January so it's gonna be cold outside. And sure enough it's chilly. The snow on the ground is just beautiful! I really love winter. But I can't stop to smell the roses, er, I mean look at the snow… Geez, that just doesn't sound as good… Oh well! Whatever! I've gotta get to Pallet Town!

Professor Oak is Johto's leading researcher of pokemon. He lives in Pallet Town, which fortunately for me is right next to Viridian City. He's a really wise old man. I met him once before and he said he'd be ready to give me my first pokemon. He was really nice and even let me play with some of the pokemon he kept at his lab. But still, it's a long walk from Viridian City to Pallet Town! Luckily for me, there are several shortcuts I know of.

Several minutes later, I'm breathing just bit heavier than when I started my trip and ringing the doorbell of Professor Oak's lab. The glass doors slide open and I walk in for the second time in my life. The floors are extremely polished tile and one of the walls is almost covered in framed documents and pictures of Professor Oak and some pokemon and trainers. A voice from behind another glass door came out.

"Just a moment," Professor Oak said as the door slid open and he walked through, adjusting his lab coat as though he had just thrown it on. "Ah! Rick! So, you've finally come! Bet you've been looking forward to this day for a good while, huh?"

I can't help but smile at the old man.

"Yes, Professor."

"Well, your pokemon's waiting just back here," he said, gesturing with his hand to the door he had walked through, "Come on!"

I followed Professor Oak past the glass door and into a circular room with assort of pedestal thing in the middle. Many machines lined the room but right now all I was concerned with were the three pokeballs resting on the pedestal in the middle of the room.

"Pick any one! But choose wisely," Professor Oak said enthusiastically.

I already knew which one I was going to pick. I had been thinking about it for years and now I'd finally get the pokemon that I had been dreaming of. I picked up one of the pokeballs from the small indent where it rested on the pedestal. The label next to where that pokeball once rested clearly showed the pokemon's name in bold letters.

"Professor Oak," I said with all confidence. "I've decided."

"Oh, so soon?" Professor Oak walked towards me, hands in his lab coat pockets. "Well, which one did you pick?"

I smiled up at Professor Oak, the pokeball clutched in my hand.

"Squirtle!"