Adventures in Hoenn
Chapter Eighteen: Father's Day
*Alex's p.o.v*
Father's Day was this Saturday. Today, it was Thursday so there was not much time to waste in getting ready.
''What are you guys doing for Father's Day?'' I asked Brendan and May as we walked through Petalburg.
''Dad and I are going to conduct more research in the field and he and mom are going out for dinner and a movie,'' May replied.
''My dad and I are going fishing,'' Brendan added. ''What about you, Alex?''
''I'm going to bake dad an apple pie and we'll go have dinner together,'' I answered. ''Apple pie is his favorite dessert.''
''Sounds good,'' Brendan replied. ''Both the pie and the plan. I'm sure my mom will let you borrow her oven to bake it.''
''Thanks, Brendan,'' I said smiling. Brendan blushed sheepishly. I still couldn't believe I kissed him yesterday. It felt like I had no control over myself as it just came out of the blue! ''I'm going to grab a cook book and the ingredients,'' I said as I felt like I was conducting a plan for a Navy attack. ''Plus, I got to get a few other things. I'll meet you at your house Brendan.''
''Okay,'' Brendan answered. ''Good luck!'' I ran of to the grocery store and got a cart. ''Marshtomp, would love to ride in the cart,'' I said pulling out his and Gallade's Pokeballs. I put Marshtomp in the cart like he was a toddler and Gallade followed by my side as we went over to the book section of the store.
''Here's a cookbook, Alex,'' Gallade said handing me a book on desserts. I skimmed through the pages and found a recipe for cinnamon apple pie.
''Perfect!'' I exclaimed. ''Thank you, Gallade! Now, we need apples, cinnamon, sugar, butter, a pie tin, and pie crust. For the crust, we need flour, salt, sugar again, and ice water.''
''Hey, Alex!'' I heard my dad call from behind me.
''Eek! It's dad!'' I exclaimed quietly. ''Guys, don't say A WORD about what we're doing!'' I quickly put the book bellow the cart.
''What're you going here?'' dad asked.
''Oh, uh, just getting Marshtomp and Gallade a…'' I said thinking. ''MANGA!'' I said quickly as I handed Gallade and Marshtomp a manga. ''They LOVE manga! Am I right, boys?!'' I asked putting my arms around them.
''Oh, yes,'' Gallade said opening up the book. ''I love to read manga.'' Gallade then tried to laugh.
''How do you read this thing?'' Marshtomp asked trying to read the book.
''What're YOU doing here, dad?'' I asked trying to change the subject.
''I'm just here grabbing some wine to share with Norman,'' dad replied. ''We have a lot to catch up on.''
''That's good,'' I said calming down. ''I need to stop by some other places. I'm going to Brendan's today. He lives in Littleroot Town.''
''Okay, that's fine,'' dad said to me. ''Don't be gone for too long now. I'll see you tonight at the Pokémon Center here in Petalburg. Be back by eight! Love you!''
''Love you, too!'' I called out. ''Phew, that was too close. Thanks for covering me, guys.''
''Sure, Alex,'' Gallade smiled. ''What're friends for?'' Marshtomp then bursted out laughing.
''This 'manga' thing is hilarious!'' Marshtomp said holding his stomach with one flipper. ''Can we buy it, Alex? Can we?'' We put the manga in the cart and went down the aisle and got the ingredients for the apple pie. We walked out of the store carrying several bags of ingredients plus the cookbook and the manga.
''We should drop these ingredients off at Brendan's,'' I said. ''It's still only 12 o'clock so we can stop by the mall.'' We made our way to Brendan's house and dropped off the ingredients. ''If your dad and my dad come by, don't let them see these ingredients, okay?'' I asked Brendan who was busy signing a card to his dad.
''Sure,'' Brendan said without looking up at me. Marshtomp, Gallade, and I went back to Petalburg and went into the mall looking at the jewelry.
''Are these candies?'' Marshtomp asked as his eyes sparkled.
''No, Marshtomp,'' I said. ''These are jewelry. I want to get something nice to go with my dress for Father's Day.''
''I can't imagine you in a dress,'' Marshtomp said looking at me. ''You don't look like a person who'd wear a dress.''
''Yoo-hoo, Alex! Marshtomp! Gallade!'' May called as she walked up to us alongside Combusken and Beautifly.
''Hi, May,'' I said. ''What're you doing here?''
''I'm looking for some nice jewelry and a dress to wear for Father's Day,'' May replied. ''Are you doing the same?''
''Yep,'' I said as I continued to look for jewelry. ''Ooh, look at that!'' I said pointing to a Ruby necklace.
''It's so pretty!'' May squealed.
''You like it?'' the skinny man behind the counter asked. ''Only the best from Sableye Jewelry!''
''That's right!'' the man's Sableye added.
''How much?'' I asked.
''Five-hundred Pokémon Dollars,'' the man responded.
''Five-hundred?!'' I asked. ''My heart!'' I said as I practically fainted while clutching my chest. May and Gallade caught me as I fell back.
''That's a majority of the reactions I get at my prices,'' the man said as his Sableye snickered.
''I'll buy it for her,'' Norman said coming up to us and laying money down on the table.
''Norman?!'' I said coming to. ''Y-you don't have to-''
''It's okay, Alex,'' Norman said to me smiling. ''You don't have to pay me back either.''
''T-thank you,'' I stammered.
''Here you go, little lady,'' the man said handing me the bag with the necklace.
''Thank you!'' May and I said cheerfully.
''Come back again! If you can afford our prices that is!'' Sableye said before laughing mischievously.
''Let's go to that store!'' May said grabbing my hand and pulling me towards a clothing store called Leavanny's Clothing. We skimmed the dresses carefully. ''What do you think of this dress?'' May asked pulling out a pink dress.
''That's cute,'' I said. ''How about this?'' I asked pulling out a sparkling black dress.
''Ooh!'' May said surprised. ''Let's go try these on!'' We went to the changing rooms and changed.
''How do I look, Alex?'' I heard May ask. I peeked my head out and saw May in her pink dress curtsying.
''You look great, girl!'' I said.
''Now you!'' May urged. I came out of the room wearing my black dress. ''MeOW!'' May said making a scratching motion with her hand. ''When Brendan sees you, I don't think his little heart will be able to take it! And your dad will be blown away, too!''
''Think I look good?'' I asked looking in a mirror. ''I haven't worn a dress in the longest of times.''
''Don't worry, Alex,'' May reassured. ''You look beautiful. Your dad will love it!''
''Yeah, Alex,'' Marshtomp said. ''We think you look good, too!''
''Thanks, guys,'' I said smiling sheepishly and blushing.
''Now, let's get some shoes!'' May said pulling me to the shoes. Much later, we finished our shopping and we saw that it was 7:30 p.m.
''Man, time flies,'' I said. ''I'll have to bake the pie tomorrow. Thanks for coming with me, May.''
''My pleasure, Alex!'' May said. ''I'll see you tomorrow!''
''Good night,'' I said. Marshtomp, Gallade, and I went to the Pokémon Center and saw dad inside. I quickly put the dress and necklace in my bag. ''Hi, dad!''
''Hey, Alex,'' dad said smiling. ''I got some good news for you. Your mother is pregnant!''
''She is?!'' I asked ecstatically. I then screamed and hugged dad tightly. ''That's great! I'm going to be a sister!''
''I know!'' my dad said hugging me. ''We don't know what the gender is, but we'll find out some time.''
''I'm so excited!'' I said. ''I love you, dad.''
''I love you too, Alex,'' dad said as well. ''What'd you put in your bag?''
''Oh, it's a surprise,'' I teased. ''You'll find out later.''
Saturday Arrives…
It was Saturday night. The moon was a shining orb and I was getting dressed.
''Are you ready, Alex?'' my dad asked.
''Almost!'' I said as I put on my necklace. I exited the bathroom and dad's eyes went wide.
''You look beautiful, darling!'' my dad exclaimed happily.
''Thank you,'' I said curtsying.
''And you smoothed back your hair!'' my dad observed. ''Your mother was very generous to hand you down her beauty.'' I blushed embarrassed.
''Dad, you're embarrassing me,'' I said.
''I can't help it,'' he said. Dad and I went to the door. ''Ladies first,'' he said opening the door for me. I smiled approvingly.
''We'll be back at nine, guys,'' I said to Marshtomp, Gallade, Pikachu, Trapinch, and Lileep who were dressed for the occasion as well. ''And no going into the closet!'' Dad and I exited the room to go to dinner.
''You have a surprise for me, eh?'' dad asked.
''You bet!'' I said. ''It's from mom and I!''
''Oh, I wish your mother could be here to share this moment,'' dad said somewhat depressed.
''I know, dad,'' I said sympathetically. ''We'll celebrate together next year.'' Dad nodded and smiled. We went out to Alfonzo's which we heard had amazing pasta. We got our table and placed our orders. ''I have something I can give you right now,'' I said pulling out a card and handing it to dad.
''Thank you,'' dad said as he opened the card. He read; ''A dad is someone special. Someone who provides for his family love, protection, and guidance. This comes to mind when I think of you. Hope you have an amazing Father's Day. Love, Alex, Larraine, and the rest.'' Dad looked up at me affectionately. ''I love it!'' he exclaimed. ''Thank you, sweetheart!'' he came up to me and hugged me.
''You're welcome, dad,'' I said. We ate dinner and came back to the Pokémon Center. ''We're back!'' I called out. I looked and saw Pikachu, Gallade, and Lileep protecting the pie from Trapinch and Marshtomp.
''Did you have a nice evening, Alex?'' Lileep asked.
''Yes, we did,'' I responded taking the pie from Gallade and shooting a glare at Trapinch and Marshtomp. ''Happy Father's Day, dad!'' I said as I opened up the pie box.
''Apple pie?!'' dad exclaimed happily. ''You're too good to me, Alex!'' dad said kissing me.
''Aw, it was nothing, dad,'' I responded. ''Let's eat!'' I cut the pie and distributed it to everyone. ''You could've waited,'' I snarled quietly to Trapinch and Marshtomp.
''This is great!'' dad said eating the pie. ''Is this homemade?''
''Yes,'' I responded. ''Brendan let me bake it at his house.''
''So this is the secret you were keeping from me!'' dad said.
''Yep!'' Marshtomp said. ''But, that manga was really good!'' Marshtomp then ran out of pie and grabbed Trapinch's pie.
''Put that back!'' Trapinch yelled.
''Make me!'' Marshtomp said sticking his tongue out.
''Marshtomp,'' I said glaring at him. Marshtomp slowly put down the pie while laughing nervously.
''I've had a great Father's Day, Alex,'' dad said. ''Thank you so much!''
''You deserve it,'' I said smiling. ''You're the best dad I could ever want! No substitutions!'' Dad cooed and kissed me again. You did good, Alex, I thought to myself. You made one happy man.