Armed with his camping gear, Con and Nido set out on foot for the Pokemon Center. Con smiled while he reminisced about how well things had worked out. He had gotten the opportunity to head out on his Pokemon journey the very same day that school had let out for the summer. This was, he realized, his opportunity to make his own fortune in the world as a top ranked trainer or breeder. The freedom of choice was the most beautiful thing about this situation, he could now be anything he wanted.
That alone was reason to beam as he strode into the Pokecenter where his mother worked. He watched his feet, to make himself sure of Nido's presence. He didn't like his pokemon to be too far behind him. He once had lost Nido, when he was a few years younger, about 9 years old. Wandering through a crowd, he had thought Nido was right behind him but when he checked, the little scaly dinosaur pokemon was gone. He had searched through the crowd for what felt like hours, but it seemed he had lost Nido forever. The younger Con had broken down crying, by himself in the middle of a crowd until one kind older boy had enlisted his Pidgey's help, sending the little bird high up to search from the air. The Pidgey had immediately sighted something interesting and little Con's heart lit up as the older boy led him to his little pokemon, unaware he had been left behind as he was immersed in a bush, pestering little Caterpies.
Con still wanted to tear up at the memory, every bit as fresh as the day it had happened. Since that day, his happiness had depended upon his pokemon. If Nido was happy and safe, he was happy. Con approached the front counter, where trainers would drop off their pokemon for his mother to care for. Kimberly "Joy" Killif was behind the counter, assisting a young trainer with his Raticate. Fresh bandages had been applied to the little rat pokemon's wounds and it was looking to be in top condition. The little boy was happy with the results of their visit and carried his pokemon companion out of the Center.
Con laid a hand on the counter and grinned at his mother. "Hi, Mom," he said to her, leaning forward on his planted arm. "Professor Elm sent me over here for the Eevee." He looked away, his smile faltering. He knew his mother probably wouldn't be too happy to hear that he was leaving home for his journey. She knew the desire had always been there in his heart, but she had been reluctant to let go of him for him to chase it. Now that it might be reality, she might not take the news well. Still, any good thing is worth a risk. Con braced himself and his emotions for the possibility that she was going to make things difficult for him. "Say, Mom, I've got something I need to talk to you about."
Kim turned away, her back now to her son, and kneeled, searching the shelves opposite the countertop for a specific pokeball. As her son spoke, she found what she was looking for and stood, facing her son again, pokeball in hand. The ball she held contained the orphan Eevee. "What's on your mind, sweetheart?" she asked, holding it out to him.
Con accepted it, and turned it over in his fingers. He could just ditch the whole idea right now, he thought, and just pretend it was a weekend errand that got extended. No, he thought, better to get it out and be honest. "Well, Mom..." he began, still fiddling with the ball. "I...I was thinking that...well, I was thinking about how I've always wanted to go on a Pokemon journey. And, well-gosh, Mom, I'm just gonna say it." He waited a moment, preparing himself and hoping for the right words. "I'm going on an errand for Professor Elm and I was hoping that since today was the last day of school and all...Iwanttostartmyjourneytoday," he finished, the last sentence all one word. He cringed, waiting for the reply.
Kim was shocked, to say the least. She had known he'd wanted to leave, yes, but he simply wasn't ready to be away from home yet. No, she thought. you're the one who's not ready for him to be gone. With that thought, Kim had to sit down. It was just as well, the center was now empty, except for them two. She held a hand to her chest and looked up at her son. "Are you really sure about this?" she asked him. Con nodded solemnly. Kim looked away and tried to process that. What would she do without him in the house? He was the only thing that staved away loneliness in the evenings when she came home.
That was wrong, she knew it. To be so co-dependent upon your own children that instead of raising them to depend upon you for support that you leaned on their strength all the time was wrong. Making a fourteen year old boy do what only a grown man is healthily capable isn't right, and Kimberly knew that. If she could let go of one boy, and let him live his own life, she could do it for both sons and still be happy for them. Kimberly raised her head and looked her young son in the eye. "Of course you can, Con. And I'll be supporting you every step of the way." She smiled sadly, close to tears.
Con stopped fiddling with the Eevee's pokeball and froze in place. His eyes widened and he stared. He had not expected that answer at all. It made him so joyous and so overwhelmed that he almost wanted to cry, but he reigned his emotions in and focused on the wonderment that his dream could actually now come true. "Aw, Mom..." was all he could say.
