Part-time

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, got it? Okay then...

Summary: When the gang run out of money, they realize that they need part-time jobs, fast.

Note: This is based on the fact that you can earn money for defeating trainers in the games.

Speech. Thoughts.

“What do you mean, you don’t have anything?!” Brock exclaimed. “Well, maybe if SOMEBODY didn’t have to battle every single trainer we came across by himself, I’d been able to make some money of my own.” Misty said, shooting a fierce glare at Ash. “Hey, I let you battle that one guy...” Ash complained, his chocolate brown eyes narrowing. “Which would have been helpful, if the guy wasn’t completely flat broke...” Misty shot another dark look at him, blue eyes flashing dangerously. “It also would be helpful if you didn’t have to buy a new pair of shoes every couple of months. What, are you eating those things too?!” she added sarcastically. Brock sighed. “Guys, what’s important right now is the fact that we can’t continue to the next town until we get some money.” He stopped and ran his fingers through his short brown hair. “Looks like we’re gonna have to find some jobs...”

Misty shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. After all, I used to work a bit myself, back before I became a trainer.” She looked at their surprised faces. “What? I had to earn SOME money to start my Pokémon journey with, didn’t I? And Cerulean City is pretty lax when it comes to child-labour laws... ” She brushed away a strand of her bright orange hair that had come loose from her ponytail. “So there’s plenty of stuff I can do, especially if anyone needs a swim teacher...” she smiled. Brock nodded. “Right. There might be a cafe around here that needs some temporary help, so I can wander around til I find a ‘help wanted’ sign anywhere.” They both look at Ash, eyebrows raised. “Well?” Misty asked, hands on the hips of her denim shorts. “And how exactly are you going to contribute?” Ash nervously shuffled his feet and rubbed the back of his head, making his short black hair even messier. “Uh, I-I dunno... All I really know how to do is Pokémon. Maybe I can just find somewhere to battle people, and...” “Oh, no you don’t!” Misty interrupted. “There is no way that you are gonna have all the fun whilst we slave away, Ash Ketchum! You’re getting a job, even if it kills you!”

The next morning... “Okay, I’d better get to the diner. I do NOT want to be late on my first day. See you guys!” Brock called as he ran out the Pokécenter door. “Bye!” Misty called back before returning to fixing her hair. “I’d better be going soon myself...,” she added, finishing with a decisive snap of her hair tie. “After all, my class will be waiting.” Ash sighed. “I’ll just stay here, see if Nurse Joy needs any help, or something...” Misty glanced over at him and sighed. “Look, Ash, why don’t you come with me. After all, I am teaching CPR, and you are good at drowning... Plus, you’ll be paid for being my assistant. Not to mention the fact that you’ll be helping to teach people an important life skill. You never know, you might learn something yourself...” she smiled at him. Ash shrugged and stood up. “Yeah, okay...” Misty nodded at Pikachu. “And you can help too, okay?” “PIKA!

Sometime later, the class was in full swing. Ash, lying on the ground in his swim trunks playing the ‘victim’, had already helped Misty demonstrate how to check for a pulse, check for breath, and how to place someone in the recovery position, along with a quick example of the chest compression required to help the heart restart. “Okay, now if the victim,” Ash waved briefly. “who doesn’t need to wave every time I say that,” Misty added with a small glare, “isn’t breathing, which he won’t be soon if he continues to make that face, then you’d better hope that you don’t need a breath mint, because you’ll need to give them mouth to mouth as soon as possible. Remember, you don’t need to get all the water out of their lungs, just the excess, okay? Of course, this is already assuming that you’d made sure that their airway isn’t blocked.” She waited as the various pairs checked their partners and glared at someone making gagging noises.

“Now, tilt their heads back, so the air goes into their lungs, not their stomachs, and give two breaths every few seconds, for around fifteen a minute. In the case of a child, or a baby, it’s two small puffs, no more than a cheek full, around twenty times a minute.” Misty stopped to give everyone a chance to process this. “Make sure that your cheek seals off their nostrils. If you feel breath on your cheek, pinch their nose and continue, like so...” Misty casually leaned forwards, tilted Ash’s head back, pinched his nose and placed her mouth over his. After a moment, she sat back up. “Don’t waste precious seconds giggling, or freaking out about ‘locking lips’ with someone who might be a complete stranger, as they might just be seconds that you really can’t spare. Now, you all do it.” Ash sat up, face red as Misty carefully watched everyone to make sure that they all understood. ‘Wow, was that, part of the demonstration, or...’

“Okay now, switch roles; let’s make sure your partners can do this too.” Misty called out. ‘Now THAT was fun... don’t look at his face, be professional about this, girl... I really hope I’m not blushing...’ “Okay, great work everyone. Remember, for a baby, you might have to cover both their mouth and nose with your mouth, seeing as there’s less room to work with. And remember not to breathe too hard, or you could damage their little lungs. I think that’s it for today. Thank you to my friend, Ash, for playing the goofy victim, and to his Pikachu too, just for being cute. Pick up a pamphlet at the door, and if there’s anything that you still don’t get, come back for tomorrows’ lesson. Same time, same place.” Misty stood up and brushed some dirt off her knees. “Okay Ash, you can get dressed now. I’ll go see about today’s pay.” She turned and walked away, leaving Ash sitting there, thoughts racing.

That night, Ash lay awake and stared at the ceiling above his head. ‘It HAD to be part of the demonstration; she would have said if it wasn’t, right? Maybe I should ask her... NO! I can’t! She might think... I know! If she does it again tomorrow, then it’s just work, if she doesn’t, then... I don’t know...’ Misty heard the springs of the bunk above her creak. ‘Hmm, I guess he can’t sleep either... I wonder... nah, that can’t be it... could it?’ She grinned faintly in the darkness. ‘Maybe tomorrow, I should French him...’ She quickly shoved her fist into her mouth to stifle the giggle threatening to burst forth. ‘Definitely NOT! But I will ‘demonstrate’ on him again, THAT’S for sure...’ Misty glanced over at Brock, flat out on his back, snoring loudly. ‘I guess he worked pretty hard today... oh well, it was HIS idea...’

Over the next week, Brock continued working as a short order cook at the nearby diner, coming back exhausted every night. Ash, thoroughly enjoying being the ‘victim’, kept helping Misty with her CPR class. Finally... “Hey guys, great news!” Brock called out as he came into the room one evening. “I just checked, and we finally have enough money to continue travelling. The owner of the diner wants me to work one more day, but after that, we can get out of here.” Ash and Misty glanced at each other. “Yeah? That’s, great Brock, really...” “Yeah, best news I’ve heard all week...” Brock stared between them. “What? Gee, I thought you guys would be a BIT more excited about this...” Misty shrugged. “Yeah, we are... we’re just, tired I guess, from work today, that’s all...” Ash nodded. “Er, yeah. I’m pretty beat...” Misty nodded. “So, tomorrow I tell the guy at the pool that it’s our last day, and then the day after, we leave, right?” Brock shook his head. “No, actually, the day after, we’ll have to shop for supplies, but once that’s done, yeah, we’ll leave.”

“Okay, Ash, I’ve got our last pay checks, so... we should go now...” Ash nodded. “Yeah, come on, Pikachu...” They slowly walked out of the pool gate and started towards the Pokécenter, carefully looking everywhere but at each other. “It’s been an, interesting, week or so, hasn’t it?” Ash nodded softly. “Yeah. Kinda fun, too...” Misty smiled. “Yeah...” They walked quietly for a short while. “We’ll probably have to get new jobs at some point... when we run out of money again, that is...” Misty glanced sideways at Ash, smiling softly. “So we should probably keep in practice...” Ash nodded. “Yea- wait, what?” He stared blankly at Misty, who blushed deeply. “Well, there’s no reason why we can’t practice a bit til then...” She leaned over and kissed him gently on the mouth. “All the important bits, at least...” Ash blushed and grinned widely. “Well, practice DOES make perfect, or so they say...” Misty giggled as he reached out and pulled her closer. “So they do, Ash, so they do.”

Okay, just so you know, the ‘so many breaths a minute’ info is apparently correct, I got it out of a ‘08’ diary, which has basic first aid info in the back. But if you’re not sure what to do in an emergency, you should let the professionals do what needs to be done. After all, that is what they get paid for. Just remember, CPR is NOT an excuse to make out with people. Breath responsibly. J

PROFESSOR WOLFSBANE.

10-Nov-08.