Marriland

It's been years since I first encountered Pokemon Red Version. I was five years old when I waltzed into Target and begged my mom to buy me the newest Pokemon game! I whipped out my huge, fat gray Gameboy and plead my case, she finally caved and got it for me! I was ecstatic! And that wasn't even the best part, she later took me to K-B Toys in the local mall and there I laid my eyes on someone that will be in my life even now, as a 19-year-old college student, a large Charizard Plush toy! From that moment on, I wasn't Kyle, I was Kyle & Charizard; in school, around town, etc. Years would go by, and I would eventually become engrossed with the game and everything about the Pokemon Culture. It was my great escape. I truly love Pokemon and still do. Although, through my life that bond would be strained. I would wake up to my mother and father fighting, words like daggers being thrown at those who gave me life. I was only a mere child. I didn't want my parents to fight, but what was I to do? The only thing I could do was hold my Charizard, "Will everything be okay? ... I hope so Charizard..." I would be rolling around in bed not being to sleep a wink until i heard the door slam.... And just like that, my life would change forever. I lived with my mom for the most of my life, I would visit my father on school breaks, I would always pretend I was flying on the back of my Charizard when I was on the plane to visit my pops in New England. I would soar high above the clouds among the Pidgeots and Fearow, the Unfezant and the Braviary. I would always be happy when I had my Charizard! Chunks of time would pass and I would enjoy the time Charizard and I would spend. Middle school was always rough, and it was just a speed bump for Charizard and I. We had overcome so much and this was no exception. My older sister who I was so close with just graduated from High School and now she was gone too, leaving my mother and myself. I would spend hours talking to momma and Charizard altogether. My mother finally came up with a question, "Hey Kyle, why haven't you named that Charizard yet??" Now this was big for me, the first time my mom hadn't called another Pokemon Pikachu! I was thrown for a loop. My god! I haven't named my best friend, through 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and later, 3 high schools. I spent days thinking of a name. I had always imagined a soft spoken, music to my ears melody of a voice, that lovely "Chaaarrrr" I had always imagined stuck with me, until it hit me! Pyrra. Another milestone for Chariz- oh, Pyrra and I. High school was always something changing. I always would come home to Pyrra sitting on my bed, waiting for a conversation about my day. I would tell her everything, from starting on the Varsity Football team, to making the Color Guard for my school's Air Force JROTC program. I would have a massive group of friends for the first time in a long while! I had a pack. People I could listen to music, hang out with during lunch and everything. It was a great feeling! Yet again, things would come crashing down. Another move. This time, I would be moving to New England to live with my dad. Neat. As a junior in High School, I would hop on Pyrra's wings and she would take flight, climbing high above these big puffy white clouds. And here we are, a new town, new school all over again. Coming from a school of 3000 to 250 for total enrollment, all the seniors would ridicule me for being who I was as a person. This had never been a problem before, so naturally, Pyrra and I talked as usual. Senior year rolled around and it was the best year of my life! From winning the State Championship for Football, setting records in Track and Field, meeting the girl of my dreams, (who Pyrra was excited to have another gal to chat up about Pokemon and music and everything!) It finally came time to apply to colleges and I was freaking out about the essays, money, everything was always on my mind. But things would end up working out for this football-playing furry. I got accepted to where I am now. This is who I am now. I sit at my desk in my dorm room pondering about how Pokemon has truly meant something to me. All I would have to do is look down to this great, fuzzy Charizard plushie in my lap. Pyrra would be my inspiration.