Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

Stomach ache

Gary walked up to Richie and slipped the stethoscope under his shirt. " So you're having stomach problems?"

Richie nodded uncertainly and looked at Ash, who was sitting next to him and smiling encouragingly. " Go on. Tell him."

Richie took a deep breath. " I..... It started to hurt..... A few days ago but I just thought.... I.... Though it was because I ate too much. Now I'm not so sure."

Gary took a penlight and waved it in front of Richie's eyes. " Yeah, I think you have a stomach bug or something."

" What makes you say that?" Ash asked.

" Because his eyes are clear. If they were murky or foggy he woulda  been sick."

" B.... But how do we know?"

" Lie down and lift your shirt up." Gary instructed as he put gloves on. " You'll be fine."

Richie gulped glancing at Ash.

He was met with gentle eyes.

' you'll be fine.' ash reassured.

Richie lay back on the exam table, his shirt lifted just enough to expose his stomach. His hands gripped the edges of the table tightly as he watched Gary prepare.

Gary gently pressed his hands onto Richie’s abdomen, moving his fingers across different areas, feeling for any irregularities. “Let me know if you feel any pain or discomfort when I press, alright?”

Richie nodded, biting his lip as Gary continued the examination. When Gary pressed on a particular spot, Richie winced slightly.

“Here?” Gary asked, noticing the reaction.

“Yeah… kinda sore there,” Richie replied, trying to keep calm.

Gary gave him a reassuring smile. “That’s helpful. It might just be some inflammation.” He moved to another area, continuing to palpate with the same gentle precision.

After finishing, Gary reached for his stethoscope again and pressed it against Richie’s stomach, listening closely to the subtle sounds. Richie lay still, his eyes occasionally flicking to Ash, who was sitting close by, giving him a thumbs-up.

After a few moments, Gary straightened, nodding to himself. “Everything sounds normal so far,” he said, setting the stethoscope aside.

Ash leaned forward. “That’s good, right?”

Gary nodded. “So far, yes. But just to be thorough, I’ll run a quick ultrasound.”

Richie’s eyes widened. “An ultrasound? Isn’t that what they do to… to see inside you?”

Gary chuckled. “Exactly. It’s non-invasive and safe, and it’ll give us a clearer picture of what’s going on in there.” He rolled a small machine next to the table and spread a thin layer of gel across Richie’s abdomen. “This’ll feel a little cold, but it won’t hurt.”

Richie flinched slightly at the gel’s chill, but he took a deep breath as Gary moved the ultrasound wand over his stomach, the screen lighting up with grainy black-and-white images.

Ash leaned in with fascination. “Whoa… that’s so cool.”

Gary smiled, watching the screen closely. “It’s pretty amazing, right? Technology like this helps us catch any issues early.”

Richie, still tense, glanced nervously at the screen. “So… anything weird in there?”

Gary moved the wand a bit more, studying the images carefully. “Nothing major. I think it’s just some inflammation, probably from that stomach bug I mentioned. You’ll probably just need some rest and light food for a few days.”

Richie let out a breath of relief, and Ash patted him on the shoulder. “See? Not so bad.”

Gary pulled the wand away and grabbed a tissue to help Richie wipe off the gel. “Exactly, Richie. Some simple care, and you’ll be back to your normal self in no time.”

Richie managed a small smile, looking to Ash, who nodded proudly. “Told you it’d be okay.”

Gary chuckled. “You did great, Richie. I’ll write up some instructions for you, but I think you’re on the mend.”

Richie sat up slowly, visibly relieved. “Thanks, Gary… and Ash. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.”

Ash grinned. “What are friends for?”