"There it is, guys!" Ash pointed to the small white cabin sitting on the beach up ahead.

"Ash, are you sure it's okay for us to use Professor Oak's cabin? Don't you think we should've asked him first?" said Misty.

"Don't worry, Misty. He gave me the key and said that we could use it anytime we want. Last one to the cabin is a rotten egg!" Ash and Pikachu broke into a run.

"Wait for me!" Misty cried.

"And don't forget about me!" said Brock as he sprinted across the sand to catch up with his friends.

When the three reached the cabin's front steps, Ash pulled the key out of his pocket and opened the door.

"Oh, this is nice," said Misty as she put Togepi down in the spacious living room.

"I'll get dinner going," said Brock, heading for the kitchen.

Ash plopped down into one of the overstuffed chairs sitting next to the fireplace. "Professor Oak sure does have a nice place, huh, Misty?"

"He sure does. But still, I think we should've asked him before we came here," Misty replied.

"Quit being a worrywart, Misty. He said we could use the cabin anytime we liked. Besides, it's not as if he comes here every weekend."

"Are you sure, Ash? I'd hate to have him get angry with us."

"Oh, stop worrying, Misty. Why don't we go see what the rest of the place looks like?" The two headed down the hallway. Misty opened the first door on the left.

"There are two beds in this bedroom," she announced.

"And this must be Professor Oak's bedroom," said Ash as he opened the door across the hallway. "There's just one big bed here."

"Good. Because this is where I'm sleeping tonight," Misty said, plopping onto the wide double bed.

"Hey, that's no fair! How come you get the big bed?" Ash whined.

"Because I'm the only girl," Misty replied. "You two boys can share the other bedroom."

Grumbling, Ash kicked open the closet door and noticed a fuzzy garment that was lying on the floor inside it. "Hey, Misty, it looks like Professor Oak left his something the last time he was here."

"What is it, Ash?"

"Dunno." He held up the garment to his chest. "Looks like a sweater."

"Pink isn't your color, Ash."

Startled, Ash whirled around and saw Brock grinning at him from the doorway. "Geez, Brock! You shouldn't sneak up on a guy like that."

"Sorry. What are you doing, Ash? Trying on some of Misty's clothes?"

Misty stifled a giggle.

"No, Brock," Ash replied huffily. "I found it in Professor Oak's closet. He must've left it here."

Brock took the pink sweater from his friend. "Um, Ash, I don't think this is Professor Oak's."

"What do you mean, Brock? Sure it is. I found it in Professor Oak's closet."

Brock tried hard not to laugh. "Ash, this is a woman's sweater."

Ash's mouth fell open in disbelief. "No way!"

"That sly old dog," Brock grinned. "Professor Oak had a woman with him the last time he came up here."

"I didn't know Professor Oak even had a girlfriend," Misty said, taking the sweater from Brock. "I wonder who she is?"

"I thought he spent all his time in the lab," said Ash. "Where would he have time to meet a girl?"

"Maybe it's someone he works with," suggested Misty.

"You mean, like Professor Ivy?"

Ash quickly slapped his hand over his mouth, but it was too late. Brock was already lying in a fetal position on the floor, shaking. "T-t-t-that name…t-t-t-that name…"

"Now look what you did, big mouth," Misty scolded as she helped Brock up. "Are you okay, Brock?"

The color slowly returned to the boy's face. "I think so."

"Sorry, Brock," Ash apologized. "I should've known better than to say Professor…"

Misty quickly slapped her hand over Ash's mouth. "Don't make the same mistake twice!"

Brock picked up the pink sweater and studied it further. "Well, whoever it is, she has good taste in clothing." He scrunched up the garment in his face and breathed deeply. A dreamy expression appeared on the boy's face. "And she wears Sunflora Sunshine perfume."

"Maybe it's someone he knows, like someone in Pallet Town," Misty suggested. "Are there any women in Pallet Town that Professor Oak spends a lot of time with, Ash?"

"Other than my mom, no," Ash replied.

Misty and Brock exchanged "a-ha" looks.

"Man, that's a tough one. I wonder who it could be?" said Ash, who was clearly stumped. He thought over the matter for a moment and then noticed that Brock and Misty were grinning at him. "Hey, why are you guys looking at me like that?"

"It's it obvious, Ash?" Misty said. "Your mom is Professor Oak's girlfriend."

Ash's mouth fell open in horror. "No…no way! My mom…Professor Oak…no way!"

"Well, you have to admit that they do spend a lot of time together," said Brock. "And this does look like one of her sweaters. And a woman who loves gardening as much as Mrs. Ketchum would likely wear a floral perfume like Sunflora Sunshine."

"The reason my mom and Professor Oak spend a lot of time together is because they're neighbors!" Ash replied hotly. "They like to travel together because it's cheaper to carpool, and that's the same reason they stay in the same hotel."

"Sure it is, Ash," Misty grinned.

"Will you two cut it out? My mom is not dating Professor Oak!" Ash's face was growing redder and redder from a combination of embarrassment and anger.

"What's wrong with your mom dating Professor Oak?" asked Brock. "He seems like a pretty nice guy. And your mom's pretty nice herself."

Misty noticed that Brock was blushing.

"It's not that," said Ash. "It's just that…that…she's my mom! Moms aren't supposed to do stuff like…like…"

"Like leave their sweaters in their boyfriend's bedrooms?" Brock teased, dangling the pink garment in Ash's face.

"Give me that!" Ash growled, snatching the sweater away from the older boy. "Come on, Pikachu. Let's get something to eat. I'm starving."

To be continued…