The sun is high in the sky, shining brightly on the park. People mill about, talking excitedly about the new Pokémon cards that just came out. I spot a kid with a card case, flipping through it with wide eyes as he finds his favorite monsters. A trainer nearby is showing off his latest catch to anyone who will listen—Gengar! It’s a ghost type, which makes it really rare and powerful.

I walk past the fountain where a group of girls are comparing their cards. They’re all talking fast, pointing at different Pokémon. I can see Pikachu and Charmander among them—those are easy to find. But I keep my eyes peeled for something more special.

At the snack stand, a boy is buying a deck of cards. He picks up a box with a picture of a tall, leafy creature on it. It’s Exeggutor! He looks so happy, running off to open his cards at the swings.

I decide to head over to the old oak tree by the picnic area. There’s a table set up there for trading, and I hope to find someone with some rare cards. As I approach, a girl my age is already there, holding out a card. “Wanna trade?” she asks, looking at me expectantly.

I nod and take her card. It’s Pidgeotto! She smiles and thanks me. We both go back to flipping through our new sets, finding cards we want. Today’s the day for Pokémon trading in this park—it’s like every Pokémon’s birthday!