Our Little Card Shark

So, we have a problem or at least an issue. Our son has become, yes, a card shark. At all hours of the day he is shuffling through his deck trying to find what card is most valuable and what sneaky trades he can make. Yes, we are not the only ones with a problem, Harris has one too. When Harris was a toddler and we lived in University Village, I had a specific goal not to let my darling boy be a trader. Yes, a Pokemon trader. I would hope that this fad would wash by the wayside like Barney and Teletubbies. But, to my disdain it has appeared in my boy's life and has been reinforced by his own father. Aaron brought home a gallon Ziploc bag full of cards, after all our attempts to persuade Harris they were a waste of money to buy. To his credit, they were given to him by a medical assistant who was, at 18, now, too old for them. That should give you some inclination on the longevity of this trend. So I guess it was little relief to us that we might get spared a few weeks of Harris asking for more cards. To which we always reply, "They're a waste of money." Six bucks for a pack that contains 10 cards...and they don't come with gum. So, we were drivng home from school and Harris is telling me he has come to terms with not buying any new card packs. I was relieved. That is, until he explained that Sean down the street is unwise in trading and he could get his good cards with out hardly trying. You see, Harris is very astute to what a Pokemon is worth...he is studying right now as he watches Pokemon All-Stars, a ten disk set of shows covering the most important Pokemon and how they came to be. So, he has a plan and is making more as I type. Not only do I have no idea which Pokemon is of greatest value, shouldI be excited that he traded a Bathazar for a Scrmigeon; but, he is now ready to climb to the top of the Pokemon trader ladder and let no one knock him down. He has tactics. He has cards. So, as a warning, lock up your Pokemon, here comes Harris.