Disclaimer: I do not own Back to the Future.

November 30, 1985
1:00 PM PST

The look was back on her face. She couldn't believe that this was what Christmas was like a century into the future. The radio station was currently playing Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, and that song made her feel real sick. Whatever happened to songs like Silent Night, O Holy Night, Joy To The World, Little Town of Bethlehem, and Angels We Have Heard On High? Real Christmas songs!

'Hey, Clara?' Doc asked, concerned. 'Are you feeling okay? What's wrong?'

'I really don't like this song,' Clara said, sighing. 'This is not real Christmas music, and it doesn't make me feel merry. Can we please put something else on the radio?'

'Yeah, Jennifer,' Marty said, nodding, 'I don't care for this kind of music, either. If we can't find a radio station that plays traditional Christmas music, then we might as well just listen to rock and roll. There is a real lack of hard rocking Christmas songs. I just don't care for the schmaltzy pop stuff. Either go rock and roll, or go traditional.'

'Thank you, Marty,' Clara said, smiling gratefully. 'I'm glad someone else agrees with me. I'll even take Jingle Bells over this poppy crud. At any rate, this song is way too depressing. Whoever wrote that depressing song must have been out of his mind.'

'It was writtten by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane,' explained Marty. 'Originally, the lyrics to the tune were even more sombre and depressing - but it was Judy Garland who requested that the lyrics be changed to it's more current form. I agree with you, though, that even just the melody itself is depressing. I never did like that song.'

'Originally,' added Jennifer, 'the song went 'Have yourself a merry little Christmas, it may be your last.' I agree that it is too negative for a Christmas song. What's wrong with songs like I'll Be Home For Christmas and The Christmas Song, though?'

'They're just too poppy, I guess,' replied Marty. 'I'm not one of those people who are opposed to all pop music, but I just don't think pop music and Christmas go good together, if you know what I mean. I guess I just like Christmas carols the best.'

'I guess I'm not too particular of what we listen to,' Doc said, sighing. 'I mean, it's been a while since I've felt real motivated to decorate my house for Christmas. I mean, Clara, at this time next time, we'll have a baby to celebrate Christmas with. Soon we'll actually have a family. If it's a boy, I would like to names him Jules.'

'Right,' Clara said, nodding, 'and if we ever have a second boy, his name should be Verne. I mean, it's only fittting tthat we name our kids after our favourite author. I guess I'm disappointed, though, that Christmas in this day and age has become so commercialized. It's like people seem to have forgotten all about the real meaning of Christmas. I mean, it seems like people just care about getting presents - rather than about celebrating the birth of Christ, and spending quality time with friends and family. I just don't think Christmas is what it used to be. I mean, don't get me wrong. There are many things about this era that I like, but I do think a few things have gone real downhill. I've seen how greedy kids can be around this time of year.'

'Well, come on, Clara,' urged Marty.'It's not all bad. Besides, you have to admit that the houses decorated with Christmas lights is very pretty. Besides, it really shouldn't matter what other people think of Christmas. I mean, we can still celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, no? I mean, we can start setting up the Christmas tree, soon - and we can bake Christmas cookies together. We can go to church together on Christmas eve, and attend the candle light service. We can also put on some better music. Let's see what we have here, in the way of Christmas music.'

'So I gather you don't want Nat King Cole's Christmas?' Jennifer asked, teasingly.

'Uh, no,' replied Clara, shaking her head. 'Real Christmas music should be songs sung by a choir and played by an orchestra. I mean, since I've moved to this era, I've come to appreciate all kinds of music. I don't even mind listening to rock and roll, sometimes. When it comes to Christmas music, though, I have my standards.'

'What about Christmas lights, though?' asked Marty. 'I'm sure they didn't have them in your time, as electricity wasn't all that widespread yet. I think they're so pretty.'

'I agree with you, Marty,' Clara said, smiling. 'I like riding around town and looking at all the pretty Christmas decorations. Maybe I am being a bit too negative. It's just that some of the ads you see on TV and hear on the radio really depresses me.'

'Maybe we can listen to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra,' suggested Doc.

'Who?' Marty asked, confused. 'Who on earth is the Trans-Siberian Orchestra?'

'Oh, they're a progressive rock/metal orchestra from the future,' explained Doc. 'I took a trip to 2005 last week to pick up some items for my computer, and I caught sight of this CD. You guys might really enjoy this music. It's a little different.'

'What are we going to listen to this CD on, though?' asked Jennifer, confused.

'I did pick up a CD player when I was in 2005,' explained Doc. 'CDs and CD players are a lot more common in the future.'

'Oh, yeah, I do remember seeing all those boxes of discs when we were in 2015,' Marty said, smiling. 'Okay, let's listen to it, then. It sounds like they might be good.'

'They were founded by Paul O'Neill, Robert Kinkel, and Jon Oliva in 1996,' added Doc. 'Well, I guess I shouldn't tell you too much more about them. I'll just put the CD in, and we can enjoy the music. This CD is called The Lost Christmas Eve.'

Marty and Jennifer smiled at each other, as Doc popped the CD into the CD player.

'Hey, Doc, this is awesome!' exclaimed Marty. 'I wish I could play this CD for my friends - but I understand that playing a futuristic CD in front of a wide audience can have nasty replications on the space-time continuum. The music is so good, though.'

'I must say, Marty,' Doc said, smiling, 'you are getting very smart. Well, let's go bake some sugar cookies now, shall we? Marty, don't eat all the cookie dough. We want to get as many cookies as possible out of it. Besides, the batter has raw eggs in it, and we don't want you to get sick. Well, how does that sound everyone?'

'Sounds fine with me!' Marty and Jennifer said, in unison. Then they both laughed.

'Sure, let's do it!' Clara said, smiling. 'Thanks to you people, I'm feeling much better now. I guess I do miss some things about the Old West, but we can still have fun celebrating Christmas together here. You guys are all family.'

Marty, Jennifer, Doc, and Clara all put their arms around each other in a group hug. Clara smiled, as she thought about the three very special people in her life. They could start some new Christmas traditions together - and, by this time next year, little Jules would be joining in on the festivities.