May 1, 2017
4:00 PM PDT

Julia Belle Rundgren smiled - as she looked at her cousins, George Anthony McFly and Martin Seamus McFly Jr. After all, JB was looking rather forward to telling George and Marty Jr the big secret that she had discovered. The Cafe '80s didn't seem like a very good place for telling secrets, though - as the place was more than a little crowded.

For about as long as JB could remember, she was so close to her twin cousins. In fact, she was only one day younger than them. Anyone who knew them well might say that they were inseparable - and, in fact, many might guess that they were really triplets.

It wasn't to say that JB looked that much like George and Marty Jr, though. While the twins were just the spitting image of their father, Marty McFly Sr - JB was the spitting image of her Aunt Julia. In fact, Julia happened to also be the mother of the twins.

From the photos she has seen of her father and her aunt, the two of them also rather bore a great resemblance to each other. However, there was actually one major thing that she could never quite understand. The earliest pictures that she was ever able to find of her father and aunt had them being at the ages of seventeen and eighteen.

"Earth to Julia Belle," called out Marty Jr, as he began to wave his hand in front of her face. JB looked up, having been startled back into reality. "What is it with you, today? All day, JB, you seemed to be just a little... Well, you seemed to be very spaced out."

"I'm sorry, Marty," JB muttered, nervously. "It's just that... Well, I discovered a great secret that... I really don't think I can tell you in here. Still, I think I simply found out a way for us to... Well, for us to just learn more about my dad... as well as your mom."

"Really?" asked Marty Jr, excitedly. "That sounds quite awesome. I've always wanted to find out more about our mom's side of the family. Come to think of it, JB, you really bear a striking resemblance to Mom - from in the earliest pictures that we've just seen of her. Still, whenever we'd ask Mom for more information on her past, it seems as..."

"Hold the phone, you two!" interjected George. "Don't you think that, if Mom or Uncle Vincent wanted us to know about their past, they would've told us? I don't quite think it's right for us to invade in their privacy. I think it's downright disrespectful for us..."

"Just mellow out, George," protested Marty Jr. "After all, just think about it! Don't you think we quite have a right to know about our families? Right now, we just know about Grandpa Tony and Grandma Anne - as well as dear Uncle Brent, who is really our..."

"Granduncle, I know," George replied, sighing. "Well, I do hate to rain on your parade - but don't you think we rather need to respect Mom's wishes, as well as that of Uncle Vincent. Perhaps, to them, their past was rather an unpleasant time - and they would sooner just leave it behind. Honestly, why can't the two of you simply respect that?"

"Because, George, they are our family," insisted Marty Jr, quite impatiently. "You can't honestly be saying that you're simply not the least bit interested." Turning to JB, he added, "This is exciting, indeed. Well, JB, were you spending time up in the attic?"

"Not quite," JB replied, as a smile spread across her face. "Actually, I rather found out that Doc invented a little something that... that could help us. That just about all I can tell you, for now. When we're done eating here, we should head over to Doc's place."

"Doc?" Marty Jr asked, stunned. "You mean, as in Dr. Emmett Brown." When JB simply nodded, he added, "I thought he was gonna be gone, though, until Wednesday. That sounds awesome, though!" Turning to George, he added, "Don't even try to deny it! I can tell that you're really as curious about it, as we are. Why don't you just admit it?"

"Fine, I admit it," George replied, tersely. "I just don't think it's right to pry, though. In fact, have you ever even just thought that... that... Well, maybe the reason why our mother hasn't told us about her past - is because she's simply wanting to protect us."

"Protect us from what?" snapped Marty Jr, as he sounded very agitated. "George, we are almost nineteen years old, for crying out loud! Honestly, we sure don't need to be protected from anything. Whatever JB found out, I'm interested in hearing about it!"

"Fine, Marty," George replied, sighing with resignation. "Perhaps, I'm being just too... All right, when we're done eating here, we can head to Doc's place - and JB can really show us what she found." In a near whisper, he added, "In all honesty, I sure do feel a little scared of what we might find. Still, you two actually managed to convince me."

oooooooooo

"I still don't see just what you're afraid of, George," insisted Marty Jr, as the trio were heading to the Browns home. "Even if something very bad actually did happen, it's still way in the past. It's sure not like something that happened in the past could hurt us. I think, if anything bad did happen, we... We could just learn a little something from it."

JB sighed, as she found herself starting to feel a little apprehensive. In spite of Marty Jr sharing her enthusiasm, he really was concerned of how her cousins would react to the news. In fact, even she could hardly believe that what she found was quite real.

"Well, I really can't argue with that," George replied, nervously. "Come to think of it, I quite remember how, in our senior year of high school... Well, we had to research our family history - and Mom's side did seem... so small. Well, JB, what have you found?"

"I'm not too sure of how to go about telling you this," JB replied, nervously. "Well, you know how much of a genius Dr. Emmett Brown really is. Well, the thing is, I discovered that he invented, uh... Well, it turns out that he invented a... a time machine." With a feeling of nervous, she glanced at her cousins - worried of just how they might react.

"A time machine?" asked Marty Jr, in a near whisper. "Well, I always knew Doc to be a real genius - but... This just seems to be a little too... I swear, JB, you must simply be pulling our legs! If Doc invented a time machine, then... why haven't we heard of it?"

"Think about it, Marty," insisted JB, swallowing. "Time travel can really be a dangerous thing. If anyone had access to a time machine... Well, can you imagine what the state of this world be like? I think it makes perfect sense for Doc to just keep that a secret."

"Look, JB," protested George, as he placed his hands on his cousin's shoulders. "Even if everything you just told us is absolutely true - which I highly doubt - don't you think that Doc would really be a little upset by us taking his... time machine. Okay, I'll admit that I'm curious to see what the 1980s was like. Still, I just don't know if it's really..."

"Actually, JB, I really think my twin has a point," Marty Jr agreed, nodding. "Everyone who knows me knows how much I quite love the 1980s - and how much I, at times, do wish to have been a teen there. Still, even I'm starting to think that you're getting..."

"Please, you guys," begged JB, sighing. "I understand that this is very hard for you to believe, but... Well, we are almost at Doc's place. I can even prove it to you. Besides, it's not just about visiting the 1980s. It's also about learning more about our history."

"Well, if what you're saying really is true," replied Marty Jr, "don't you think we should simply invite Stephanie and Stacy to come along. Maybe invite Mike, as well. I mean, I think they'd just love to join us. Granted, the Stebbs are spending the week with their grandma - and Mike is away in Sacramento. Couldn't we, at least, just wait a week?"

"As much as I sure love dear Mikey," JB commented, sighing, "I figured that we should rather make this more of a family affair." Looking around, he added, "Well, guys, here we are! Let's just head over to the shed. That's where I found Doc's time machines!"

JB's heart was pounding, as her cousins followed her. Of course, she couldn't actually blame them for being a little skeptical. Had the roles really been reversed, she figured that she would've been just as skeptical. Just then, she swung the shed door open.

"Time machines, eh?" snorted George, as the trio stepped into the garage. "All I see is a DeLorean and a station wagon. What do you mean by saying..." He peaked into the driver's seat door window of the station wagon, as his eyes grew very wide. "Fine! So this isn't a normal station wagon. Still, what makes you think this is a time machine?"

"Look, guys," JB called out, as she opened the door. She pushed a lever, as the lights of the display panel lit up. "You see the three display panels? One simply tells you the present time, one tells you where you came from, and the last is where you input..."

"Well, George, I do think she's simply telling the truth," added Marty Jr, as he crawled into the station wagon. "This isn't wishful thinking, either," he added, as he lifted up a sheet of paper. "Apparently, when you get up to 88 miles per hour, this is when..."

"C'mon, George," urged JB, "why don't you simply hop inside? Granted, we went on a good many exciting trips. Still, nothing could be just as exciting as this one." She began to input the destination time, as she added, "All right! Let's just go to this very date, exactly thirty years ago. That will be 1987. I think this could be a lot of fun."

"Fine, whatever," George replied, as he stepped into the backseat. "Oh, I can't quite believe that I simply let you guys talk me into this. If anything goes wrong, Julia Belle Rundgren, then you owe me! You owe me, big time! I am entirely serious!"

"Right, George," JB replied, as he started the station wagon. She glanced at Marty Jr, who smiled at her. At least, one of the twins seem to be excited about it. "It sure will be a thrill, though. Once we reach 88 miles per hour, then it's off to 1987 we go!"