Disclaimer: I do not own Back to the Future.
Author's Note: Calvin feels distressed, when his editorial about family garners scorn from some of his peers.
November 15, 1985
3:08 PM PST
Calvin McFly smiled, as he picked up a copy of the school's newspaper. He felt rather ecstatic, as he saw that the editorial he wrote was printed. By the urging of his twin, Marty, he decided to write an article on family - and about how he sure treasured his new family. It wasn't even a whole month, yet - and his future seemed to be bright.
Sometimes, Calvin couldn't help but think that this was just one very wonderful dream - and that, soon, he'd be back in that other world. After all, his current situation quite seemed a little too good to be true. Did he even really deserve to have this new life?
Since arriving in this world, Calvin was amazed by how much was different. It seemed nearly like a utopia, even as he realized that the world was still very far from perfect. He was keenly aware of the fate of those living in third world countries, for instance.
Still, this world definitely seemed to hold more a lot hope. It really felt good to see his former stepfather, Biff Tannen, being relegated to an auto dealer. It simply felt good to live in a smaller house, as well. At the moment, he was real anxious to head home. However, just before he turned the corner, he overheard some of the other pupils.
"Isn't this just quite pathetic, everyone?" commented DeDe Drake, who was amongst the school's biggest snobs. "Of all the things that a person could actually wish for, he wishes for a... Get this, guys! He wishes for a family! Isn't that just very lame?"
"Yeah, families are so overrated," commented one of DeDe's friends, as she rolled her eyes. "I mean, my parents are hardly ever around - and I'm glad of it! I think it's quite nice, in fact, to not having parents around to breath down your throat. In fact, I..."
Tears filled Calvin's eyes, as he rather couldn't believe what he was hearing. He knew that he shouldn't be eavesdropping, but he couldn't help overhearing them. He simply was well-aware of the fact that not all of his peers really shared his appreciation for a family. Still, he couldn't believe that some people actually felt the need to mock him.
"Just what you'd quite expect from a McFly," snorted Douglas Needles. "After all, you really should see how tight Calvin and his twin are. It just makes me feel so sick! They both must be in love, if you ask me! In fact, I think they might as well get married!"
Tears fell from Calvin's eyes, as he felt so hurt. Of course, he had a close relationship with his twin and counterpart. Yes, he loved Marty a lot! Still, it didn't quite mean that he had romantic feelings for Marty. There actually were other types of love, after all.
"Did you notice how much he quite rambled on," DeDe asked, with disgust, "about his parents? I mean, it's something you'd really expect from a five year old! I think it's so unnatural for someone our age to care that much about mommy and daddy. He even says that he refuses to live in a dorm, when he goes to college. He's just real weird!"
"Oh, I second that!" scoffed another girl. "I mean, living in a dorm is part of the fun! I can't imagine why anyone would want to stay home. I mean, it's really a chance to be independent. If you ask me, I do think Calvin is in severe need of professional help."
Calvin choked back a sudden sob. Didn't these people have any compassion? He quite felt heartbroken. Sometimes, though, he wondered if just talking to a councillor would help. He couldn't exactly explain, though, that he was really from another dimension.
"Oh, I understand that he simply had a miserable life," added yet another girl. "Still, it doesn't quite change the fact that his weird obsession is his family is just pathetic and stupid. He's almost an adult, and I think it's totally dumb for him to even care. Yeah, I remember being close to my family, when I was younger. I've since outgrown that."
"Why does he care, so much?" scoffed the second girl. "The thing is, I rather find it to be juvenile! I really can't believe believe that it's even gotten printed! There are more important things to discuss. Things like the fashion disasters in this school, and the..."
"Calvin," whispered a familiar voice. Calvin was quite startled, as he turned around. It was his twin and counterpart, Marty. With concern, he asked, "What's wrong? I really would like to go to Francesca's Italian Diner, this evening. Why are you crying, Cal?"
"It's those girls," whispered Calvin, as he motioned for his twin to walk the other way. Through sobs, he added, "Oh, Marty, they were mocking me! I simply couldn't believe some of what they said. The thing is, Marty, I'm sure starting to regret my decision of submitting that editorial for the newspaper. They've said things like how pathetic I..."
"I'm real sorry, Cal," Marty replied, as he placed his arm around his twin. "Well, I think we should head to Francesca's Italian Diner. I'm really feeling hungry, and it'd sure be nice to... Jenn has other plans for tonight, so it'd be real nice to not include the girls."
"Yeah, Felicia also had plans," Calvin agreed, nodding. "Of course, I quite understand that Felicia is one of Jenn's closest friends. I think she's quite a great girl. When I was at boarding schools, I... I did date, every now and then. Still, I never really had a..."
"I'm happy that things are really working out," Marty replied, as he flashed a lopsided smile. "Anyway, try to cheer up. I won't worry about what those other kids think. It's perfectly natural for you to... If I simply had been in your situation, I'm quite positive that I'd also..." With sudden laughter, he added, "Oh, I sure keep forgetting how..."
Calvin cracked a little smile, as he realized what his twin was about to say. Of course, Marty would've become exactly like Calvin - if he had been the one to grow up in the other world. For, at one time, Calvin himself was known as Martin Seamus McFly!
oooooooooo
Calvin smiled, as he glanced at his twin and counterpart. For dinner, they ordered the "all you can eat" stuffed shells and garlic bread. Having simply been raised in different environments, Calvin and Marty didn't quite share the exact same tastes in food. Yet, stuffed shells happened to be one of the foods that the two of them could agree on.
"I suppose I shouldn't let them get to me," Calvin commented, sighing. "I can't expect for everyone to appreciate wen I've been through. I don't care if it seems so childish, though. After all, my childhood wasn't exactly a picnic. I really do think I deserve..."
"Try not to worry about it, Cal," Marty suggested, gently. "In a way, I can just relate to what you're going through. Perhaps, not on the same level. In a way, I also can... Well, if you remember what..." He turned his head, as he asked, "Hello, young lady!"
"Would either of you, by any chance, be Calvin McFly?" the girl asked, quietly. Calvin smiled, as he nodded. "My name is Angela Kinney. You can also just call me Angie. As I'm just a freshman, I never really got to speak with either of you. At any rate, I just read your editorial - and I'd like to... Well, I just wanted to say that... I'm touched."
"Do you really mean that?" Calvin asked, stunned. Angie smiled, quite pleasantly. "It's sure... Well, to be very honest, I was a little worried that not enough people would... You quite have made my day. Angie, I can't tell you just how much this means to me."
"Well, I just wanted to thank you," Angie continued, quietly. "You see, this morning, I really had a fight with my mother. I sure regret to say that... Well, I said that I hated her. Of course, I didn't really mean it. Since reading your editorial, though, I came..."
"Oh, Angie, I'm sure that your mother will understand," Calvin explained, softly. "I do feel good, though, knowing that my article was able to make a difference. Granted, it still is... Well, I have yet to fight with either of my parents - but that's simply because I recently reunited with them. I'm sure that we'll have our share of disagreements."
"Actually, we already did make up," explained Angie. "In fact, my mother's saving our spot. I thought of all the good times that we used to have, and I simply began to feel regret for how distant I've become. We were both crying, when I apologized to her."
"I'm quite happy for you, Angie," gushed Calvin. Suddenly, he reached out to hug the young girl. "I'm real happy to hear how everything has worked out. It's never too late to start over. It's nice that the two of you decided to eat out. It sure sounds like a..."
"Yeah, Calvin, I simply regret how foolish I've been," Angie replied, softly. "If I hadn't read your editorial, I just... I've quite been so caught up in wanting to be cool, and... At any rate, I should head back. I sure hope to see you around. I wish your band the best of luck, as well. It's so nice to be able to be good terms with my mother, again!"
"Enjoy your dinner, Angie," Calvin called out, as the young girl left. Turning to Marty, he added, "I can hardly believe it, Marty! She seems like a very nice girl. It really was a far cry, at any rate, from what DeDe and the others were saying. After all, it's..."
"You see, Cal?" Marty asked, smiling. "Some of the other kids were actually moved by your editorial. Anyway, as I was saying, even though I remember two pasts... There is still a part of me... Well, in the old timeline, my family wasn't exactly all too happy."
"Oh, I understand that," replied Calvin. "Well, at any rate, it does feels rather nice to do some brotherly bonding. While we're both, in essence, really the same person. It's very strange to think of how different we are. For instance, I do know how much you actually enjoy tacos. For me, though, I sure do still find tacos to be a little too spicy."
Marty just smiled back. As Calvin glanced over, he caught sight of Angie eating dinner with a fairly young-looking woman - who, Calvin figured, was her mother. They rather seemed to be enjoying themselves. Indeed, a family was quite a nice thing to cherish.
