December 24, 2016
3:00 PM PST

Marty Jr was sure getting frustated, as he couldn't seem to find the new movie for his sister. It was a brand new movie that starred Andrew Vincent, entitled My Father and Me. In fact, he also rather wanted to see the movie - which was about a teenage boy who became his father, when his own father was a teenager. It looked interesting.

As Marty Jr walked up to the clerk, who wore a nametag that read Stephanie, he felt a strange feeling come over him. He felt attracted to the girl, but it couldn't be. After all, he already had Harmony - the girl he grew up with. He began to feel confused.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" Marty Jr asked of the clerk called Stephanie. "I wanted to pick up My Father and Me, but I really can't seem to find it anywhere. I sure was hoping that I pick it up for a Christmas present. Would you happen to know where it is?"

"Oh, it looks like that movie might've just run out of copies," Stephanie replied, as she smiled at Marty Jr. "It does appear to be a huge hit. We might have some more in the back, though. Why don't you come with me? By the way, you look so familiar to me."

"Well, you're maybe either thinking of Michael J Fox," suggested Marty Jr, somewhat nervously, "or else, you're thinking of my father. I'm Marty McFly Jr, and I sure have dreams to follow in my father's footsteps. Four of my friends and I have sure formed a rock band called Machinehead. I never liked this rap crap that passes for music."

"Oh, so that's why you look quite familiar to me!" gushed Stephanie. "I live just a little outside of town, and I went to a private school. I did manage to brush shoulders with your father a few times. By the way, my name's Stephanie Stebbs. I also have a twin sister, Stacy, who enjoys your father's music. By the way, do you have a girlfriend?"

Marty Jr was stunned silent, as he took a closer look at the girl. She certainly was real pretty, and he really couldn't help but feel attracted to her. However, he was already dating Harmony. Just how was he supposed to let this attractive girl down gently?

"That's what I thought," Stephanie replied, smiling encouragingly. "How could a guy as cute as you not have a girlfriend?" As Marty Jr suddenly felt stunned, she added, "So, anyway, how would you like to go on a date with me on Monday? How'd that sound?"

Marty Jr was suddenly taken aback. He really didn't understand where the clerk had the idea that he was single. Also, how was he supposed to respond to the girl? That made Marty Jr feel quite ill at ease. He sure couldn't help but her to be attractive. It was going to be rather hard to say "no" to her, when she was smiling so hopefully.

"Uh, yeah, sure," Marty Jr replied, before he could help himself. "I mean, you are so pretty - and you seem real nice. It is quite a wonder I haven't ever seen you around before. I guess that's really because you went to a private school. I rather would've liked to have gone to one. For one thing, there would be no Jeb Strickland around."

"Who's Jeb Strickland?" Stephanie asked, gently. "Oh, I guess he must be a bully. We sure had bullies at our school, too. Anyway, the classes were rather hard - but I sure am real happy to have gotten a good education. What was it like for you, at school?"

"Actually, Jeb Strickland was our principal," explained Marty Jr. "He really did seem to side with the bullies, though. He was certainly much worse than useless, when it sure came to those who got mercilessly picked on. He acted like it was the victim's fault."

"Well, now that's not right," Stephanie replied, gently. "Anyway, why don't you give me your phone number and address - and I'll call you maybe sometime tomorrow. Of course, I'm really going to be busy with my folks tomorrow. I think it's just wonderful that you happened to show up. Anyway, here's the video you were looking for."

"Yeah, uh, thank you," Marry Jr replied, nervously. He suddenly felt guilty for taking up on Stephanie's offer of a date, but knew it was too late to back down. "I'm a little bit, uh, busy. I mean, I really do have a Christmas party with my family tonight."

"I sure hope you have a lot of fun, uh, Marty," replied Stephanie, as she took out her thumb pad. As Marty Jr pressed down his thumb, she added, "I rather wish I could be at the Christmas party with you, but we've just met today. You have a great day!"

Marty Jr flashed her a lopsided smile, before he left the store. As he walked out, he began to feel geat dread. How could he do something that was very rash? It wasn't like him to be entranced by another girl, that he'd accept her offer of a date! It was like a horrible nightmare. He began to feel real sick, and tears began to fill his eyes.

oooooooooo

Marlene felt rather elated, as she was shopping with her boyfriend. In a way, it sure was even more fun than shopping with Lila and Sheila. She wondered if Mike was the boy she actually ended up marrying in the future that she was shown last year.

She then decided it was best to put the events of last year out of her mind. After all, she has rather grown a lot within the last year. She remembered the time earlier that year, when her father was real ill. Her relationship with her father was a bit strained, and she has a strong fear that her father actually favoured her brother over her.

She was just visited by the younger version of her father, from thirty years earlier. It was when she first learned about Dr. Emmett Brown's time machine. He had just done a very good job of reassuring her. She since had a new appreciation for her father.

"I'll be looking forward to meeting the rest of your family, Marlene," Mike commented, huskily. "I know you guys were pretty close to your cousin, Brent. So you really don't have any cousins on your mother's side of the family, as she was an only child?"

"Right, she didn't have any brothers or sisters," Marlene replied, "although Grandma Josie had a couple of miscarriages, before Mom was born. I actually do wish Andrew Vincent and Emerald Green were coming for Christmas, again. I think Andrew is very talented, and I sure sometime wish he ended up marrying me - instead of Emerald."

"I used to have a crush on Emerald Green, myself," replied Mike. "I actually do know all about celebrity crushes. My mom was always a real big fan of Michael J Fox - and then, after your father became real famous, then she also started liking him a lot."

"I think Michael is a decent enough actor," Marlene commented, quietly, "but I'm not quite as much into him as my brother and Harmony are. I guess it's pretty natural to like people who resemble you, but it's always really given me the creeps that I.."

"... look like a feminine version of him?" Mike asked, gently. "Anyway, you know what I think would be great to have at the party. I was actually quite thinking of picking up some ingredients, so that we could have grasshoppers. Wouldn't that be nice?"

"Absolutely not, Mike!" Marlene protested, in a firm voice. "My father has had quite a drinking problem, during a good portion of his career as a rock star. There is really no way I'm going to let you bring alcohol into our house. If you sure would like to have a little something with mint in it - we could maybe just make some mint shakes, okay?"

"Gee, Marlene, aren't we being so uptight?" Mike asked, as he shook his head. "Look, Marly, it's Christmas! I mean, it sure is quite a special occasion! It really wouldn't hurt to have grasshoppers just for one night, would it? Let's just be reasonable about it!"

"I'm sorry, Mike," Marlene replied, tersely, "but I do not want alcohol at the party! My father sure wouldn't be happy about it, and neither would my mother. In fact, I really don't think anyone would like it! My father did have a real drinking problem, after all!"

"Well, nobody said that your father has to drink it," Mike argued, "or that you have to drink it. I really figured it'd be a nice treat for those who are interested. Are you quite sure that there's no room for compromise, Marly? After all, people really don't have to drink it - if they don't want to. That way, everybody could be happy. Think about it!"

"You don't get it, do you?" Marlene argued, as she raised her voice. "Is it quite that necessary to have alcohol, in order to have fun? I just don't want to be responsible for any problems that should come about, if anyone should really drink too much. If you really loved me, Michael Hartford, you'd respect my wishes! No alcohol, okay?"

"How about thinking of how I feel, Marlene McFly?" shouted Mike, with anger. "I mean, if you're really going to be like this - then maybe you're just not the kind of girl that I thought you were! You know, maybe it'd be better to end our relationship!"

"Don't tell me you're breaking up with me, Mike," Marlene pleaded, just as tears came to his eyes. "Mike, I really love you so much. I mean, I never quite felt the same way about any other guy! Please, Mike, don't leave me! I really can't stand to lose you!"

"You know, Marlene, I also thought I quite loved you," Mike commented, as his voice was shaking a little. "I just can't go out with a girl who's as stubborn as you, though. After all, you're not even open to any such compromises. You know, I was hoping to make this day special for us. However, I guess I have no choice but to leave you!"

"No, Mike! Please wait!" Marlene called out, as Mike turned around to leave. Marlene's eyes suddenly filled up with tears. This didn't at all seem like the Mike Hartford that he knew and love. "Oh, Mike, why couldn't you have been a little more understanding?"

Marlene never felt so heartbroken in her life, as she headed into a washroom. As she stepped into one of the stalls, she began to cry. It quite looked as if the day she was hoping would be special was quickly turning into a nightmare. She felt so hopeless.