12:30 PM PST
The kitchen looked different, as Marlene passed through with the ghost. This time, Jennifer was loading dishes into the dishwasher - and she was wearing soft pajamas. As they walked into the bedroom, Marlene saw a younger version of Marty Jr sitting on the floor. He was looking real sad, as he was attempting to play Sorry by himself.
'Why are you showing me this?' cried out Marlene. 'What on earth does this have to do with me? Why do you have to torment me like this?'
'Do you remember the Christmas of 2006?' asked the ghost, bluntly. 'This was the year that you refused to play with your brother, because you wanted to spend all your time playing with your Playstation 3. Remember that year?'
'Yeah, I guess I do,' Marlene said, sighing. 'What about it?'
Marty Jr then sighed with resignition, as he began to cry.
'Listen to your brother's thoughts,' instructed the ghost.
'Yeah, uh, okay,' stammered Marlene, as the ghost walked up to Marty Jr and placed her hand on his forehead.
I wish Marlene would play with me, Marty Jr was thinking, sadly. Why does she have to be so pre-occupied with that Playstation 3? I mean, I like video games, too. Why won't she share with me? Why is she being so selfish?
'You should get the idea, now,' commented the ghost, as she lifted her hand from Marty Jr's head. 'Know you know how much you hurt his feelings that year.'
'Well, look, I'm sorry!' cried out Marlene, in desperation. 'I don't even like video games anymore! Why do I have to see this? What is the point?'
'That's not the issue,' insisted the ghost. 'The issue is, you got so wrapped up in your present, you didn't even want to play with your brother. You didn't even want to share the Playstation 3 with him - or even with your friends.'
'Well, I did eventually share the gaming system,' protested Marlene. 'It's not like she never got to play, you know.'
'You only shared, because your parents made you,' reminded the ghost. 'Don't you remember? You even put up a big fight with them over it.'
'Please nump off, okay?' cried out Marlene. 'I don't need all these guilt trips. I feel bad enough already, okay? I'm sorry about my attitude recently, okay?'
'What about the atttitude you're taking with me right now?' countered the ghost.
'Well, I never asked you to visit me,' retorted Marlene. Then, in a softer tone, she added, 'Look, whoever you are, I just want to be left alone. Is that too much to ask?'
'I must do my duty, Marlene,' explained the ghost. 'Now I will show you what you've missed, when you were twelve.'
'Do I have to go?' pleaded Marlene, as tears filled her eyes.
'Yes, you do,' replied the ghost, as she reached for Marlene's hand. The scene changed around them, again.
oooooooooo
Marlene found herself standing by a hill, as she saw Marty Jr and Harmony sledding down the hill.
'This was the party that you refused to attend,' explained the ghost. 'You thought you were too old to do things like this. Remember? You thought you were way too mature to do kiddy things like go sledding.'
'Yeah, I guess so,' Marlene said, sighing. 'Do I need to be reminded of this?'
'Listen,' instructed the ghost, as she pointed to Marty Jr and Harmony.
'It's a real shame Marlene isn't here with us,' Marty Jr said, sadly. 'She doesn't realize how much she's missing out on - all in the name of maturity.'
'Well, it's her loss,' Harmony said, shaking her head. 'You know they're serving for dinner? Stuffed shells and garlic bread! It sounds good, doesn't it?'
'This is one of Marlene's favourite meals,' Marty Jr replied. 'I wonder what she plans to eat for dinner today. I'm sure it's not anywhere near as good as stuffed shells.'
'She's probably just going to eat at McDonald's again,' Harmony replied. 'I mean, come on! I like McDonald's as much as the next person, but I couldn't eat there as much as she does. Their fries aren't even all that good.'
'Well, let's go inside and get some hot cider, now,' suggested Marty Jr. 'Maybe later on today, we can go snowmobile riding. We could maybe go another dog sled ride, as well. Also, how about going on a hay ride? We shall have lots of fun.'
'Yeah, let's try to get our minds off of Marlene,' Harmony said, nodding with understanding. 'More than likely, it is just a phase she's going through. I'm sure she'll get over it, soon.'
'I really do love her alot,' Marty Jr said, sighing. 'I guess I just sometimes don't really understand her. I mean, I could never turn down going to a fun part like this.'
'Okay, I've heard enough, now,' insisted Marlene. 'Can we please go, now?'
'Yes, we can go now,' replied the ghost. 'Come with me. I must show you your old high school.'
'Yeah, uh, okay,' stammered Marlene, with a heavy sigh, as she reached out for the ghost's hand.
oooooooooo
Marlene found herself standing in front of Hill Valley High School. She then followed the ghost to the gymnasium. She could see signs for the 2012 Harvest Dance. She could smell the sweet scent of brownies and the savoury scent of tacos. Marlene then saw herself with the boy she briefly dated four years ago.
'Oh, Todd!' the younger Marlene was gushing. 'You are so cute! I want to spend Christmas with you. Just you and me. I'm fifteen years old, now. I'm not a child anymore. I don't need to do kiddy stuff with my family.'
'I agree with you, Marly,' purred Todd, as he gently nibbled the younger Marlene's ear. 'My alcoholic parents can go screw themselves. You're the girl of my dreams.'
'Oh, why are you showing me this?' Marlene cried out, to the ghost.
'I'm showing you how self-centred you've become,' the ghost said, bluntly. 'At least Todd had an excuse for not wanting to be with his family. What about you, though? What is your excuse? You have a wonderful family that loves you, you know.'
'Okay, I admit it!' cried out Marlene. 'I was young and foolish back then, okay? That event is so three years ago! Can we go already?'
'Now let's go into the gym,' suggested the ghost. 'We'll see what your brother was doing there, while you were out here with Todd.'
With a heavy sigh, Marlene followed the ghost into the gym.
'Oh, Marty, that sounds so wonderful!' Harmony was gushing. 'Family is very important, you know. I'm sure everyone in your family is so excited about this.'
'Well, no, not everyone,' Marty Jr said, shaking his head. 'Marlene doesn't want to spend time with us. She acts like she's too mature to do stuff like go sledding or make snow angels. She tells me that I'm being babyish, because I'm excited to do that sort of stuff. I guess I'd rather be babyish and fun-loving - than be mature and boring. I hope she has fun with Todd. She sure seems infatuated with him.'
'Don't worry about it,' Harmony said, soothing. 'She just doesn't know what she's missing. Think of it this way, Marty. It's her loss. She'll miss out on all the fun.'
'Yeah, this is just like three years ago, remember?' asked Marty Jr. 'I thought she would have been all over her phase by now, but I guess not.'
'Well, I guess we can't force Marlene to have fun,' Harmony said, sighing. 'Try not to worry about her so much. She's the one that's missing out, and it will be all her fault.'
'Well, you're right, Harmony,' Marty Jr said, nodding. 'Well, you're right.'
'Okay, I've heard enough,' Marlene pleaded, as tears filled her eyes. 'I'm sorry about the way I was acting. Can I go home, now?'
'Yes, now you can go home,' replied the ghost. The ghost snapped her fingers - and Marlene was once again lying on her bed.