Author's Note: On the night before April Fool's Day, Calvin is struggling with an identity crisis.
March 31, 1986
10:04 PM PST
Calvin McFly felt uneasy, as he thought of how the next day would be that day. It was the day that he and his twin brother, Marty, loved to switch places. With each passing year, it became tougher to fool anyone - as people became very familiar with the trick. It simply continued to be fun for Marty and Calvin, though - until this year!
A little over five months ago, though, it quite seemed as if his life would never be the same. It was when their older scientist friend, Dr. Emmett Brown, finished up his time machine - which he was working quite hard on, for much of the previous thirty years.
One night, Doc decided to invite only Marty on his first time travel experiment - as he figured that including Calvin might simply result in a time paradox. After Marty's week in 1955, he had new memories of another past - one where Calvin didn't even exist!
It certainly didn't help - when, just a little over two months ago, he was kidnapped by an alternate version of his mother. He was actually expected to replace the alternate Marty, as he himself didn't even exist in that world. It felt terribly unsettling to him. It wasn't that he didn't love his twin. He just happened to really value his own identity.
"Hey, Calvin?" asked Marty, as he knocked of Calvin's bedroom door. "I really wanted to you, if you don't mind. I just realized what tomorrow is, and I was quite wanting to know if... Well, I know how a lot has actually changed - within the past few months."
"Uh, yeah, okay," Calvin replied, as he opened the door. Calvin, in fact, was close to his twin - and he quite considered Marty to be his very best friend. It was simply that he didn't want to be Marty. "Well, Marty, what would you to like to talk about?"
"Well, I actually thought of a different idea," explained Marty, softly. "We both quite know how everyone expects for us to switch place - so, instead, I think that we should simply not switch places. When you think about it, Cal, if we really opt to not switch places... Well, since people are expecting for us to switch places..."
"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Calvin, as he mused over what his twin suggested. It took a brief moment for him to figure out what Marty meant. "Y'know, I suppose that quite wouldn't be a bad idea. What you mean is, if we simply be ourselves, then people..."
"... would quite assume that we really switched places," finished Marty, as he flashed a lopsided smile. "So, Cal, what do you think? After all, it'd just be something nice and different - and we wouldn't be doing the same old boring thing? Would you be game?"
"Uh, yeah, I guess that could work," Calvin replied, as he still felt rather uneasy. "It's just that... Well, since Doc unveiled the time machine, I actually do tend to really feel a little... a little insecure. After all, you really gained these new memories of a past... a past where our family wasn't so successful... and a past where I didn't even exist."
"C'mon, Cal, relax!" urged Marty, as he sat on Calvin's bed. "To be honest, I actually wish that... Well, it'd simply feel good to not have to remember my former past - and to be able to remember only this past. In a way, it'd really make things more simple."
"Yeah, I quite understand," Calvin replied, softly. "Anyway, it's not as if you don't still remember this timeline's past. I rather feel that the very idea that I don't exist in the original timeline, though... It makes me feel uneasy - and I tend to doubt myself."
"Well, Cal, you simply shouldn't feel that way," Marty insisted, as he gently placed his arm around Calvin. "After all, that actually doesn't make your existence any less real. You really know how there are alternate realities, right?" Calvin nodded. "There might be other worlds, y'know, where I don't exist. Also, there might just be other..."
"Intellectually, I do know that," Calvin replied, as he managed a small smile. "Perhaps, I might just be... Well, maybe I'm being rather overly sensitive. I guess I really should stop worrying. At any rate, I really don't mind going with your idea. It'd be a little..."
"Yeah, let's act very natural," suggested Marty. "I mean, don't exaggerate - or act as if you... In other words, we really should dress and act the same way - as you would, the rest of the year. It'd be rather fun to see if anyone catches onto the idea that..."
"That'd sure be a great idea," agreed Calvin, as he flashed a lopsided smile. "I guess I should stop being so insecure. You really are my best friend, even if we may not quite agree on everything. I know that I really have a habit of lecturing you, and acting like I'm your big brother. The thing is, though, I really care about you. I'd like for you..."
"I understand, Cal," Marty replied, softly. "I sure remember when I used to have that real problem, y'know, with being called a 'chicken'. It really was a scary experience, in fact, thinking about the way our future turned out. Since then, I was real mindful...."
"Yeah, you've been doing a lot better," Calvin replied, smiling. "You've also been quite diligent in coming to your classes, on time. I never really felt that it was right, though, for Ms. Coleman to put you through all that torment. I do think she crossed the line."
"You're a real pal, Cal," Marty replied, as he laid his back on Calvin's bed. "It's so nice, being secure in knowing that our future will turn out much better - even if... I guess it was quite insensitive of me, Cal, to just tell Jenn that she could come along. It's great to know how, in the future, there actually are more advanced medical treatments..."
"I still quite hope to find a girl, some day," Calvin replied, sighing. "On the other hand, though, it's really not the most important to me. After all, it's best to just be patient. I don't have any use for newspaper dating ads. I mean, I'll find one - when I find one."
"That's the spirit, buddy," encouraged Marty, as he gave his twin a back slap. "I quite am looking forward to graduation, even though I also feel very nervous. Well, do you feel better? About tomorrow, I mean? It is still our special day, and I would simply..."
"Not anyone," Calvin replied, softly. "It helped a lot, having this talk. Now that I think of it, I guess I actually feel quite unique. I mean, instead of just feeling insecure over a lack of counterpart in that other... I do wonder how I might've turned out, if I grew up - in that world. Would I just end up being a loser, like the rest of the family - or..."
"That's quite a good question," Marty replied, thoughtfully. "I thought about it, a little bit. I'd like to think that, with us being twins, I'd be able to... What I mean to say is... I don't want to sound so arrogant. I guess what I'm meaning to say is, even if you..."
"I think I know what your getting at," Calvin replied, quietly. "I'm quite sure that Dave and Linda would feel so horrified, if they quite knew how... Of course, my name might not even be Calvin. It still feels funny, thinking that I was actually named after you."
"Yeah, I can imagine that it would," Marty agreed, laughing. "I remember being rather fascinated by Calvin Klein, before I went back in time. I wondered if that was why our mother bought us Calvin Klein underwear. When we were little, we would actually just bombard our parents with many questions about Calvin Klein, as well as Darth Vader!"
"Oh, I remember that," Calvin replied, wistfully. "In a way, we might've actually made things tough for Doc - and, possibly, even our older selves. As you introduced Doc as Calvin Klein's uncle... Well, I guess there really wasn't much else that you could say."
"No, not quite," replied Marty. "I was worried that it would just seem strange, if I was to just introduce Doc as being an older friend. Thus, I figured that calling him an uncle seemed to be the best solution. I didn't even consider how Lorraine might come to..."
"You used to have a lot of trouble," Calvin commented, laughing, "with thinking fourth dimensionally. Of course, you were sort of... Well, I guess it'd be quite wrong to fault you for being confused - as you sure weren't expecting to go back in time. I was very envious, not realizing that it really must've been about the hardest week of your life."
"Yeah, it wasn't exactly a picnic," Marty commented, softly. "Well, it looks like it's time to start heading off to bed. We really don't want to be late for school, tomorrow. Ms. Coleman was so impressed by my great attendance, and I don't wish to give her a..."
"I do understand, Marty," replied Calvin, as he reached out to hug his twin. "I should be hitting the sack, myself. You really came up with a great idea, and I'm now feeling rather excited for tomorrow." As Marty stepped out, he added, "Good night, Marty!"
Marty simply blew Calvin a kiss, as he left the bedroom. Calvin smiled, as he walked to the window. It was a rather clear night. Often, Calvin liked to sleep with the shade up - so that he could gaze at the stars. He also began to quite like Marty's plan. After all, he truly had no idea to abandon that special day. It would just have a different twist.
Calvin thought about the reality that his twin originated from. Calvin simply wanted to think that, like his twin, he also would've really been self-confident. Of course, having the encouragement of Marty would help - as, quite probably, the two would be close.
All thing considered, he figured that it was best not to worry. There wasn't any sense in worrying about "what if". He crawled into bed, as he thought of how lucky he really was. He had a very supportive and loving family, complete with a great twin brother.
Calvin closed his eyes, as he wonder how many people would quite fall for the plan. It would be a rather good way of celebrating their senior year, as well. This wasn't even the first time that they changed their tradition. When they were a little younger, they used to dress the same. He felt so happy that Marty managed to change his attitude.
