Author's Note: I decided to just end the story here, since the events of November 12 are already covered in A Day of Cosmic Significance.
November 11, 1955
3:45 PM PST
George felt nervous, as knew that his parents would soon be home. For some reason, Marty was rather insistent on George having "the talk". Obviously, Marty quite had no idea what kind of father George had. He could still remember how, in fourth grade, his father was quite opposed to him participating in the science contest, to say the least.
"Why don't you, uh, quite tell me more about your family?" suggested Marty, flashing a lopsided smile. "Y'know, George, you already took your first step! As you agreed to let your friends and I read your stories... Well, you began making some progress!"
"You really mean it, Marty?" asked George, as he was amazed. Marty just nodded and smiled. "Well, okay, then. My parents' names are Arthur and Sylvia. You quite have to realize, Marty, my father isn't..." As he heard some noise, he added, "They're home!"
George swallowed, as he and Marty headed to the door. He remembered how hard it was, when he agreed to let his friends read his stories. He didn't quite feel as though he was ready to the "next step" that Marty insisted on. He knew that his parents felt happy, when he told them about his new friend. They were so eager to meet Marty.
"So, uh, you must be Marty Klein!" exclaimed Sylvia, as she and her husband stepped into the door. As Marty nodded, she added, "Our son told us all about you! I think it's very nice, seeing that our only child has just made another close friend." After a brief pause, she added, "Well, Marty, our son told us that you're from the Coast Guard?"
"Yeah, right, uh, Mrs. McFly," Marty replied, nervously. "It's a... Well, it's a pleasure to meet you. I, uh, I sure can't stay for long. I told your son, though, that I... I'll be back, later this evening. Anyway, I should tell you... Your son really has potential."
"That's great to hear, Marty," Sylvia replied, smiling. "You sure seem like a fine young man for my son to be friends with. Well, when you come back, I'd really love to serve you some of my specialty. Have you ever had fruit soup, Marty? It's a Swedish dish."
"I think I had it, a few times," Marty replied, smiling. "I think it's be a nice treat. Well, anyway, I do have to leave. I, uh, quite have to run some errends. I should be back in about... in about... no more than three hours." Turning to George, he added, "It'll be a nice evening, buddy. Just remember all that I told you, okay? See ya, George!"
"When you come back, Marty, the soup should be done," called out Sylvia, cheerfully. Turning to George, she added, "He simply seems like a nice young man, honey. I can't seem to think of where I saw him, but... Well, he seems to look a little familiar to me."
George smiled, as he looked around. His mother really seemed to be cheerful, as she usually was. He couldn't seem to make out his father's expression, though. It was so hard to tell how his father was feeling, much of the time. He started to feel nervous.
oooooooooo
Lorraine felt so happy, as she and Marty were eating at Holt's Diner. The atmosphere was so nice and quiet. While she enjoyed eating at Lou's Cafe, she felt that the place often could be noisy. It wasn't exactly an ideal place for a romantic setting. She quite wasn't in the mood for being part of a crowd. That really did, granted, have its place.
"Isn't this wonderful, Marty?" Lorraine asked, softly. For now, she loved the peaceful atmosphere. She sure loved being alone, with just Marty. "I don't think we ever have to worry about... Biff crashing this place. I'm sure glad that it's actually Friday, now!"
"I understand what you mean, Lorraine," Marty replied, softly. "School can be quite stressful. Weekends are always nice. I want to thank whoever invented weekends! Although, sometimes, I wish that they could be longer. Anyway, this is great fish!"
"This place does quite serve good fish," gushed Lorraine, as she smiled at Marty. "This is one of my favourite restaurants." After swallowing, she continued, "Well, Marty, it'll be so exciting. Tomorrow's quite going to be the big day. I think I'm hardly going to be able to get any sleep, tonight. I've been looking very forward to the dance, all week!"
"Uh, really?" Marty asked, with sudden uneasiness. "I mean, of course! It's just going to be..." Lorraine placed her hand on Marty's arm, hoping that it might help him relax. "To be honest, I... Well, I don't dance... all too well. I'm afraid that I might really..."
"I'm sure not the best dancer, either," Lorraine replied, softly. "When I was younger, I just decided to take ballet lessons. The thing is... Well, no matter how much I would practice... Let's just put it this way, Marty. Ballet certainly is not one of my talents."
"Well, I'm real sorry to hear that," Marty replied, softly. "I'm sure that there are other things, though, that you're very good at. Well, anyway, I'm simply enjoying the food. I think I might even go for a little dessert. So, uh, you said that Milton enjoyed having Dr. Brown for a teacher?" Lorraine nodded, as she smiled at Marty. "I think it's great!"
"Yeah, I imagine that you'd be pleased to hear that," Lorraine replied, giggling a little. "Anyway, Marty, there's something that I sure wanted to ask you. Do you think that, after the dance, you'd quite want to going on a double date... with Betty and Todd?"
"Well, uh, I can't," stammered Marty. "I mean, after the dance is over... Well, I have to leave. You'll have to let Betty know that it won't work out. I mean, I'd hate to be a real disappointment. How about before the dance, though? Would that be possible?"
"Actually, Marty," Lorraine explained, softly, "I wanted you and I to eat alone, before we head to the dance. I'm sure that Betty and Todd would like to do the same. It sure isn't a big deal, even though I'll quite miss you. I just hope, though, that we can really keep in touch. It would be nice, Marty, if we could actually attend the same college."
"Yeah, uh, I'll just keep that in mind," replied Marty, nervously. "Well, as you said, it'll be a big day. At any rate, we really should start thinking of dessert. I really promised my friend... that'd I'd return. I believe we do have a little time, though, for dessert."
"Well, yeah, friends are important," agreed Lorraine. "Say, if you really don't mind me asking, how did you and George McFly become such good friends? I mean, I just think it's great. I've certainly seen him around. I don't exactly know him that well, though."
"Let's just say that, uh, we sort of go back," replied Marty. "He's a great guy! He just needs plenty of encouragement. I really can't stand how... guys like Biff tend to bully him around. I just don't think that it's right. I'm a firm believer in treating other people the same way that you'd like to be treated. If only more people believed in that..."
Lorraine smiled, as she realized that Marty would make a great father. Of course, she didn't feel ready to become a mother. That would be a very big step to take. She was excited for the dance, though. She could barely wait to kiss Marty, for the first time.
oooooooooo
"You must have a rather hectic life, Marty," commented Arthur. "I mean, I really don't think that I could handle being in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. It imagine that it's quite a lot of work. I mean, I really do commend you for what you're doing. Still, I really don't think that... Well, Marty, it must feel like you have a real burden on your shoulders."
George sighed, as he felt pretty bad for his friend. This was going to make his task all the harder. Truth to be told, his father sure didn't seem to be a happy person. It just seemed as though, deep down inside, his father simply wished to have a happier life.
"Well, it really is a lot of responsibility," Marty explained, gently. "Still, there's this expression that I was taught. If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. If you really believe in that, you can make a lot of progress. It certainly does work."
"That's what he's also been teaching me, Dad," George added, nervously. "I wonder if he might be... Well, there's a part of me that... that would like to believe he's right. In fact, I do hate how Biff Tannen always pushes me around. I quite worry that, in thirty years, I'll still be working for Biff. It sure scares me! I guess, what I'm trying to say..."
"What George is trying to say, Mr. McFly," explained Marty, "is that he wants to have a very happy and successful life. That being the case, there's rather something that George needs to tell you." To George, he added, "Go right ahead, and tell him."
"Yeah, uh, okay," stammered George. He glanced at Marty, who simply flashed him a lopsided smile. Clearing his throat, George continued, "Dad, I simply do want to go to college. What I mean is, if I go to college, I might actually become a successful man."
"I don't know about that, son," replied Arthur, with a weary sigh. "After all, you'll be competing with all the smart kids. Also, you'll be doing plenty of homework - and you would, very likely, have to pull some all-nighters. I just don't think it's really worth all the headaches. Believe me, son, you'll really be better off - not attending college."
George sure felt crushed, as he thought over just what his father said. Granted, he shouldn't've been too surprised - as he wasn't exactly expecting for his father to be encouraging. As his father left the table, George let out a sigh. He turned to Marty.
"Well, buddy, you did it," Marty commented, as he patted George's back. "Granted, I understand that you didn't get the reaction that you wanted. Still, you shouldn't give up. Just stick to your guns, okay? Give it time. Besides, you also have your mother."
George smiled, as he really appreciated Marty's support. Maybe, if he told his mother - she could get through to his father. The big moment was still ahead of him, though. Of course, he was real apprehensive about it. The plan sounded easy enough, but he still felt anxious. He resolved to do whatever it would take, to step over that final hurdle.