March 26, 1986
11:50 AM PST

As Marty was eating lunch with friends, he felt entirely like a youth. He simply couldn't help but feel as if he was cheating, just a little bit. Still, he couldn't exactly turn off his older self's knowledge - and, on the other hand, he didn't feel as if it was morally right to provide wrong answers, on purpose. Also, math still wasn't his strongest subject.

While some of the classes seemed a little easier, the older Marty had almost forgotten about just how tough high school could be. On the other hand, though, he rather had to admit that he sort of enjoyed returning to school. It was sort of a strange feeling.

Granted, Marty never quite disliked school - even though he could do without some of the teachers, as well as Mr. Strickland. As Marty looked up, he sure noticed that Zach had a big smile on his face. He wondered what it was, that Zach was so happy about.

"Listen up, fellow band mates!" called out Zach. "I have real great news for all of you. This morning, I really happened to run into the general manager of KKHV - and he told me that, by next month, they'll start playing our songs. Isn't that totally awesome? In fact, it'll seem as if we're already famous. I wonder who all would request our tunes."

"That sounds great," gushed Marty. "I mean, it's actually a big step. At least, we'll be famous in the Hill County region. This sure is exciting news, for all of us! It feels quite nice, being able to prove people like Strickland and the Huey Lewis look-alike wrong!"

"Yeah, I'm very thrilled about this," added Joey, dreamily. "I mean, just imagine if one of our songs was played next to a Huey Lewis song. It would simply make my day! It'll be a great thrill. I've even tried doing that on tape, but it's not quite the same thing."

"No, it sure isn't," Marty replied, laughing. "To be perfectly honest, I've done just the same thing. Where we hear it happen, though, on the radio airwaves - it'll feel rather nice to know that thousands of listeners are hearing it. I sure do have a great feeling about this. Just think about it, guys! This is sure going to be a big year, for all of us."

"Yeah, Zach," replied Billy, with enthusiasm, "thanks for letting us know. This morning had been rather lousy, in fact - but that news quite does cheer me up. I mean, we're still in high school - and we're already getting famous. Not that famous, but..."

"I know what you mean, Billy," replied Marty, softly. That news, in fact, was just a huge thrill. He knew that radio airplay wasn't everything, of course - but it sure was the most effective way of getting public attention. "We have to start, somewhere."

"Well, yeah," replied Joey, dreamily. "We're sort of famous, but more on just the local spectrum. I used to love calling into the radio station, and making song requests - just so I could hear my voice on the air." As everyone laughed, he added, "I couldn't quite understand the concept of stage fright, y'know. For me, that wasn't ever an issue."

"I used to, actually," Marty replied, blushing. "It was sort of a paradoxical situation. I wanted to become a rock star, ever since I was a little boy. Yet, I really was petrified over the idea of performing in front of an audience. I'm quite glad that I got over it."

"Joey, you sure remind me of my little cousin," Billy commented, chucking. "Whenever we would go past a video camera, he'd make faces into it. He rather loves the idea of being on TV. He wants to become an actor, when he grows up. He's simply so cute."

"Say, guys," Joey suggested, smiling, "do you think it might be tacky, if we called into the radio station - and just requested our own songs?" His band mates all laughed, as he added, "I mean, we could pretend that we're really someone else. We simply don't have to let them know who we truly are. They wouldn't know any difference."

"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure of that," Marty protested, smirking. "At any rate, we just don't want to become of those arrogant types. I really think it's better that we don't. Anyway, we've seen how many people showed up. I think we do have some fans!"

"Hey, I have an idea," Joey added, as he snapped his fingers. "Why don't you call in, and pretend that you're Michael J Fox? After all, you sound just like him. It could give us a real boost, y'know. When you think of how big Michael J Fox is, I think that..."

"You don't know when to give up, do?" chided Marty, as he wagged his finger. "I sure don't think Michael J Fox would appreciated being used. I think it's better that we just use the honest route. I mean, I'm real positive that we can do this - without resorting to such dishonest measures. Anyway, we have talent - and people do recognize it."

"C'mon, Marty, you're no fun," urged Joey, chuckling. Then, after taking a sip of milk, he added, "Actually, Marty, you're absolutely right. I was simply just ribbing you. You really should know that I wouldn't ever seriously advocate doing those things, right?"

"Well, yeah," Marty replied, softly. "Anyway, it certainly is best to not press our luck. After all, it's sure good to have patience. Even if, somehow, we end up not becoming famous - it wouldn't be a total loss. We should be in it for the music, not the fame."

"Anyway, gang," Zach commented, as he looked around, "I really asked my dad to let me know, if he hears any of our songs. He's simply a cool dad, and he has no problem with the music we listen to. All my life, he's really been encouraging. Oh, and I did get around to asking him - if he ever regretted giving up his dream. He does, a little bit."

"Your dad's a lot like my dad," Marty pointed out, cheerfully. It was the truth, too. His new past of growing up with rather successful parents, after all, was every bit as real as his old past of growing up with not-so-successful parents - if not even more so.

oooooooooo

"Oh, Marty, I'm so happy for you!" gushed Jennifer, as soon as Marty told her about Zach's news. "In this case, I'll keep my radio turned to KKHV. For now, though, I was thinking of putting on a tape of psychedelic tunes - to get us in the mood. I just lit up some incense - and the lava lamp should be ready, shortly. How does that sound?"

"That sounds very heavenly," gushed Marty, as he threw his arms around Jennifer. "I can quite tell that you just went all out. I'm even wearing fleece - even though I know that fleece really wasn't around, back in the '60s. It'll still be nice and comfy, though."

"Well, it's not about replicating the '60s," Jennifer explained, softly. "It's simply about creating a relaxing atmosphere. I closed all the shades, in order to make this room be a relaxing atmosphere. I'll feel very nice, just having the living room all to ourselves."

"After we move into our own place, Jenn," suggested Marty, dreamily, "we rather will need to get ourselves a nice bean bag chair." With that, Marty flopped on said chair - as, for the moment, his older self was almost entirely obliterated. "Don't you think? In fact, we could even do this - almost every night. Wouldn't that really be a lot of fun?"

"Oh, of course," Jennifer replied, as she snapped the tape deck shut. "I actually hope that, even after thirty years, we'll still be doing this. On the other hand, I sure think it might be better to not do this every night - it really wouldn't be quite as special."

"You've got a real good point, Jenn," Marty replied, as he closed his eyes. As Jennifer flopped onto the bean bag chair, he simply placed his arm around her. Even in the dim light, he saw how beautiful his beloved was. "That being the case, we should relax."

"Yes, we should," whispered Jennifer, as she began to run her finger along the dimple in Marty's left cheek. "I'm pretty sure that, after you become famous, you'll really end up spending of time on the road. In a way, I'd simply love to join you - but I also have my own dreams. I love helping out troubled kids. Therefore, psychology is my forte."

"Yeah, psychology really is a major necessity," Marty whispered back. Glancing at the lava lamp, she added, "This is quite mesmerizing, Jenn. I swear, I really would love to give whoever invented the lava lamp a big kiss. Lava lamps are so totally awesome!"

"That would be Edward Craven Walker," replied Jennifer, softly. "Anyway, I do agree with you. They might not be that practical, but they're fun to watch. They're really so fascinating, in fact. Come to think of it, I sure believe lava lamps can be therapeutic."

"Well, they sure do have a very calming influence," agreed Marty. "I believe they can actually be used, for just about every occasion. About the only thing I love looking at more, would be Christmas lights. In December, there's quite nothing like riding around town - and taking in all the pretty lights. It's makes the winter season more cheerful."

"That is true," agreed Jennifer. "What about flowers, though - and butterflies? When I heard about the mission blue butterflies being an endangered species, I cried. I just think they're simply so beautiful. If we use Doc's time machine, though - we could..."

"Forget it, Jenn," Marty choked out. "Yeah, I agree that it's very sad - but I can't see Doc agreeing to this. Anyway, if we just do our part to take care of the environment, we might be able to reverse that. We sure can't use time travel to solve everything."

"You're right, Marty," Jennifer replied, sighing. "Well, at any rate, I didn't mean to... I do agree that lava lamps and Christmas lights are very pretty to look at. We shouldn't lose sight of nature, though. Anyway, lets try to relax. The incense smells very good. The music is also lovely. I quite enjoy the Electric Prunes. They're rather psychedelic."

Marty just smiled, as he leaned to kiss Jennifer's cheek. For the moment, his mind was entirely at rest. It was pure tranquility. He wondered if heaven was anything like this. Just then, Omaha by Moby Grape began to play. Marty was very fond of that song.