Chapter 6

Wednesday, October 19th

5: 30 P. M.

Marty and Jennifer skated together down Jennifer's driveway. As Jennifer kicked up her board, she looked at Marty. "Okay, spill. I know you've got an idea. What is it?"

Marty grinned. "You like Doc, right?" he asked, putting his arm around her.

"I think he's great. It's easy to see how you two became such good friends."

"Great, 'cause I'm gonna need your help."

"Get on with it already," Jennifer pushed, giving him a light shove in the shoulder.

"I was thinking. Why don't we surprise Doc with a birthday party? Despite everything he said, I'd bet he'd like one."

Jennifer's eyes lit up. "Hey, that's a terrific idea! I'd love to help!" Then she frowned. "But what could we do? And who could we invite to it? Certainly not my dad, he'd flip."

"Not my parents either,' Marty sighed. "They're okay with him by now, but they still think he's kinda touched. And the Pinheads are still leery. I guess it'll just have to be you and me and a cake."

"And presents," Jennifer added. "What does Doc like for gifts?"

"Anything to do with time, so a new watch or clock should be right up his alley. Didn't you see his collection?"

"Oh, did I ever," Jennifer giggled. Then she grew serious again. "What about you? I don't want to get him both the same gift."

"I'm getting him a new sax. He's a really good player, but his old one's all muddy-sounding. Can you cook?" Jennifer shook her head. "Neither can I. We'll have to buy a cake and decorations."

"We can pool our money to get stuff like that," Jennifer suggested. "What about Doc himself? We gotta get him out of the house while we set up."

"I'll think of something, don't worry." Marty kissed Jennifer as she headed up the stairs of her house. "See you tomorrow, Jen. Let's make this a birthday none of us will forget."

Friday, October 22nd, 1982

Hill Valley

3: 14 P. M.

Doc pulled back up to the house, his van carting a lonely bag of chips and soda. "Another year older," he sighed, getting out and retrieving it. "And nobody cares but me."

He looked around the garage. Marty wasn't waiting for him there as promised. "Must be inside," Doc figured, heading for the door. "Damn, I would have sworn Marty would have at least wished me a 'happy birthday'. I suppose I misled him a bit with all my talk about not caring about it. I do care, but it's hopeless to want things you can't have. Still, a greeting along those lines would have been nice. But instead he asks me to go get 'some proper snacks for this place'. Teenagers. Sometimes I think they're a different species. Well, I got his soda and chips, and was able to pick up some things I needed too. Marty had better appreciate this."

"SURPRISE! Gotcha, Doc!"

Doc's eyes bugged out of his head. Marty and Jennifer had found one of his collapsible tables in storage and had set it up. They were currently behind it, grinning broadly. On the table itself was a chocolate cake, a few cards, and 2 presents, appropriately wrapped. His house now sported paper streamers in orange and black and some balloons in similar colors. Completely stunned, Doc let the bag fall from his arms, and stared speechless at the scene.

"You like it?" Marty asked as Jennifer grabbed the bag. "It ain't much, but it was all we could get in 3 days."

"Sorry about the orange and black streamers, but all they had at the party shop we went to was Halloween stuff," Jennifer said, pouring the chips Doc had fetched into a bowl. "We got our parents and Marty got his band to sign cards."

"And we got you, in a stroke of genius, to buy your own refreshments," Marty chuckled. "I'll pay you back later."

Doc finally found his voice. "You - you did all this - for me?"

"All this? Doc, it's some streamers, balloons, and some cards! Nothing special. But I couldn't let a pal's birthday go by unnoticed."

Doc stared for a moment more, still in shock. "They did this all for me. I don't believe it." Before he could stop them, a few tears had trickled down his cheeks.

Marty and Jennifer looked at each other, bewildered. Was Doc going to cry? "Doc?" Marty asked, concerned. "We didn't upset you somehow, right? It's - it's a party."

Doc smiled and gave them both hugs. "No, you don't understand. This is the first birthday party I've had since I was in my 20s! Thank you."

Marty and Jennifer hugged back hard. "Only the best for you, Doc. I wish we'd done something more special, though, now."

"This is special enough, I assure you both. Thank you so much. It's so nice to know I have some real friends."

Marty grinned at Doc and stuck out his hand. "Best friends forever, Doc?"

Doc shook it joyfully. "And then some, kid. And then some."

The End