Vacation? I Don't Think So
A Back To The Future Story
By Flaming Trails
Disclaimer: I don't own BTTF. If I did, I would have myself named "Queen of all BTTFdom" and all of you would have to make sacrifices to me. Come to think of it, it's a good thing I don't own BTTF.
Chapter 1
Thursday, July 10th, 1986
Hill Valley, California
4: 43 P. M.
Cassandra made her way to the window, her golden hair sparkling in the moonlight. This was the night her dark lover would return. He had promised her so before he had left to seek out his sire. She shivered in her thin nightgown, her body pale. She waited, waited and hoped and
"And this scene is JUST NOT WORKING!"
Frustrated, George McFly ripped the sheet of paper out of his notebook and threw it away. He had been struggling with his new vampire novel for most of the day, and was making no progress. "Why the hell am I trying to write romance?" he complained to his wife, sitting beside him at his table. "I don't like romance. I like lots of action and strange events."
"Oh, honey, you'll get it," Lorraine encouraged, painting her fingernails. "You wrote plenty of romantic scenes in your first novel. It just takes time. You've always stressed that it takes time."
"I used to be able to do this," George muttered, not really hearing her. "Whip up a story in no time flat. The first story I ever sold, my Jupiter story, I wrote in ten minutes."
"Yeah, but you spent two days editing the thing," Lorraine reminded him.
"Editing's not so bad. At least you got something written down!" He stared at the blank page in front of him, peeved.
"George, how many times have you told me, 'You can't rush the muse?'" Lorraine said, finishing her nails. "You'll find a way to make the scene work. You'll see."
"You'd think that with my youngest son best friends with a pair of courting vampires, I'd be able to write this." Sighing, he closed the notebook. "Where is Marty?"
"Out swimming with Jennifer, before she goes on vacation. I think he's made plans to visit Darkness Falls later with Doc."
"How about Linda? Out with one of her boyfriends?"
"She's with Dave, remember?" Lorraine said, starting on her toenails. "He promised to coach her on her job interview, and today he had the time. You're not the only one having a rough summer, you know."
"You're right, you're right." George leaned back in his chair. "It's been exhausting for everybody. Dave's turning into a workaholic, Linda's trying to get a new job, you've been mobbed with people down at the club--"
"I know, it was a wonder I could get today off from teaching tennis," Lorraine interrupted.
"I can't do a single thing with my new book, and of course poor Marty's got it the toughest of all of us." He idly began rolling his pen around. "I remember, long ago, when summer was relaxing. When people took time off from their jobs and didn't have to worry about soulless vampires."
"George, stop worrying about it. It's not like all this happens every day. And besides, there's been no sign of Biff for almost a month. Marty, Jennifer, Doc, and Mystie aren't under that much pressure."
"That's a blessing. But still, as the father of this family, I feel I should do something. Take charge of the situation. Just sitting around here reminds me of when I was too afraid to do anything." He leaned his head on his hands and thought.
The radio, which he had left on for background music as he wrote, grabbed his attention. "Come camping at Lloyd and Fox Campgrounds, where you can enjoy every day to the fullest! We have a wonderful little pond, quiet cabins and open-air sites, and a special camp area for the little ones. Parents can enjoy the great outdoors while kids get involved in the camp fun zone. We're open all summer, seven days a week. So come on down to Lloyd and Fox Campgrounds, says owner Barbara Lloyd, where every day is peaceful."
A light bulb snapped on in George's head. "That's it! Lorraine, call the kids and the Browns and tell them to meet us here at 7: 00 tonight. We're going on vacation!"
Thursday, July 10th
7: 11 P. M.
Dave looked surprised. "Vacation?"
"Yes, Dave, vacation. For the whole family. It's a chance for all of us to relax and unwind from the pressures of life."
"But Dad, what about the office? Time Shore needs me! The magazine is in its darkest hour! I've got to fill out forms, talk to my boss, talk to writers. . . . Hey, that reminds me, you gotta submit another story. Your last one was a major hit, Dad. People write letters to the editor and their own stories when they see your stuff."
"David, stop working for three seconds and listen to me. We're going on vacation. No work. I happen to know you have three weeks of vacation saved up from when you started that job. Use a week."
Dave was reluctant. "I dunno, Dad. . . . What do you think, Linda?"
"I'd love a vacation!" Linda smiled broadly. "Greg and Craig are on a road trip together, Ryan's with his family in L. A., and Colin's busy working."
"You're going to have to pick one of those guys someday, Linda," Lorraine said.
"Aw, Mom, I'm just having a little fun. Nobody's exclusive yet, and we're not doing anything wrong."
"Even still, I never dated two boys at once."
"Didn't you fall in love with Dad while you were on a date with somebody else?"
"Er -- um -- well--"
"Moving on," George said quickly, seeing his wife in dire straits. "Marty, how about you? You'd like a vacation, right?"
"Sure," Marty said, sounding a little down. "Something to keep my mind off how much I'm gonna miss Jennifer. She's going camping with her dad."
"Well, what a happy coincidence! That's what we're doing too."
Linda's smile faded. "Camping? I thought we were going to the beach!"
"They have a pond at Lloyd and Fox Campgrounds," George said.
"But it isn't the same! You can't get a tan at the pond! And there won't be any cute boys! Can't we go to the beach instead?"
"Linda, I've invited Doc and Mysteria to come along on this trip. I think it would be rude to take them on a vacation they would just sleep through."
"It was very nice of you to invite us, George," Mystie smiled. "I'm certainly up for a vacation. Things are getting a little dull around here."
Doc looked more dubious. "I'm of a like mind to vacationing, but in the woods? Remember, that's where most of the soulless vampires live."
"All the more reason to go to the beach," Linda said.
"And to leave me at the office," Dave added. "Where I can do something productive."
"You should consider the alternatives, George," Doc nodded.
George frowned, annoyed at the resistance to his plans. "But camping is so fun! I remember when my dad would take me camping. It was terrific, being able to see so much of nature. I always felt better after a camping trip."
"I think it would be nice too," Lorraine said. "We rarely get to do things as a family anymore. Dave, the company won't fold, if you take a vacation. I'm sure there's plenty of nice boys working in the camp's fun zone, Linda. And I doubt the soulless vampires are preparing to attack anyone, Doc."
The dissenters caved. "All right, George, Lorraine, that was a good point. A camp out in the woods does sound entertaining."
"Yeah, Dad, I guess I could take a break if I have to," Dave conceded.
"If they've got cute guys at the fun zone," Linda shrugged.
George grinned and clapped his hands. "This is great! I'll go and rent a camper right now, and we'll head out! We leave at daybreak!" Joyous, he rushed to the phone.
Marty eyed Doc. "Daybreak?"
Doc looked at George, then Marty. Marty, something tells me this will be a most memorable vacation.