Chapter 6

Friday, September 2nd, 1938

Hill Valley

6:02 P.M.

"Emmett! Emily! Mr. Jackson! Supper!"

Emmett put down his cards. "Damn. I thought I was going to beat you this time, too."

"That's the way the cookie crumbles," Marty said, also putting down his cards. Truth be told, despite his nervousness about messing up the space-time continuum, he had had a lot of fun in the past two hours. Emmett had tested his anti-allergen -- it appeared to work, but he had gotten a rather bad nosebleed (which luckily had cleared up after a half-hour). Holly had told Marty all about her adventures with Emmett and about the witchcraft she was learning, then had started a pillow fight. Despite her gothic appearance, Holly was definitely the most bubbly and fun-loving of the group. Marty had been very sad to see her go at 5:30. After she left, they had broken out the cards and started playing an early version of "Go Fish" called "Authors." Man, this is almost like hanging out with my own friends back home. I'll have to ask Doc more about Holly and his sister when I get back to 1986. They all seem really close.

Marty frowned. No matter how much fun he was having here, he was still worried. Doc had promised to get him before the night was out, but it was 6:00 already, and still no sign of him. The repairs for the DeLorean must be taking longer than he thought, Marty thought as he followed Emmett downstairs to the dining room. But why would he just leave me here? I'm trying my best not to affect the space-time continuum too much, but really, doesn't it make more sense to show up and whisk me away before I even bump into Emmett? Probably has to do with some obscure fact involving the space-time continuum that I have no hope of understanding. I just hope Doc tries to explain it in English and not in Science.

Elias and Sarah were already at the table. Emily, Emmett and Marty sat down as Darla began serving the food. "Smells delicious, Mrs. Brown," Marty said as he got a healthy helping of pot roast.

"Thank you." As everyone was served, Sarah bowed her head. The rest of the family followed suit. Marty, who had been reaching for his fork, quickly bowed his head as well. "Dear Lord, please bless this bounty and this house. May we always strive to be worthy in Your eyes. Amen."

"Amen," everyone echoed. Marty waited a moment to make sure it was safe, then grabbed his fork and dug in.

Elias gave him a stern look as they started eating. "So, what do you do for this -- inventor?"

"Odd jobs," Marty said, getting fidgety under Elias's glare. "Do the dishes, fetch his materials, occasionally assist him with his projects -- that sort of thing."

"Oh, so you're his servant."

"What? No, it's not like that! He's my friend!"

Elias gave him a condescending smile. "Face facts, lad. You're his servant. The only reason he's looking for you is so he doesn't have to do his own chores."

"Elias!" Sarah said reprovingly.

"Father, please! He's our guest," Emily added.

"No, he's Emmett's guest. There's a difference. And that's only because Emmett felt the need to tinker around with that device he had and find out more about that inventor person."

Emmett scowled into his food. "That's not true. He was nice to me. He saved one of my Jules Verne books."

"You should see them together, Father," Emily said, wiping her mouth. "They're almost like brothers."

"Just like you and that dratted Handlen girl are like sisters?"

Marty could feel the beginnings of the words "Lay off, you douche," forming on his lips. He stopped them with a piece of potato. Can't lose my temper, can't interfere. . . .

"And anyways, Father, even if I did invite him over for those reasons you suggested before -- well, what of it? I want to be a scientist when I get older. Why shouldn't I want to talk to someone who might be able to help me?"

Elias scowled back. "Because it's foolish. All scientists ever do is ruin the world. They want to poison and kill the rest of us in the name of their sick inventions!"

"That's not true! Look at all the good things science has given us! Electric light! Cars! Clocks! Ballpoint pens!"

"Stoves," Marty added, poking at the pot roast. He thought he saw Sarah and Emily bite back grins.

"Exactly. Even your beloved morning cup of coffee was created through scientific experimentation. I showed you that article about instant coffee myself." Elias glared at him, his face reddening. "Scientists show off the world's potential for change, for improvement. I want to do the same thing. I still have those plans for an automatic dog washer. I'm still working out the details, but I'm sure I--"

"There will be no dog-washers on my premises!" Elias snapped, pounding a fist on the table.

"You're a veterinarian! It'll be good for business!"

"I said no! It's bad enough you tinker with things on your own time! I don't want to be involved!"

Emmett scowled defiantly, tightening his grip on his silverware. "I'm not a child anymore, Father," he said through clenched teeth. "I'm almost 18. I'm in my senior year of college."

"You're still not the master of this house. You're not becoming a scientist, and that's final."

Emmett glowered into his pot roast. "You didn't care when Jack moved out to take that lab job," he muttered.

"That's different. Jack's interests focus on biology. That's better than your brand of science. I don't totally trust doctors either, but they have more reasons to want us alive. I should know. And of course Jack was a lot more obedient than you ever were."

Emmett jabbed a piece of meat and didn't reply. The table fell into an uncomfortable silence. Marty, feeling uneasy, tried to make conversation. "So what do you do, Emily? Have you thought about going to college as well?"

"Not really -- and at any rate, there's no women's colleges around here," Emily replied. "I work with Mrs. Hanon down the road. We're seamstresses."

"She gets to do something she loves," Emmett muttered into his pot roast. "And so does Jack. What's so different about me? Oh, yes, I'm the weird child."

"What was that?" Elias asked sharply.

Emmett glared at him icily. "Nothing, sir."

Emily and Sarah glanced at each other worriedly. "Er -- Mr. Jackson, do you live around here?"

"No, I live in Grass Valley," Marty said quickly. The last thing he needed was for Sarah to try and contact his family. "The only reason I was in town was to help test the radio." Looking pointedly at Elias he added, "Which Emmett did an excellent job of fixing, by the way."

Elias pointed his fork at Marty. "Look here. I don't want you corrupting my son any further. It's bad enough he's friends with the Handlen girl and is in college far too early. I'm going to nip this problem in the bud, before his life is completely ruined. Emmett's going to become something sensible, like a businessman, or a vet like me. Not some damned physicist and inventor who's going to blow up our town. Understood?"

Marty didn't respond, not trusting himself enough to not say something nasty. Emmett looked startled. "Father, I -- I thought you were proud of my academic achievements," he said quietly, looking hurt.

"He is, honey," Sarah rushed to say. "He's just had a hard day, that's all."

"I'd be prouder if you acted more like your brother," Elias muttered.

Emmett went very tense. "Well, I don't," he said shortly, stabbing at his pot roast rather viciously. Marty moved away a bit, sensing a pending explosion.

"Father, please," Emily begged. "This is not the time to get into one of your spats. We have a guest."

"Yes, Elias, you're being foolish," Sarah added with an exasperated sigh.

"Me? It's him that's being foolish," Elias said, nodding at Emmett. "He thinks he knows what's best for him, but he doesn't. Things were a lot better in this household before he read those terrible Jules Verne books. If I had my way, he--"

"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!"

Everyone at the table jumped backwards as Emmett exploded out of his seat, raging at his father. "WHY DO YOU HAVE TO CONTROL EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE? WHY! I SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO WHAT I WANT! I'M SICK OF YOU SHOOTING DOWN MY DREAMS! I'M A GOOD SCIENTIST, AND THAT IS WHAT I'M GOING TO BE! AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME!"

There was a moment of silence as everyone gaped at Emmett. Then Elias rose to his feet, his face purple and veins visibly pulsing in his neck. "You listen here, you spoiled brat," he snarled, grabbing Emmett and shaking him roughly. "Get it through your thick skull that I am in charge here! I'm the master of this house! You'll do as I say, or you'll suffer the consequences!"

"No I won't! I'm almost an adult, Father! I should be allowed to make my own decisions! I'm going to become a scientist!"

"Shut up! I don't know why I'm worried, really, nothing you do works anyway! Just my luck I'd have a freak for a son!" With that, he slapped Emmett across the face.

Something inside Marty snapped. "Leave him alone, you bastard!" he yelled, leaping to his feet.

Elias turned on him, pointing. "You shut up too. You're here at my sufferance. I should throw you out on the street like the trash you are. Emmett doesn't need any more corrupting influences in his life."

"Yeah, really -- having a father who's insane should be enough!"

"How dare you insult me in my own house!"

"It's true!" Emmett and Marty yelled in unison. "You are insane!" Emmett continued, face red with rage. It was obvious he'd been holding this in for a long time. He jabbed an accusing finger in his father's chest. "You don't trust anybody! What kind of a life is that? Why can't you support me in this? In anything!"

"Because I want you to be a normal human being! Not some mad scientist who's only goal is to rule the world! Why can't you be more like your brother?"

"STOP COMPARING ME TO JACK!" With no warning, Emmett pulled back his fist and punched his father in the nose.

For a few seconds, time seemed to stop. Emily and Sarah stared at the boys, hands held tightly. Elias had one hand to his nose, looking stunned. Emmett's eyes widened with surprise as he realized just what he had done. Marty just stared, shocked.

Elias broke the spell by lowering his hand. His nose had gone bright red and was beginning to swell. Marty was briefly reminded of clowns. "GET -- OUT," he hissed, eyes flashing fire.

Both Marty and Emmett backed away, terrified. Emmett opened his mouth to say something, triggering an explosion from Elias. "OUT! OUT! YOU'RE NO LONGER MY SON! OUT, OR I'LL CALL THE POLICE!"

Emmett turned and raced for the stairs. Marty did the same, having no better plan. He entered the room to see Emmett frantically stuffing clothes into a suitcase. By the way his lower lip was quivering, Marty could tell that he was fighting tears. Shit, Marty thought, blinking back a few tears of his own. Poor Emmett. He's gotten kicked out of his house because I had to stay for dinner and talk to Elias. Oh man --

Doc's gonna flay me! Jesus, how stupid can you get! I just helped change history! And I can't change it back either, judging by how pissed off Elias was. Shit shit shit. . . .

There was the sound of footsteps on the stairs. Emmett froze, a Jules Verne book clutched in his hands. Marty watched the door fearfully, hoping it wasn't Elias.

Emily appeared instead, her eyes red. "You two better hurry," she warned. "Mother's trying to calm Father down, but she's not having much luck. I've never seen him so angry. He's actually threatening to set your room on fire -- and you too, if you're not out in ten minutes."

Emmett sprang back into action, grabbing some more books. Marty numbly picked up the pieces of the walkie talkie. "I'm so sorry, Emmett. . . ."

"Could you please hand me that notebook there?" Emmett asked briskly. "It contains all the notes on all the experiments I've been working on for the last year. I don't care about the rest of it so much, but I don't want to lose that."

Marty handed him the notebook. Emmett made a quick attempt at organizing everything, then slammed the suitcase shut. "Have you got your invention?" Marty nodded. "Good. We'd best make tracks out of here then."

"I'll show you to the servants' entrance. Father's likely to throw a bigger fit if he sees you again," Emily said. "Come along, Emmett, Marty."

Marty followed Emmett and Emily down the stairs, through the kitchen, and out a rather filthy-looking door. Emmett embraced his sister. "Thanks Emily. I hope it doesn't go too badly for you."

"Me either. Stay safe, Emmett." She kissed him on the cheek. "Goodbye Marty. I wish we were parting under better circumstances."

"Me too. Goodbye Emily." They shook hands. Then Emily went back inside and closed the door on them. Emmett and Marty looked at each other, sighed, and started walking.

As they rounded the side of the house, Marty heard a crash from above them. He turned to see the indistinct silhouette of Elias inside Emmett's room, apparently doing his best to destroy everything in it. At least it looks like Sarah talked him out of the fire idea.

Emmett looked too. For a moment, he looked like he really was going to break down and cry. Then he swallowed back his sob and kept walking. Marty remained however, staring as more things crashed around inside.

Emmett turned to look at him. "You'd better come on, before he sees you."

Marty slowly turned around and started following Emmett again. "Shit. I'm really sorry about this, Emmett."

They walked in silence for a moment. Then Emmett looked at him again. "Why did you defend me?"

A fresh wave of guilt crashed over Marty. "I know, I'm sorry, I should have kept my mouth shut--"

"No, that's not what I meant. Why did you defend me? You barely know me. We met just today, by accident no less. Why?"

Oh boy, there's the $64,000 question. . . . "I know I just met you, but I also know you're a good guy, Emmett. I mean, you fixed my radio for me, without asking for pay or anything. You deserve better than that. Hell, anyone deserves better than that."

Emmett smiled a little. "Thank you." He fingered the developing bruise on his face. "Emily's only too willing to protect me from other kids, but she's more reluctant to speak up to Fa -- Elias. Not that I can really blame her, we were all terrified of him. He actually goes off like that a lot. This is the first time he's actually hit me, though. Generally he keeps it to verbal insults."

"I see, yeah," Marty said with a slight wince. Great, so now I'm responsible for him getting slapped too. "So -- ah -- what are you going to do now? Do you have any money on you?"

"No, but I don't think I need any at the moment. I know exactly where we can go."

"Where?"

Emmett grinned. "Lucy's house, of course! I'm sure she'd be willing to put us up."

A knot formed in Marty's stomach. Why do I have a bad feeling about this? And -- "What do you mean, we?"

"Well, I wouldn't feel right leaving you out here to fend for yourself, especially after you defended me like you did. Besides, your boss is going to need to know your updated location if he ever intends to pick you up."

Marty stared at him. "Emmett, I just got you kicked out of your house! Why do you care what happens to me?"

"You? I got myself kicked out of my house, Marty. I was the one who blew up and punched him."

"Yeah, but I bet that whole incident would have never happened if I hadn't been there."

"Marty, don't feel guilty about that. Elias loves to complain about scientists. It was bound to happen sometime. We'll go to Lucy's house, we'll call your inventor friend to update him on the situation, then, if you really want, you can wait for him outside . Okay?"

"Okay," Marty sighed. I've already come this far. Not like Doc will kill me any less. And I do need a place to wait for him. "If you insist."

"That I do. Besides, I could use the company. The Okies around here have taken to preying on single travelers. Someone like me is going to need a bodyguard."

Despite himself, Marty laughed. "Okay, Emmett. Lead on."