Disclaimer: I do not own Back to the Future.

Author's Note: This story is written in response to rythmicjea's challenge at the backtothefanfic community. I would also like to thank SeleneTheVampireDeathDealer for helping me come up with ideas for the story.

July 20, 2016
4:00 PM PDT

Marlene McFly was hanging out at Courthouse Mall with her best friend, Lila Chessler. The two of them were looking for mini-skirts and halter tops to wear to the upcoming beauty pageant that was going to be held in a week.

'Can you believe that Harmony Brown wants the beauty pageant to be cancelled?' Marlene groused, rolling her eyes. 'She says it's degrading to women. Well, I'm a woman, and I think it's great. It's not like anybody is forcing us to be in the pageant. I swear that sometimes feminists are just as oppressive as the male chauvinists they oppose. Hasn't Harmony ever heard of freedom of choice? Sheesh!'

'Yeah, really,' agreed Lila, as she flipped her long brown hair over her shoulder. 'I mean Harmony can be such a lo-rez freak at times. I mean, I'm all about equal rights for women and everything. Sometimes, though, I feel like certain feminists want to take away our rights to be, uh, well, feminine. Some feminists act like if you do things that are traditionally female, that you are somehow a traitor to your gender. I mean, what?'

'Right, exactly,' said Marlene. 'The worst thing about it is, my brother is actually backing Harmony up on this. I mean, I know my brother tries to be a real gentleman and all that - but doesn't he realize that he's really helping Harmony to oppress woman in other ways. Hell, she's even gotten our dad to agree with her that beauty pageants are sexist and elitist. Now, I do have a lot of great respect for my brother and my dad - but I do sometimes think they can be a little dense. I like Harmony, too, but she can sometimes be way too stubborn.'

'Yeah,' Lila replied, nodding, 'isn't it ironic how feminists are sometimes just as bad as they people they claim to be against. Also, Harmony is always lecturing us about how we should remain virgins until we get married - because we shouldn't let guys use our body as a playground. Also, not that I'm a big fan of porn or anything - but Harmony is also talking about wanting to ban porn, because it treats women as sex objects. Isn't it funny how some feminists sound so much like the radical right-wing Christians?'

'Well, I am a Christian,' Marlene said, slowly, 'but I see what you mean. You should realize though, that the radical Christian Right does not speak for all Christians. Our parents raised us to love God, to love Jesus, and all that. Not to mention teaching us about loving our neighbours as well as our enemies - and turning the other cheek, and all that other good stuff. Still, we're not believers in trying to prevent gays from getting married or wanting to legislate morality. We can also accept that people have a right to practice another religion, or no religion at all.'

'Well, right, Marlene,' Lila said, softly. 'I wasn't meaning to generalize all Christians - or all feminists either, for that matter. There are definitely radicals of all stripes. If you define the word 'feminist' to mean one who feels that men and women should have equal rights - then, yeah, I guess you say that I'm a feminist. I don't, however, believe that 'feminine' has to be a synonym for 'weak'. Like, for instance, I think men should be able to cry, without being shamed for it. Who says that only women can cry, right?'

'Right, I agree,' said Marlene. 'My brother cries sometimes, and so does my dad. In fact, I think they cry more often than I do. I think that's what makes them the tender-hearted and mild-mannered men that they are, though. I sometimes wish I didn't have such a bad temper. I hate lashing out at those I love. I do sometimes feel a little resentful of my brother, though. I feel like he has a closer relationship with our parents than I do.'

'Oh, how is that?' Lila asked, sympathetically. 'I sometimes wish my parents spent more time with me. I sometimes wish we weren't so rich, so that we could be more like a normal family. Also, people sometimes resent me because my parents are rich. Of course, I'm not expecting to get sympathy for this - but I'm just saying that being rich isn't all that it's cracked up be.'

'Right, I understand,' Marlene said, softly. 'I mean, my dad was a rock star - and sometimes feel that people befriend me, just so they can get close to my dad. I mean, my dad is a very approachable person. Just write to my dad, if you want to get in touch with him. He'll respond. It's not like he has a big head, or ever gave in to the excess of rock stardom. He even retired ten years ago, so that he could spend more time with the family.'

'Your dad is a very wonderful person,' Lila said, nodding. 'I don't even get star-struck around him, because he is so down-to-earth and friendly. I mean, I didn't even know your dad was a rock star, when I first befriended you. I mean, I am a fan of his music and everything. However, I don't like him as a celebrity. I like him as a human being.'

'Aw, Lila,' gushed Marlene, smiling. 'Anyway, I haven't answered your question, yet. I sometimes feel like the odd one out, because I'm not as passionate about rock music as everyone else in our family is. I prefer pop music, because it's softer and not as noisy. I'll listen to rock sometimes, but it's not really my favourite style. Also, I don't really like video games or the computer - while my brother and dad are practically addicted to them. Also, it seems like I'm really the only one in our family who cares about being healthy. I wish my mom would cook meals for us that are healthier. I guess I sometimes feel like my dad doesn't do as much with me, as he does with my brother. I love him dearly - but I sometimes think he loves my brother more than me. After all, my brother looks exactly like my dad did as a teenager.'

'Have you tried talking to your dad about how you feel?' asked Lila. 'I mean, he's not like my dad, where you can't really have a heartfelt talk with him. Yeah, I guess my parents spoil me - because they'll get me anything I could ever want. Well, almost anything. However, it's not material possessions that I really want. I guess I want intimacy with them, if you know what I mean. Not in a sexual way, but in a way that parents are usually close to children.'

'Join the club, Lila,' Marlene said, with a sigh. 'I wish I was as close to my dad as my brother was. Even mom doesn't seem as close to me, as she is to my brother.'

'I wonder why Harmony feels as strongly as she does,' Lila continued, 'about wanting to cancel the beauty pageant. Doesn't she realize that she's trying to take away our rights be in the pageant? If she doesn't like the pageant, she just shouldn't be in it.'

'Well, anyway,' Marlene said, sighing, 'let's continue to look for mini-skirts. We won't let Harmony and her buddies get to us. We'll see to it that the beauty pageant goes on as scheduled.'

'Yeah, now, that's the spirit,' replied Lila. 'I was thinking that I might look good in a purple and pink striped miniskirt and an orange halter top. Then maybe I could wear some turquoise ballet shoes with it. How does that sound?'

'Oh, anything would look good on you, Lila,' Marlene assured her friend. 'You have a figure to die for. I wish I could look as good as you.'

'Oh, Marlene,' gushed Lila, 'but you look very beautiful, too!'

'Thank you,' replied Marlene, smiling at her friend.