Author's Note: I would also like to thank
SeleneTheVampireDeathDealer for helping me come up with ideas for the
story. Also, the bit about Andrew Hopkins is going to be elaborated on in another story.
July 20, 2016
4:00 PM PDT
Marty Jr was in the living room with his best friend, Harmony - and they were listening to KKHV on the radio, which played rock hits from the late-60s to the present. Harmony was telling Marty Jr about her plans to shut down the beauty pageant.
'So far I have 12 signatures,' Harmony was telling Marty Jr. 'I can't believe that your sister actually wants to be in the beauty pageant. I mean, it objectifies women. We women should be judged by our personal accomplishments, instead of just by our looks. Don't you agree, Marty?'
'Yeah, Harmony, I understand what you mean,' Marty Jr replied, softly. 'The beauty pageant makes sex objects out of women, right? I agree that that isn't right. Really, my sister should have more self respect. I sometimes think she puts too much effort into her appearences. Seriously, I think she needs to relax.'
'I totally agree with you,' Harmony said, nodding. 'I mean, she wasn't even all that obsessed with health food, until she met Lila. I sometimes feel so bad for Lila, as her parents place so much pressure on her to be thin. I mean, it's good to be concerned about your health, and to stay fit. After all, there are no doubt many girls our age who are just the opposite of Marlene - and they'll pig out on junk food a lot, and not really care how they look. That being said, I think Marlene takes it a little too far. You know, everything in moderation and all that.'
'Right, exactly,' said Marty Jr. 'I know Marlene is a bit mad at me for supporting you on the closing down on the beauty pageant, but I have to agree with your points. It does give the message across that looks are what makes up a person, and it really doesn't. I just wish Marlene would at least try to understand where we're coming from. We're not trying to take away her right to do whatever she wants. She needs to realize that not everyone is blessed to be as pretty as she is.'
'Well, Marlene can be a bit stubburn,' Harmony said, nodding. 'Well, should we play Super Mario Brothers. There is nothing quite like playing old school video games.'
'Right, that sounds awesome,' agreed Marty Jr. 'I mean, screw all those who say that, if you have to use your hands, it's a baby's toy. There is no way I will...'
The phone then rang, causing Marty Jr and Harmony to jump. Marty Jr went to answer the phone.
'Yo,' said Marty Jr, as he picked up the receiver.
'Hello, honey,' replied a familiar voice. 'It's your mother. I'm calling to inform that your dad is in the hospital, and I'm afraid he's very sick. Is Marlene home?'
'No, she's not home yet,' replied Marty Jr. 'It's just me and Harmony. What happened to dad?'
'Okay, are you sitting down, Marty?' asked Jennifer. 'It's going to be a rather long explanation.'
Marty Jr then grabbed a seat, and he sat down. 'Okay, Mom, I'm sitting down. What happened to Dad? Is he going to be all right?'
'Okay,' explained Jennifer, 'your dad and I had travelled back in time to last year to go on a Carribean cruise with Dr. Brown and Clara. Doc thought that would give us a little vacation. However, Marty caught a nasty virus, and he's now very feverish. I'm hoping he'll pull through and be fine, though.'
'Oh, Mom, that sounds awful,' mumbled Marty Jr, blinking back tears. 'So why did Doc and Clara decide to take you and Dad back in time on a Carribean cruise?'
'Mostly,' explained Jennifer, 'Doc decided to take us back in time, so that you guys wouldn't miss us. Doc doesn't really like using the time machine all that much - but he decided that spending a week in the Carribean would give us a much needed vacation, without having anyone from the present miss us.'
'Well, then, Mom,' said Marty Jr. 'Harmony and I will come to the hospital right away.'
'Hey, Marty,' whispered Harmony, 'ask her how Grandma and Grandpa are doing?'
'Uh, Mom,' said Marty Jr, 'Harmony wants to know how her grandparents are doing?'
'Clara is just fine,' replied Jennifer, 'and Doc did get knocked out a bit. He'll be fine, though. It's your dad that I'm real concerned about. I hope we can cure him. I would hate to think he might... well, you know.'
'I would hate for that to happen, too,' Marty Jr said, blinking back tears. Marty Jr had remember how, a couple months ago, he had watched Andrew Hopkins pass away from a terrible epidemic called Jack Coleman Fever - so called because Jack Coleman from Sacramento had been the first victom to die of the terrible disease. However, with the help of his father and Doc from 1986, they had been able to prevent the terrible disease from spreading - and Jack Coleman, Andy, and all the other victims's lives have been spared. Marty Jr still had terrible nightmares about it from time to time.
'Try not to fret so much, honey,' Jennifer said, softly. 'I suppose I should let you go now. Your dad may be in the hospital for a few days, but he should get better.'
'Okay, good bye, Mom,' said Marty Jr, as he hung up the phone.
'So what happened?' asked Harmony.
'To make a long story short,' explained Marty Jr, 'my dad has caught a terrible virus, and he's very feverish. He'll be in the hospital for a few days, but I hope he gets better soon. Your grandpa has passed out a bit, but he should be okay. Your grandma is still fine, though.'
'Well, yeah,' said Harmony, sighing, 'I suppose we should get going now.'
Just then, the front door flew open, and Marlene came in.
'I'm home!' called out Marlene. 'Oh, hi, Marty and Harmony. Are Mom and Dad home?'
'No, they're not,' said Marty Jr, shaking his head. 'In fact, Dad is at the hospital now - and we were just heading there to see him.'
'Oh, what happened to Dad?' Marlene asked, concerned.
'He caught a terrible virus,' explained Marty Jr, 'and he's very feverish.'
'That's terrible,' said Marlene, looking like she wanted to cry. 'Can I come with you guys?'
'Sure,' replied Marty Jr, 'I hope Dad pulls through this okay, too.'
Then Marty Jr, Marlene, and Harmony headed out to the car.
