July 20, 2016
6:00 PM PDT

Marlene stood by, helplessly, as she watched her father ramble on to her brother about some parrot named Polly and some chameleon named Artie. It made Marlene feel sad to see her father so feverish. However, whenever she tried to talk to her father, he snapped at her to not interrupt. She couldn't believe it. Her father was focusing all of his attention on her brother, but he was completely ignoring her. It could only mean one thing. It meant that her father actually favouried her brother over her. Marlene felt extremely depressed, and she wanted to cry.

Marlene turned to Harmony, and asked, 'Let's get some snacks from the vending machines, okay?'

'Sure, Marlene,' replied Harmony. 'I could go for a snack myself. After all we haven't had supper yet. By the way, what's wrong? You seem so depressed.'

'I can't believe that Dad is completely ignoring me,' Marlene said, sighing. 'He does like my brother better than me. I mean, isn't that obvious? He keeps rambling away to my brother, but he won't even give me the time of day.'

'Hey, Marlene,' Harmony said, gently, 'you have to realize that your father is very sick right now. You cannot take the fact that he ignores you so personally. After all, he's been completely ignoring me, yoo. So it's not just you.'

'Yeah, well,' protested Marlene, 'you are not his daughter. I am! I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, as Dad has more in common with my brother - than he does with me. Heck, my brother even looks exactly as Dad did as a teenager. I dunno, Harmony. It still hurts to be ignored like that. I mean, he's my daddy. He's supposed to love me, too - isn't he?'

'He does love you, Marlene,' Harmony said, softly. 'You just have to understand his condition. Marlene, he might die! You shouldn't be so self-centred.'

'I'm not meaning to be self-centred,' Marlene cried out, indignantly. 'I just want to be treated fairly! Really, is that too much to ask for?'

Marlene then slumped to the ground, and she began to cry. Harmony just stood by, silently, as she tenderly placed her hands on Marlene's shoulders.

oooooooooo

With a heavy heart, Harmony went to look for Jennifer. She felt bad for Marlene, and she wish she could find a way to make Marlene feel better. She had never realized before that Marlene felt like the odd one out. She had known that Big Marty had made an effort to be fair to everyone - and that he loved both of his children dearly.

'Oh, there you are, Harmony,' exclaimed Jennifer, when she saw Harmony walking up to her. 'So what's on your mind? Where is Marlene?'

'I need to talk to you about Marlene,' Harmony said, quietly. 'I'm just real concerned about her. She seems very depressed, like she feels left out or something.'

'Aw, why is that?' Jennifer asked, shocked. 'Is it because her father seemed to be ignoring her all evening. She shouldn't take it so personally, you know.'

'Yeah, that's what I told her,' explained Harmony. 'However, I think it goes a little deeper than what happened tonight. You see, Jennifer, she said that she feels like the odd one out. After all, she seems to have somewat different interests from the rest of the family. Like, for instance, she's really the only one in the family who prefers pop to rock. She's also not into computers or video games, like the rest of you are.'

'Aw, poor Marlene,' murmured Jennifer. 'Why hadn't she told me about any of this? I mean, she shouldn't be so worried to tell me what's on her mind. I mean, she's my daughter, and I want for her to be happy.'

'I'm not sure,' said Harmony. 'I guess she does seem to be rather introverted, while Marty and I are more extroverted. I mean, I'm not really shy to say what's on my mind. I think it helps to talk things out, and to work out your issues. I guess Marlene tends to be a little more prone to hold her feelings inside of herself. That can't be too healthy, in the long run, though.'

'Wow, that's very perceptive of you, Harmony,' Jennifer said, smiling. 'Yeah, it is true that I'll often ask Marlene what's troubling her - and she'll often refuse to talk about it. While her brother is always more than happy to talk about what's on his mind. It is amazing how much the Martys have in common. Marty Jr really does remind my of his father, when his father was a teenager.'

'Yeah, I'm a bit interested in psychology,' explained Harmony, smiling slightly. 'Granted, I'm a little closer to Marty than I am to Marlene, as Marty and I have a little more in common - but Marlene is my friend, too, and I do care about her. Sometimes I wonder if Lila does place a litttle too much pressure on Marlene to care about outward appearences. To be fair, though, I think Lila's parents also place too much pressure on Lila to be physically attractive. I guess it's sort of like a vicious cycle.'

'Yeah, I see what you mean, Harmony,' Jennifer said, gently.

'This is why I am strongly opposed to beauty pageants,' Harmony continued. 'I do understand Marlene's assertion what women can do femine things as well as masculine things. I mean, despite being somewhat of a moderate feminist, I do still enjoy cooking and spending time in the kitchen. So I'm not one of those crazy radicals who say that doing traditionally female activities is anti-feminist. Heck, if Marty and I ever get married, I would be more than happy to change my name to Harmony McFly. It's just that beauty pageants tend to make woman into sex objects, where physical appearence is everything.'

'Right, Harmony, I hear ya,' Jennifer replied, softly. 'I suppose I should go talk to Marlene, now.'

oooooooooo

'Sweetheart, can we talk?' Jennifer asked Marlene, softly.

Marlene listed up her tear-stained face, and mumbled, 'Yeah, Mom, I guess.'

'Sweetie, be honest with me, okay?' Jennifer asked, gently. 'Do you feel that your dad and I are neglecting you? Do you feel that we pay more attention to your brother, than we do to you?'

Marlene was quiet for a minute, then she quietly admitted, 'Yeah, Mom, I guess I do. I feel like you favour my brother over me - because you have more in common with him, than you do with me. I guess I can't really blame you, though.'

'Oh, no, no, no!' gasped Jennifer, as she gently listed her daughter's head. 'Sweetheart, I love you just as much as I love your brother. I just wish you would be more open and honest about how you feel. I can't just read your mind, honey. I can't know what is troubling you, unless you tell me. Know what I mean?'

'Yeah, Mom, I understand,' Marlene said, quietly. 'It hurts me, though, that Dad had completely ignored me, tonight. It's obvious that he loves my brother more than he loves me. Heck, my brother even looks exactly the same as Dad did, when Dad was a teenager. I dunno, Mom. I wish my dad loved me just as much as he loved my brother.'

'He does, honey,' insisted Jennifer. 'He does. Sweetie, you have to understand that your dad just isn't himself right now. He's very sick, right, now. Heck, your dad pretty much ignored me most of tonight - and I am his wife. Sweetheart, try not to fret so much, okay? Your dad and I both think the world of you. Now come give your mom a hug.'

Marlene then threw her arms around her mother, and murmured, 'Oh, Mommy.' Jennifer just gave her daughter a tight squeeze, and held her close for a minute or two. Jennifer wept a little, as she tenderly stroked the top of her daughter's head.