July 21, 2016
4:50 PM PDT
Marlene had followed teen Marty and Harmony back to the ward where her father was staying - as she was somewhat apprehensive. She was so anxious to hear about the results of the test, and to see if the crisis had yet passed.
'Daddy!' yelled Marlene, as she ran to hug her father. 'How did the tests go?'
'Has the crisis passed, yet?' added Harmony.
'Yes, children,' the elder Marty replied. 'They said that I should be able to leave the hospital in two days. I haven't been feeling as feverish today.'
'So you're not hallucinating. anymore?' asked Marlene.
'Nope! I can't say that I am,' replied the elder Marty, smiling. 'Marlene, my child, promise me one thing, okay?'
'What is it, Dad?' asked Marlene.
'Promise me that you confide in me, when something is troubling you, okay?' the elder Marty asked, softly. 'I hate to see you so upset. Both you and your brother are very precious to me - and when either of you hurt, I hurt. I care the world about you two.'
'Thank you, Dad,' whispered Marlene, as she wiped away tears with the back of her hand. She was touched by her father's speech.
'Now smile for me, okay?' urged the elder Marty, as he tickled Marlene under the chin. Marlene immediately cracked a huge smile. 'Now that's my girl!'
'I love you, Dad,' Marlene said, warmly.
'I love you, too, sweetheart,' replied the elder Marty. 'So are you feeling better, now?'
'Yeah, much better,' Marlene replied, smiling. 'Thank you, Dad. It feels so good to talk things out.'
'Well, of course, sweetie,' replied the elder Marty. 'You shouldn't ever be afraid to talk to me about anything. I'm not going to yell at you. I don't believe in yelling at anyone. Just know that Mom and I will always be there for you.'
'Thanks again for everything, Dad,' Marlene said, smiling. 'Well, I'm certainly glad to hear that you're doing much better, now. I can hardly wait for you to come back home.'
'I can hardly wait to come home,' the elder Marty said, smiling. 'Well, I'm getting pretty hungry myself. Are you kids getting hungry?'
'We're supposed to meet Doc in Hill Valley Park at six,' explained teen Marty. 'He asked us to go get dinner for him and our son. He and our son had skipped forward in time a bit, so that they wouldn't be taking up space in the park.'
'Okay then, you kids take good care of yourselves,' replied the elder Marty.
Then the teen Marty went to embrace his elder self one more time. 'It's been real nice talking to you,' teen Marty said. 'Maybe we'll bump into each other some time again in the future.'
'Or in the past,' replied the elder Marty, smiling.
Then Marlene had followed teen Marty and Harmony out of the ward.
oooooooooo
'So where should we go get dinner?' asked Marlene.
'How about McDonald's,' suggested Marty. Then, turning to Harmony, he asked, 'Does my future son like to eat 20 piece Chicken McNuggets with four sweet and sour sauces, and drink Diet Coke?'
'You're correct on the account of the Chicken McNuggets and the sweet and sour sauces,' replied Harmony. 'He prefers to have a grape drink, though.'
'They have grape drink, now?' asked Marty amazed. 'Back in 1986, they only have it in orange.'
'They now have it in several different fruit flavours,' explained Marlene. 'There is orange, grape, strawberry, and blueberry.'
'What about shakes?' asked Marty. 'Does it still come in strawberry, chocolate, abnd vanilla?'
'Well, they do still have those flavours,' said Harmony. 'They also have grape, orange, blueberry, mocha, mint, and several other flavours.'
'Wow!' exclaimed Marty. 'I think I'll have a mint shake. They used to only have them in March, when they were called shamrock shakes.'
'Oh, yeah, about the Chicken McNuggets,' said Harmony. 'I remember hearing how, shortly after the turn of the century, they changed the recipe of the nuggets to use a healthier brand of oil and use all white meat. I remember the first time we travelled to 1986 and stopped at McDonald's. I thought the nuggets didn't taste as good.'
'Sounds good,' replied Marty. 'I've always preferred white meat over dark meat.'
'It'll probably spoil you, though,' Harmony warned. 'Once you try these new nuggets, you might not ever be able to go back to eating the nuggets of 1986.'
'Okay, I guess I'll order three fish sandwiches instead, then,' suggested Marty.
'Gee, you really are just like my brother!' gasped Marlene. 'I'm not sure how he can eat so much, and stay so thin.'
'I think you have a good figure, too, Marlene,' Marty said, gently. 'You really should try to relax a bit on your diet. I think it's great that you care about your health, but you shouldn't stress yourself out so much over it. I mean, you shouldn't have to abstain completely from, uh, not-so-healthy foods. It's okay to give yourself a treat every now and then. I think that's the reason why some thin people act so resentful towards, uh, not-so-thin people. They resent the fact that they feel the need to deprive themself of some of the pleasures that not-so-thin people enjoy.'
'Say, isn't that where some of your resentment towards from family came from?' Harmony asked, softly. 'You should do all things in moderation, you know.'
'Yeah, I guess you're right,' Marlene said, sighing. 'I guess what you guys are saying, is that I should relax and enjoy life a bit more, right?'
'Exactly,' Marty and Harmony replied, simultaneously.
Marty then reached out to hug his future daughter. 'Remember what my older self told you, honey?' Marty asked, gently.
'Right,' replied Marlene, smiling. 'I shouldn't be afraid to ever talk to you about what's on my mind. When I'm upset - you get upset, too.'
'You've got it!' Marty replied, smiling. 'I mean, I haven't even had you yet - and I already love you with all of my heart. I will really miss you, when I have to go back to 1986. You really are one precious girl, Marlene.'
'Thank you, Dad,' whispered Marlene, smiling. 'I've always wanted to meet my parents as teenagers. I never thought the day would actually come, though.'
'Meeting your parents at your current age can be a very educational experience,' Marty said, smiling. 'That's for sure.'
Then the three teens stepped into the McDonald's restaurant to order their meals.
