May 27, 1986
8:20 AM PST

Marty really felt nervous, as he pulled into the school parking lot. Would he be able to concentrate on his teachers' lectures? Also, he disliked how his class was being forced to read George Orwell's 1984. As Marty Jr read the whole book, Marty Sr could simply borrow knowledge from his son. However, he felt as if it might actually be cheating.

"Hi, buddy!" called out Zach, as he walked up to Marty. "What's up? Listen, I was just wondering if... Well, after school, would you like to come to our house? I sure figured that we could order a bunch of pizza, and watch a little MTV. How does that sound?"

"Yeah, that sounds totally awesome," gushed Marty. At that moment, Marty Jr began to realize something else that he sure liked about the 1980s. During that decade, MTV was actually good. They actually played very good music videos. "I'm all for the idea!"

"Great, then," Zach replied, as he slapped Marty's back. "Just think, Marty. Wouldn't it be real awesome, if... Well, I sure think it'd be awesome to see some of our videos on there. Granted, we simply have yet to film a music video. That would totally make my day, though! At any rate, being played on KKHV is certainly a rather good start!"

"It's still sort of a strange feeling, in fact," Marty replied, smiling. "By the way, I'm just not enjoy that book that we're being forced to read. When you think of it, 1984 really was much different - in the real world. I'm so thankful that we aren't living in that..."

"I see what you mean, Marty," agreed Zach, softly. "That damn book has been giving me nightmares, in fact. Still, it can make us feel very appreciative... It's makes us feel so grateful for all the freedoms that we're able to enjoy, and might take for granted."

"Well, I can't quite argue with you on that," Marty replied, shuddering. "At any rate, I guess we'd better start heading for class. I sure am looking forward to coming to your place. I'm very sure that, in Orwell's world, they're weren't quite things like... like rock and roll, video games, and.... other things that we really do enjoy about this decide."

"No, I don't quite think there were," Zach agreed, nodding. "Of course, the book was written during the late 1940s - so, at the time, rock and roll didn't exist. Even if it did, I can't imagine that such a totalitarian government would allow rock and roll music."

"Yeah, that just can't be a lot of fun," Marty commented, shaking his head. "Anyway, I guess we'd really better start heading off to class. While Ms. Coleman can no longer use our band against me... Well, I'd sure like to stick with the habit of being on time."

Zach nodded, as he walked off. Marty headed off to his locker. Marty Jr was stunned by how different the inside of the school looked. He noticed that there really wasn't a single robotic guard in sight. The floors and walls also looked different. As he reached his locker, he saw that they had combination locks on them - instead of thumb plates.

oooooooooo

After school, Marty was at Zach's house. The rest of his band mates were also there, as well some of their other friends. Marty Jr still couldn't get over just how much Zach resembled his future son. He felt a little bad for Zach, as he just began to realize that the rest of the band wouldn't become as successful. It seemed like of a real travesty.

Marty Jr was a little mesmerized, as he walking watching Van Halen's Unchained video playing on TV. He couldn't quite understand why, within time, MTV actually decided to stop playing music videos. He simply felt as if his own generation was being cheated.

"Man, this song is hot!" gasped Larry Albright. He was Joey's best friend, from before The Pinheads were formed. "It'd be totally awesome, if Eddie Van Halen simply was to ever notice your band. I swear, he's really one of the best musicians of this decade!"

"Yeah, that man really what heavy metal is all about!" replied Zach. "It'll just be a little while, before the pizza comes. In the meantime, we sure do have a lot of popsicles. It might tide us over, until then." As he stood up, he added, "At any rate, Mom keeps all the popsicles in the deep freezer. Well, let's all head out to the garage - and decide."

As Marty followed the group outside, he began to think of which flavour popsicle he'd like. Marty Sr really preferred orange popsicles, while Marty Jr really preferred for his popsicles to be orange. As this was Marty Sr's body, though, they settled on grape.

"These are quite nice," commented Marty, as he began to suck on the popsicle. Marty Jr was anxious to get back to watching MTV. He sure could get used to life in this era. "I quite think it's gonna be so awesome, just being able to eat pizza and watch MTV."

"Yeah, music videos are just about the greatest invention known to mankind," agreed John Doyle. "Well, maybe not quite! My dad quite enjoys watching CMT, which is MTV for country music. I'd imagine that MTV will last, for quite a long time. I can simply see how, in thirty years, our kids will also be watching MTV. It really would be awesome!"

I'm afraid you'd simply be in for a major disappointment, Marty Jr wanted to say. Of course, he couldn't exactly vocalize those thoughts. Still, he began to wish that he could do something - that could really make the future of MTV not go down the tubes.

"Oh, don't even mention having children," protested Zach, grimacing. "We're about to graduate, and... Well, I don't quite feel anywhere near ready to start being a father. Anyway, we're just supposed to be having fun. C'mon, let's watch a little more MTV."

"That's a real great idea," agreed Marty, as everyone headed back to the living room. Marty Jr began to wish that Todd, the Stebbs twins, and the members of his own rock band could also be here. "I'm sure looking forward for the pizza to come, though. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. I sure do happen to really love MTV, as well.

"Why don't we go play a little Nintendo?" suggested Joey, with enthusiasm. Everyone cheered, as Marty Jr realized just how much he was enjoying himself. He really felt as if he fit in, perfectly. "Well, guys, what should it be? Super Mario Bros or Duck Hunt?"

"How about The Legend of Zelda?" suggested Larry. "I got that game, just two weeks ago - and I'm still quite learning my way around. It might simply be a good idea to, uh, just teach each other a few new tricks. The best part is, you can save and continue."

"Oh, I have that game!" exclaimed John. "I really don't think it's a great idea, though. You can only save four games, at a time. I simply think we should go with Super Mario Bros. I really think Duck Hunt can get boring, after a little while. Anyway, it's very fun to just watch other people play Super Mario Bros, too. It's such an awesome game!"

"Yeah, I'll also go with Super Mario Bros," agreed Marty, nodding. As he began to look through all the game cartridges, he added, "Wow! Zach, you do have cool games! It's really gonna be a lot of fun. It's really a great end to a... a rather boring school day."

"Oh, yeah, it actually was kind of boring," agreed Billy, sighing. "I don't like how we're being forced to read 1984. I think it's some sort of... Well, I should say. Jesus! Now I am starting to have this guilt complex, over a fictional character! Oh, how dare she!"

"I guess it's just a subject that Mrs. Weston cares a lot about," suggested Zach. "She sure happens to have quite a huge passion for such forms of literature, I guess - sort of like how we have a passion for rock and roll. I honestly don't think she's wanting to make us suffer. She just happens to care about books, that can be very depressing."

"Yeah, but why does she have to inflict it on the rest of us?" protested Billy. "I rather think it's insensitive to force us all to have nightmares." With a sigh, he added, "I just feel as if... Well, enough about that damn book. Let's play a little Super Mario Bros."

The group all cheered, as the door bell rang. At the beginning, Marty Sr shared Billy's opinion on the book. However, he was quite starting to see the lessons that could be learned. As for Marty Jr, he would prefer to simply enjoy life of the real 1980s.

"The pizza's here!" called out Zach, excitedly. "I quite think the Nintendo should wait. We just don't want to get pizza sauce all over the controls. I ordered plenty of bread sticks, so there should be enough of that to go around. Well, guys, it's just gonna be a very fun night. We're really gonna live it up, as we '80s teens are supposed to do."

"Yeah, that would just be totally radical," agreed Marty Jr, as he thought of the irony of Zach's last statement. He smiled, as he saw that the delivery boy was holding such a large amount of boxes. "Okay, guys! I get to have dibs on the plain cheese pizza!"

"We only ordered two types of pizza," explained Zach. "We have double cheese, and cheese and pepperoni. Personally, I sure happen to be a huge fan of anchovies - but I know that not everyone here is all too fond of that. Well, guys! Let's all just dig in!"

"Aw, I was just hoping that you'd order something with the works," commented John, as he seemed to be disappointed. "Well, I guess I can still appreciate the gesture. It'll still be rather nicer than that casserole that my mom was gonna fix, at least." Turning to the television set, he exclaimed "Hey, they're playing Jesse's Girl! Let's turn it up!"

"Yeah, one of my little cousins sure enjoys that song," explained Zach, as he reached for remote control. "She sure has sort of a tendency to sing 'I wish I was Jesse's girl', though. She's real cute, though. She's one of my cousins, who aren't so bratty."

Marty laughed, as he reached for a slice of pizza. Zach's son, Aaron, seemed to really take after his father. In fact, Aaron even decided to grow a mullet - much like the one that Zach had, back in 1986. The idea sure seemed a little uncanny to both Sr and Jr.