May 29, 1986
8:20 AM PST
Marty felt a little nervous, as he walked up to the school building. Both Sr and Jr were worried about Jennifer. What if she decided to break up with Marty? It might create a time paradox. Marty Jr was a little taken aback sudden knowledge of time paradoxes, but then realized that it was just something that Doc often lectured his father about.
As Jennifer was privy to Doc's time machine, would she really be able to believe Marty about his situation? Marty Jr realized that one wasn't like the other. He simply couldn't figure out how he even ended up in this situation. Could Tabitha really be the cause?
Marty looked up, as he saw Douglas Needles walking past him. Marty Sr blinked, as he still wasn't used to just being left alone by Needles. From the time he was a small boy, it just seemed as if Needles enjoyed harass him. Granted, part of it was his own fault.
"Marty!" Jennifer called out, as she walked up. "I think I figured out why you were so distracted, last night. Listen, after school, I sure think you and I should stop by Doc's place. I have a feeling that he might really be able to, uh... to help get to the bottom of this whole thing. At any rate, I just wanted to let you know - I'm not mad at you!"
"Really?" Marty asked, as he breathed a sigh of relief. "Yeah, I was feeling just a little worried - when you decided to take off, like that. I mean, I was so worried that I... It made me feel a little... bad. After all, I honestly didn't mean to make you that upset."
"Yeah, Marty, that's okay," Jennifer whispered, as she placed her arm around Marty's shoulder. "At any rate, I was quite wondering... Say, you wouldn't happen to... Well, are you able to remember anything about what happened - about two months ago?"
"Well, Jenn, I'll try," Marty replied, nervously. He began to sift through his memories, trying to figure out what happened. However, his thoughts seem to be quite hazy. It was hard to pinpoint exactly what Jennifer was getting at. "To be real honest, I can't say that I do. I mean, it was the Easter holidays - and our band put on a concert..."
"Okay, then, I guess you don't," Jennifer replied, quietly. "We rather don't have a lot of time, right now. After school, we can discuss more about this. Well, anyway, I just hope you have a great day." Kissing Marty's cheek, she added, "Take care, Marty!"
"You too, Jenn," replied Marty, swallowing. As he watched Jennifer take a right turn, Marty Jr realized that his mother was a real looker. Still, it didn't matter how beautiful his mother was. The idea of dating her didn't quite sit right with him, to say the least.
As Marty headed to his locker, Marty Jr realized that he sure had some good ideas for the class assignment. After all, he really had the advantage of knowing which aspects of the 1980s would become quite classic. He figured that it couldn't be anywhere near as much fun, of course, to be a teenager in George Orwell's vision of the year 1984.
oooooooooo
"Hi, Marty and Jenn," called out Clara, as she opened the door. "If you two really feel hungry, I made some rice crispy squares. Y'know, I'm actually feeling good. Our son is expected to be due, around the middle of August. It's less than three months away."
"I bet you're looking forward to that day," Jennifer commented, cheerfully. "I happen to have a very soft spot for babies, in fact. Anyway, I was just wondering if Doc was around. Marty and I sure do need to talk with him, about... about a little something."
"Yeah, he's in his lab," Clara explained, smiling. "I don't think he'd mind seeing the two of you. You might really wish to knock, first. Anyway, I should serve you guys a plate of those treats." As the trio headed towards the kitchen, she added, "I sure do enjoy the idea, in fact, of having a summer baby. August would be a great month, as well."
"Oh, I agree," replied Jennifer, smiling. "It's the month where nothing exciting usually happens, after all. Well, there are all those 'back to school' sales - but..." Looking up, she added, "Oh, hi, Doc! Marty and I quite wanted to talk with you, about a little..."
"I gather this must be a little serious," Doc explained, as he took a close look at Marty and Jennifer. The teens nodded, as Doc added, "Well, then, let's head to the lab. It's a great place to talk." In a quieter voice, she asked, "So, anyway, what happened?"
"Okay, Doc," Jennifer began to explain, after clearing her throat. "Can you remember what happened, two months ago." Doc nodded, as she added, "Well, I simply suspect that something similar just happened. That Marty really may not be quite, uh, himself. I have a real feeling that Marty's still in there, but that someone else is also in there."
"Yeah, that's what happened," Marty replied, quietly. "All week long, I kept feeling as if... as if I was my future son. At first, I really suspected that it could've been caused by the telepathic device. Yet, I can't shake off the feeling... that it's something else."
"Well, that really is an interesting situation," Doc replied, softly. "It sounds like it could be similar... to the event of two months ago." Clearing his throat, he asked. "All right, Marty Jr, if you're in there... What all were you doing, just prior to this whole event?"
"All right, Doc," Marty Jr replied, nervously. "This really might sound strange. I was so excited to see Tabitha. She simply happened to one of my old friends, and... Well, it's really been a long time. She's simply a great person to be around. Anyway, she asked me what my greatest wish was. I said that I really wanted to experience the 1980s."
"Great Scott!" gasped Doc, stunned. "So, uh, who is Tabitha? You mentioned that she was a very good friend, but... Well, you wouldn't happen to know... This might sound a little... I was simply wondering if you would know who her mother was... or will be."
"Yeah, her name is Sabrina Palmer," explained Marty Jr. "She decided to keep her last name, after she got married. Tabitha's the only one of her kids to... quite take on her last name." Realizing something, he gasped, "Sabrina's a witch, right? I do wonder..."
"Mystery solved!" Doc exclaimed, excitedly. "Well, I'll have to give Sabrina a call. We'll have to explain all this to her. As Tabitha isn't born, yet... I don't know, for sure - but she might have the ability... Well, it's sure possible that Sabrina might be able to undo her future daughter's spell. At least, considering that her daughter isn't around to..."
"Whoa, this is heavy!" gasped Marty, stunned. Marty Sr really couldn't seem to shake off the feeling, though, that something was quite familiar about this. "It's sure been a confusing week. Although, on the plus side, I did much better at math... than usual."
"Why don't you guys head to the living room?" suggested Doc. "I'll really have to give Sabrina a call - and see if she can rather make it over, this evening. In the meantime, feel free to watch a little TV. You can turn on MTV, if you'd like. I'll talk to you, later."
oooooooooo
"I'm not sure what to say about this, Junior," Jennifer replied, stunned. "I mean, how can MTV decide to just stop playing music videos? Isn't that the whole reason why we have the channel, in the first place? Besides, MTV does stand for music television. It's just a... That being the case, I can quite see why you'd be disenchanted with the..."
"Yeah, it really does bug me," Marty Jr replied, sighing. "Granted, there is MTV Classic - but that's just marketed towards... towards your generation. Of course, it isn't that we teens can't watch it. It's that that, well, they seem to not acknowledge..."
"All right, guys," called out Doc, as he stepped into the living room. "I was able to just get a hold of Sabrina. She isn't able to come over, tonight - as she is a little busy. She will be able to come over, tomorrow afternoon. In the meantime, do you think you..."
"Yeah, I'll be able to manage," Marty replied, softly. "I'm a little nervous, though. One one hand, I'm still me. On the other hand, I'm also my future son. It really was fun, of course, being able to experience a little taste of the 1980s. Still, I am quite starting to feel a little... a little homesick. Well, as Mom now knows about the situation, I..."
"It's really such a strange feeling," Jennifer commented, laughing, "having you call me 'Mom'. I mean, your dad and I aren't even married... and I can't quite believe that I'm referring to your dad in the third person, when he's really sitting right in front of me!"
"This is a simply awkward position," Marty agreed, with a nervous chuckle. "Well, until tomorrow afternoon, we really shouldn't kiss. At least, just not in the romantic sort of way. I'm quite sure that, for you, the situation is almost as awkward. I mean, you..."
"Well, at any rate," Doc replied, nervously, "if you kids should need anything, I'll be in my lab. Well, Marty... or, should I say, Martys, it might just be best that you still go to school. We can't exactly explain this situation to everyone. Besides, I know just how anxious you are... for graduation. I'm sure that your future son feels the same."
"Uh, yeah, right," Marty replied, as he felt a little uneasy. As Doc left the living room, Marty added, "Well, Jenn, I guess this is going to be one long night. I sure apologize, once again, for placing you in this situation. I had no idea that this would happen."
"Just relax, Marty," Jennifer suggested, smiling. Reaching for the remote control, she added, "Family Ties is sure gonna be on, soon! I might find Alex P Keaton to be a little annoying, y'know. Still, I do happen to just find him to be quite an endearing person."
Marty smiled, as the Family Ties opening credits appeared on the screen. It really was a sitcom that both Martys, as well as Jennifer, enjoyed. In fact, it sure was Marty Jr's favourite show of the 1980s. In addition, he really enjoyed watching Spin City - which would become Michael J Fox's second major sitcom. He sure began to miss the future.