May 23, 2016
6:00 PM PST

As Marty Jr woke up, he saw that he was in his own bedroom. He began to wonder if he dreamed the entire week in 1886. Still, his experience sure seemed a little too real to just be a dream. Could Tabitha Palmer really be a witch? It was hard for him to get used to the idea. Also, did Doc actually invent a time machine - out of a DeLorean?

"Hi, Marty!" called out Tabitha, as she walked into the bedroom. "So, uh, how did you enjoy your trip? As it's been so long, since I last saw you, I wanted to give you a nice present. Did you have fun? Was the '80s just everything that you expected it to be?"

"Wait a minute, Tabitha!" Marty Jr exclaimed, as he was still trying to take everything thing. "You simply mean to say that... this was real? That this really did happen? That you really are a witch?" As Tabitha nodded, Marty Jr added, "Man, this is so heavy!"

"I guess this did take you by surprise," Tabitha commented, as she sat on the bed. "It was a little something that I wasn't sure I could explain. I had a feeling that you might think me to be kirgo. Also, there's the fact that I just wasn't expecting you to wish for something like that. So, at any rate, how was it? Did you enjoy your little vacation?"

"Well, it was fun," Marty Jr replied, quietly. "Still, I didn't quite expect to share a body with my father. It was a very interesting experience, though. While I rather did enjoy life of 1986... Well, it feels great to back. I guess everyone is just worried about me."

"Actually, not quite," replied Tabitha, smiling. "The thing is, Marty, while you spending time in 1986... Well, in the present, only two hours have sure passed. Your body was also here, the whole time. As far as everyone else is concerned, you were sleeping."

"That's cool," Marty Jr replied, softly. As he looked around, he added, "It's so strange to believe how, thirty years ago, my father slept in this very room. As much as I quite enjoyed life as an '80s teen... Well, it does feel so nice to be back. I've simply learned to gain a new appreciation for this year, as well. Well, Tab, I should quite thank you!"

"You're very welcome," Tabitha replied, cheerfully. As she looked around, she added, "Y'know, I do also get disgusted with some of the gangsta rap - as well as some other shit music. Still, I actually don't believe in throwing out the baby with the bathwater."

"Well, there are definitely more convenient things," commented Marty Jr. "It's so nice to get a pizza hydrated, in just a matter of seconds. Also, just being able to use your voice - in order to command various appliances. The internet is also great to have."

"I like having a cellphone," Tabitha explained, quietly. "I sure can't imagine not having a cellphone on me, wherever I go. They are quite convenient, and they're also not as easy... Well, as long as you have a cellphone on you, it's certainly not as easy to just get stranded. It also makes it so much easier, y'know, to keep in touch with anyone."

"Yeah, but it's also a little easy to become a slave to those things," pointed out Marty Jr. "After all, it makes it easier for some of the more pushy types... Well, it just takes away the excuse of being away from the phone. It can be a little annoying, y'know."

"Well, I do see what you mean," Tabitha replied, softly. "That's why having the ability to turn off the ringer comes in very handy, though. If someone can't quite accept the fact that you need time to be left alone, then they're not worth having as a friend."

"Is Marty awake, yet?" asked Todd, as he stepped into the room. "Well, I really hope you fell refreshed. The girls and I were rather concerned about you. Anyway, I think we simply should have some dinner. We should hydrate some pizzas - and then, later tonight, we should do a little hoverboading around town. What do you say, Marty?"

"Oh, I'm all for the idea," Marty Jr replied, as he flashed a lopsided smile. He reached for his acid cap, realizing how much he missed it. He left the bedroom, as he gave his bedroom one more glance. He smiled, as he saw the Stebbs girls. "Hello, Stephanie!"

oooooooooo

A few hours later, Marty Sr and Marty Jr were both at Dairy Queen - as they enjoyed their Mint M&M Blizzards. While his father seemed to be in a great mood, Marty Jr just couldn't help feeling a little nervous. Did his father even quite remember the event? If so, how did he feel? His father wasn't the type of person to get angry, all that easily.

"So, Junior," Marty Sr asked, as he looked around. "I guess today's the big day, eh? I simply feel so funny, talking about this. From my side, it was thirty years ago. It quite seems strange. What I'm meaning to ask... You made a wish to Tabitha, and you..."

"... went back in time?" finished Marty Jr, quietly. As he father nodded, he added, "It feels so... Well, it was just... For some time, I've had a real longing for the 1980s. Of course, there weren't things like hydrators and hoverboards. Still, I sure felt as if..."

"I understand, honey," Marty Sr replied, softly. "Believe it or not, but I rather tend to envy your generation. You grew up with all the nice things that I... Well, I guess it's quite true what they say. The grass is always greener on the other side. So, have you learned anything... Well, what did you come to appreciate - about the present?"

"My acid cap, for one," replied Marty Jr. "Also, the hoverboards. Those are sure very convenient, y'know, for getting around. Then, of course, there is the internet. It's so nice, in fact, to have all sorts of information... right at your fingertips. After all, it..."

"Yeah, I do wish the internet was around," explained Marty Sr, "when I was younger. Well, actually, the internet was around - but it wasn't accessible to the public. At least, it would've made my research reports a little easier. You kids really have a lot."

"I sure realize that, now," Marty Jr replied, quietly. "Anyway, it's not like we can't still listen to '80s music. I just hope that there'd be enough of us, though, to carry on the torch. Well, with the Cafe '80s being a somewhat popular hang-out - it just looks as if there might be hope. While I do still love the '80s culture, I'm sure happy to be back."

"I can hardly believe it!" Marty Sr commented, laughing. "It's strange to really think of how, thirty years ago, you and I were sharing a body. I do owe you my gratitude. Of course, it was often a little confusing. You did help me with my assignment, though."

"Really, Dad?" Marty Jr gasped, stunned. He figured that his father was just referring to the story that Mrs. Weston wanted for the class to write. "Well, that simply sounds awesome. I mean, I never really meant to... I just had no idea that Tabitha would..."

"No need to worry about it, honey," Marty Sr replied, laughing. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a tiny book. "Well, Junior, here's the story. The main character is named Todd Stebbs." With a smile, he added, "Oh, I know where you got that name from. At any rate, Todd from Orwell's world actually enters the body of Todd from 'our' world."

"Hey, that's quite awesome!" gushed Marty Jr, as he reached for the book. "Granted, I guess our actual experience was the main inspiration behind the idea. It's quite nice, how you decided to keep the story. I'll really have to read that, a little later tonight."

"Mrs. Weston just loved that story," Marty Sr explained, cheerfully. "Actually, I went over - by about 3,000 words. She gave me an A plus, in fact. I simply felt as is it was a great way to end my high school years. Your Grandpa George also really loved it."

"That's nice to hear," replied Marty Jr, excitedly. "Anyway, I do know about... Well, I was wondering if you really could tell me a little about your trip... to 1955. I'm curious to hear about it, actually. I never knew that Doc invented a time machine. I just think it's awesome, in fact. I know that there was something about... well, your parents."

"Well, I guess I can tell you," Marty Sr replied, nervously. "You see, I never meant to go back to 1955. Actually, a few things happened - and I rather ended up going back in time. I was confused, and I... By accident, I disrupted my parent's first meeting."

"That must've been pretty scary!" gasped Marty Jr. "Well, Dad, why weren't you able to just... just head back to 1985? Was there something wrong with the time machine? Well, I suppose Doc was around - but he must've been a little surprised to see you."

"Yeah, that was quite about the size of it," replied Marty Sr. "Initially, he thought that I was some prankster kid. Looking back, I guess I can't blame him. It really was one of the toughest weeks of my life, in fact. I simply had to work hard - in order to make my parents fall in love. In the original timeline, my father was not very confident - and..."

"Really?" Marty Jr asked, stunned. He simply couldn't imagine his Grandpa George not being the successful person that he knew. "Wow! I just never would've guessed! You mean, sort of like the way my other self was - in that alternate reality that you..."

"Right, exactly," Marty Sr replied, nodding. "I'll tell you more about it, later. I wonder if I should also tell Marly about the time machine. Actually, I really was planning to let the two of you know about it. It was just a question of when. Well, son, I love you!"

"I love you, too, Dad," Marty Jr replied, smiling. As he picked up the book, he added, "Say, Dad, I really am looking forward to reading it. While it's hard to get real excited over a book about a dystopian world... It's so nice that we were about to have some fun with that. Can I have the book, for a few days? I'd love to read it, a few times."

"It's yours to keep, honey," Marty Sr replied, smiling. Marty Jr nodded, as he was just feeling elated. It sure was a great feeling, being back in 2016. He also loved spending time with his father, but being separate from him. He really was a lucky man, indeed.