10:00 PM PST
Land of Colour Universe
"Being trapped isn't always a bad thing," Marty was saying to Alex, as the two friends were relaxing in the guest bedroom, listening to Christmas carols, and eating from a big bowl of chocolate candies. "After all, it was certainly a result of Doc being trapped in the Old West that led to him meeting Clara. I mean, it's almost like it was meant to be that way. Although the two of them are literally a century apart, they're so happy together. Blessings sometimes can come from certain trials in our lives."
"Well, I really would not mind being trapped in an elatator with Ronald Reagan," Alex said, laughing. "In all seriousness, though, I can see what you mean. Sometimes our trials happen to us for a reason. When my friend, Kyle, had fallen off the jungle gym and hurt his head - it was then that a cancerous tumour had been found. If it hadn't been for the incident, he might not even be alive today. In a way, I thought it was a real miracle. There's a lot of truth to that old expression of how, when life hands you lemons, you should make lemonade. We often don't consider stuff like that, though."
"Of course, it was also a result of me being trapped in 1955," Marty added, "that led to my family life improving greatly. Even though, I should say that it was a stressful event in my life. In the end, though, I would say it was worth it. I mean, you should look at Linda. Even though there are shades of her old self in her new self, her life really has improved greatly. She was certainly boy crazy for a long time, though."
"She sure seems to have a lot in common with Mallory," Alex said, smiling. "I guess I do sometimes give her a hard time for not being the most intelligent person around - and maybe I don't always appreciate the good qualities in her, like I should. I really don't mean to be nasty to her or hurt her feelings, but I guess I do sometimes take things a little too far. I guess I can understand better why got a bit overly sensitive with me the other day. I guess I am down on her too often."
"I have to admit that, in the old timeline," Marty offered, "I often felt embarrassed by my family. Looking back, I say this with regret. Of course, spending this whole week getting to know my parents when they were my age really did a lot to help me view them in a different light. Of course, I found out that my mother wasn't as innocent as she often claimed to be. I mean, the old her even disapproved of Jennifer."
"I sometimes give my parents a hard time for their political views," Alex commented. "Despite our political disagreements, though, I always have loved them. Also, when you consider the big picture, we do sort of balance each other out a bit. So I would say that, in many ways, we really have influenced each other a lot. That being said, I have to agree that your mother from the old timeline was a real hypocrite. In a way, I really couldn't blame you for being a little embarrassed by them. It appears to me that there was a little bit of friction between you and your mom of the old timeline."
"She would blow hot and cold," Marty replied, sighing. "I mean, there were times that she got verbally abusive with me - or, even worse, there were times she was silent with me. She wasn't really as affectionate as she was in the new timeline. Still, I do feel ashamed that I was often so down on my parents. After all, my father in the old timeline often didn't care what I did. It was my mother who was the disciplinarian in the home. I guess it bothered me to have two unstable parents, which is why I often had regarded Doc as the father that I never really had."
"I can imagine that must have really awful to you," Alex said, sympathetically. "Even though I may often disagree with my parents - they have always been there for me, whenever I needed them. I have to admit that I often go to my room and cry, after I have a really heated disagreement with them - because I really hate fighting with my parents. I also really hate it whenever I hear my parents fighting with each other."
"My parents in the old timeline didn't really fight," Marty said, shrugging. "Often, it was my mom who would be yelling at dad - and my dad would be tuning her out. I did often feel bad for my dad, too - although I have to admit I often felt disgusted by his lack of a backbone. I mean, it was a result of letting Biff bully him about the car that I came home to discover that I no longer had a car to use to take Jennifer to the lake. Although, granted, I have to admit I was being a little selfish."
"No, I think it's quite understandable," Alex said, gently. "I mean, your father did let you down, and it wasn't right. So, did you like being in 1955, for the most part? Did you feel like you were trapped? I can imagine it was really hard for you to convince your dad to be more confident in himself. Would you say it was maybe the best and worst week of your life? I mean, the prospect of being erased from existence would be a scary concept. Maybe time travel really isn't all that it's cracked up to be."
"There were certainly bad things that happened during the week," Marty replied. "I mean, I really did disrupt my parents' first meeting - still, if that hadn't happened, I might have returned to 1985 with the same family I had before. There was also the time that Biff nearly raped my mom, but this gave my dad a chance to really prove himself to my mom. The scheme that my dad and I had might not have been quite so convincing. My dad had another chance to prove himself - when he had to stand up to Dixon, who cut between him and my mom at the dance. It was also the time that I was starting to erase from existence. It was real scary."
"You know, Marty," Alex said, softly, "I sometimes think it would be interesting to go back in time, and see my parents when they were young. I would, of course, be a bit worried that I might accidently do something to endanger my own existence. Also, I really don't want any other parents. I might disagree with my parents on quite a few issues - but that's all right. The world would be a boring place if we all thought alike."
"You certainly have that right," Marty replied. "Sometimes it does get very confusing to have two sets of memories - even though my memories of the new timeline feel more real to me, now. Still, I guess I always will retain some hazy memories of the old timeline - even when I'm 48 years old and my son is the same age that I am now. At least I'm pretty used to it, now. It can sometimes make taking about my childhood a bit difficult, though - as I sometimes confuse the two memories. It's a good thing I always thought to keep a diary. It makes things a lot easier for me.'
"Well, I don't know how you do that, Marty," Alex said, laughing. "I mean, it could be hard enough trying to keep track of one set of memories. In a way, I guess it's like you've lived two different lives. Maybe you are a bit lucky. I still wouldn't want to be in your shoes, though. At least I keep a diary, too - so that does help out a lot."
"Actually, I really have more than two sets of memories," Marty said, sighing, "as I have gone on several time travel trips that significantly changed my future. There are even quite a few difference between the good Clayton Ravine timeline and the good Eastwood Ravine timeline. Instead of hearing stories about a teacher who fell into a ravine - which was popular, as we all had teachers we would like to see fall into a ravine - we would hear stories about a courageous young man who fell over the ravine while trying to stop two hijackers, never realizing the hero was me."
"Whoa, this is heavy!" Alex said, laughing. "I may have had a few teachers who I felt were rather annoying - but I would never have wished death on any of them. After all, that does strike me as a bit harsh and extreme. I don't like to wish ill on others."
"Well, I really don't, either," Marty said, blushing. "There are a few teachers who can be rather abusive, though - and really have no business being teachers. I mean, I'm quite certain that Clara was a wonderful teacher. There was also the time I was back in 1880 to prevent the tragic death of my namesake, who was Seamus' brother. It was always a story that made me feel so sad, and I was happy to prevent that."
"Well, anyway, Marty," Alex said, sighing, "thinking about time travel really can give me a headache. Why don't we check our sisters now, and see how they're doing?"
"That's a good idea, Alex," gushed Marty, as he reached out to hug his friend. "We can see if there's anything nice to watch on TV. I need to relax my mind a little bit. I must say that this is a very wonderful Christmas vacation! The kids are so adorable and sweet, and I really enjoy spending a lot of time with them."
"Maybe we can watch a nice comedy," suggested Alex. "Believe it or not, but I think I really should take a little break from thinking about politics - and ease our minds."
Marty and Alex both laughed, as headed over to the room where their sisters were.