Chapter 2 – A Boy Without a Memory

Saturday, November 2nd, 1985

McFly Residence

12:47 P.M.

"It was Doctor Brown, wasn't it?" Dad says, and I'm in such a panic I don't know what to say. He draws his hands back and begins pacing around the room. "I knew he was no good… All these wild stories about him torturing animals with his crackpot inventions… I should have listened to them." I want to say something, but I'm sputtering for the right words. "And now he's experimented on Marty." Dad mutters to himself and runs a hand through his hair looking furious.

"Dad, it's not like that!" I finally find my voice to shout, but Dad just sits back down beside me and takes my hands in his.

"It's quite alright, Marty. Everything's going to be fine. You've just got to tell me what that man's done to you." I feel my mouth hanging open.

"He hasn't done anything to me!" I insist, prying Dad's fingers away and standing up. "Jesus Christ, we've known Doc for forever. You know he would never do anything like that to me." I'm shouting by now, but I don't really care since Dad's being a complete idiot.

"Marty, calm down…"

"I will not calm down until you take that back!" I can almost see the thoughts going through Dad's mind. He's read so many science fiction stories where aliens can alter human perception, and I knew Doc was looking like a little green man to Dad now.

"It's the only reasonable explanation!" Dad shouts, making me flinch. I've never heard Dad shout before. Ever. "Marty you don't even know your own birthday for Chrissake!" Dad's standing up now too. "You don't talk to your mother or me anymore. In fact, you don't talk to anyone in this family!" God, if he's expecting me to break down and admit Doc's been mind-raping me, he's got another thing coming.

"I've just been under a lot of stress, alright?" I say, and it's not a total lie. Time-traveling can really take it out of a person. "I'm sure if I just relax a little I'll be fine…" I can't tell if Dad wants to hug me or hit me.

"Are you being harassed at school?" He says. Oh jeez.

"No, Dad."

"Marty, I worry. It's my job as a parent." He says and sits back down again, rubbing his forehead. "I know I was picked on a lot in school. I just want to make sure you're safe."

"Dad. No offence, but I don't think I was anything like you in high school." I lean against the wall moodily. Dad laughs for a moment.

"Don't be so sure. I know you still haven't sent that demo tape in."

"That's because it's not good enough."

"It's perfect, Marty. You've fine-tuned that thing a hundred times." I'm rolling my eyes by now. "Don't be so scared of sending it in. It's good and you know it is. Take this chance, alright?" I can't help but stare at him. Who would have thought I'd see the day when my Dad was telling me to take a risk?

"Right. Well, I'll go do that now then." I say. I wonder if the alter Marty was more like Dad than I am. I'm about to leave the room when Dad touches my wrist.

"Listen. If Doc's done anything to you, you let me know about it." I want to scream at him again, but he looks so sincere.

"He hasn't done anything." I say glaring. "He's my best friend." I add, and walk out of the house.

"That's what I'm afraid of." I catch Dad whispering as the door swings shut behind me.

"My father thinks you're experimenting on me!" I say in a rage as I enter back into Doc's garage. Doc rolls out from underneath the Delorean, and I wonder how long he's going to be working on that thing. "That bastard actually thinks you would hurt me! Christ --That's just fucking ridiculous." Doc sits up, giving me a quizzical look behind his goggles.

"That does seem implausible. Why would your father bring this up out of the blue?"

"Implausible!" I say angrily. "It's impossible! And well… it wasn't really out of the blue I guess." Doc eyes me curiously and I launch into the bizarre story of my crying mother and Dad's worrying charade. Doc takes a moment to gather his thoughts when I'm finished.

"I understand your concerns, Marty, but I still believe there is no way they would have figured out the truth." I look at Doc hopelessly.

"Then what was that all about?"

"You're not the Marty from this dimension." Doc says simply. "I suspected something like this may occur, though I never expected the differences between you two to be so drastic your parents would notice."

"Listen, I don't think it's that, Doc." I say, waving an arm. "It's just…well." Doc nods, encouraging me to continue. "I don't have any memories to share with these people." I finish lamely.

"So they've been trying to have discussions with you about a past you can't recall?" Doc questions.

"Actually, um, no." I'm feeling silly now.

"Well then why would your father wish to confront you?" Doc tries again.

"I guess…because I've been avoiding them." Doc raises his eyebrows. "See I was worried that they would ask me something I couldn't answer, so I haven't been talking to them much… at all."

"Marty!" Docs says in exasperation. "Do you realize that by avoiding your family you've given them ample reason to suspect something is wrong with you?"

"Well I do now, Doc." I say numbly. Doc shakes his head like an irritated dog.

"Alright. What's done is done. What you can do now, Marty, is research." Ah…Right. Research. "I'm sure your memories are not so drastically different from your family's now."

"My father doesn't even use the same shampoo anymore." I say deadpan. Doc looks slightly concerned.

"Never mind that. How about you just rummage through a few old photo albums? Maybe take a look at the things your family treasures most. Ask your siblings about some stories when you were little. That sort of thing." I nod, wishing I could write this down for future reference. "And most importantly Marty; don't be a stranger to them. You never were before, so don't be now."

"Easier said than done, Doc." I say, but he merely gives me a thumbs up.

"If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything." I feel myself smiling. Right.