October 2, 1923
4:30 PM PDT

Arthur Riley McFly, aged fifteen, felt rather distraught. For this was the day that he lost his girlfriend and two close friends. He realized that the whole thing was his own fault, and he sure had acted foolishly. However, he really was tired of being a social misfit - and he hoped that being part of an exclusive club would improve his status.

In order to join the club, he was told that he had to perform three pledge tasks. One of them was writing a very gushy love letter to Hilda Anwhistle - a girl that his friend, Louis Carruthers, often studied with. The love letter had made Hilda angry with Lou - and she told Lou to, never again, speak with her. Lou then told the same to Artie.

Another one was to call Harold some very nasty names, in the middle of the cafeteria. He grimaced, as he still recalled seeing the rather pained look on Harry's face. It really was a wonder, in fact, that Harry was still speaking to him. It made him feel ashamed.

The third pledge task, though, really haunted him. He and his friends had been sworn to secrecy, when Steven Strickland showed them where he kept the liquor. He had to report one of his friends to the police, so he decided to report Steve for bootlegging.

As a result, Steve ended up spending three days in jail. Once Steve was released - he told Artie to never speak to him, again. Artie sighed, as simply he thought of that only one of his friends was still speaking to him. He really felt so ashamed, as well as sad.

While Edna Strickland was quite horrified by the fact that her own brother had broken the law, she really was even more angry with Artie. She called Artie a 'hypocrite', and told him that they were no longer a couple. She said that he just had no right bringing shame and disgrace to her family, when he also was really guilty of breaking the law.

The sad thing was, the whole thing really turned out to be a nasty prank on him. The two boys who were responsible for overseeing his pledges were themselves pledging for the club. After letting him think that he made it in, they rather revealed that their pledge task was to convince an unpopular boy that he was pledging for an elite club.

Tears suddenly filled Artie's eyes, as he quite realized his rotten luck. He was so eager to be accepted with the popular youth, he ended up hurting his friends - and losing his girlfriend. He wondered if Steve and Lou would ever be able to forgive him of his folly.

"Artie, are you in there?" called out a soft feminine voice. As Artie looked up - he saw his older sister, Alice, walking into his room. "Look, Artie, I really do believe that what you did was wrong. However, I do feel quite bad that you lost two of your friends."

"Oh, Alice, I feel so terrible," Artie moaned, as tears began to roll down his cheeks. "I really wish that I... I was so sick of being bullied around. I was hoping that, if I joined the club, the bullying would stop. I can't believe that I was so... so self-centered. It's just so... Oh, Alice, I wish I could turn back time - and undo everything that I did."

"Oh, Artie," Alice murmured, as she sat on her brother's bed. She then placed her arm around Artie's neck. "Listen, I understand that you really don't enjoy being bullied. I'm quite certain that nobody does, really. Artie, I do understand how you must've felt."

"Yeah, well," Artie muttered, in a near whisper, "I still shouldn't have done what I did. I had a good relationship with Edna - whereas, before, I never had a girlfriend. I sure feel as if... I wonder if I'll ever be able to have another girlfriend. This is all just so..."

"Oh, yeah, about Edna," Alice replied, softly. "I'm not very certain of how to go about telling you this, but I... Well, the truth is, I never felt as if Edna was really the type of girl I wanted you to be dating. Tell me, Artie, how do you feel about the... cinemas?"

Artie grew silent, as he simply thought over the events of the past month. Usually, he enjoyed going to the cinemas - and it was something that he looked forward to, every week. However, Edna rather managed to convince him that they were a just waste of time - and that he should do things that were productive. Artie gave out a deep sigh.

"Well, Alice," Artie replied, slowly, "the truth is... Well, I do miss going to the cinemas. I guess I... Well, I really wanted Edna to like me. I knew that she greatly disapproved of moving pictures, and I... The thing is, Alice, I still really miss her - and I just feel..."

"I understand how you feel, Artie," Alice replied, softly. "The thing is, I quite believe that she was trying to mould you into being the kind of person that she wanted you to be, instead of letting you be who youare. I just don't think that she..."

"I quite let her down, though," Artie pointed out, sighing. "I should never have broken my promise to Steve. I feel so bad about having hurt my friends... and Edna. She was right to have called me a 'hypocrite'. If I had not really wished so badly just to get into some stupid club, I would not have lost Edna... or Steve... or Lou... It's all my fault."

"Artie, it's so good to see you owning up to your own mistakes," Alice replied, gently. "That, right there, is one thing that sure separates you from Jiff Tannen - who thinks that everything he does to you... or anyone else... is the fault of the other person."

"Oh, Alice, I never would want to be like Jiff," Artie insisted, emphatically. "I'm afraid I became just like him, when I decided to hurt my friends... just to get into that club. At least, Harry forgave me - which makes me feel worse, as I do not really deserve it."

"That's just the thing, Artie," Alice pointed out, gently. "I mean, you sure feel remorse for what you did wrong - which is simply more than what one can say about Jiff. Still, I don't reckon that you should quite be beating yourself up over it. You actually need to forgive yourself, too. The best you can do is learn from your mistake, then move on."

"I guess you're right, Alice," Artie replied, sighing. "It would be quite nice... if Steve or Lou could ever forgive me. But, if they don't, then I can't really blame them. I feel bad about having hurt Edna, in the process. I was trying quite hard to get her to like me."

"Oh, yeah, about that," Alice replied, as she reached out to place Artie's hands inside hers. "The fact that you even had to work hard to get her to like you is... I sure think that she was using you, Artie. The thing is, you two really have nothing in common."

Artie swallowed, as he realized that his sister was right. After all, he enjoyed going to the cinemas. Edna did not. He quite loved jazz and other popular music. Edna did not. He really loved pork chops. Edna did not. He had a taste for chocolate. Edna did not.

"I still recall her reacting with disgust," Artie explained, quietly, "when I was about to purchase a chocolate bar. She really lectured me about how food should not be used as recreation, but strictly as fuel. I then decided not to purchase it. I did it for her."

"Well, there you go," Alice replied, just as she patted Artie's hand. "While I agree that what you did to your friends was wrong, I do quite believe that you are better off not being with Edna. I wouldn't quite give up hope, Artie. I quite reckon that there is a girl somewhere... a girl that you would be more compatible with. You have to be patient."

"Yeah, I guess so," Artie replied, sighing. "I don't quite want to grow up to become an old bachelor. I also quite feel as if it is my duty to pass on the McFly lineage - and I do not want to let our father down. I'm the only boy in the family, after all. I want to..."

"I'm certain that Dad is not placing any real pressure on you, Artie," Alice pointed out, softly. "I reckon that he really wants for us all to be happy. That being said, I can see a family in your future. You are just fifteen years old, and you really have a whole life ahead of you. I only just met Todd three months ago, and I'm not quite certain if..."

"Todd sure is nice," Artie commented, as a small smile formed on his face. "Well, thank you for being so supportive. I still feel real bad about what I've done - but if Harry, at least, forgives me... I'm grateful for that. I reckon I should telephone him, later on."

"I do think you should," Alice replied, with an encouraging smile. She glanced at Artie's clock, before adding, "Dad should be home, shortly. How would you like to join Agnes, Anita, and I for a game of cards? Perhaps, that'll simply make you feel a little better?"

"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Artie replied, as he stood up from his bed. "I guess, as there is quite no way to change the past - I guess I should know not to make the very same mistake, again. Even though, I doubt that Steve and Lou will ever forgive me."

"Well, even if they never do," Alice replied, softly, "all is not lost. You still have Harry. And you sure still have me... and the rest of the family. And, of course, you still have God. I know that He will never abandon you, no matter what. It rather is best to count your blessings. Don't think of what you lost, but think of what you still have."

Artie just smiled, as he hugged his older sister. While he still regretted his actions, he realized that his sister made some very good points. Indeed, things really could have turned out to be much worse. At least, one of his friends managed to forgive him.

As Artie followed his sister to the dining room, he then mused over Edna. Indeed, she did try - on various occasions - to make him change who he was. He now realized that they just were not meant to be. He and Edna certainly were not a compatible couple.

Perhaps, one day, he would be able to find the right girl for him. For now, though, he decided that he would make the best of his life. He might not have that many friends, especially after he had lost two of them. However, he vowed to just be who he was - instead of trying to be someone he was not, in order to gain acceptance from others.