12:00 AM CDT
Real World Universe
"What did that ripple mean?" Amanda asked, stunned. "The ripple outside the windshield, I mean."
"I suppose that means we've succeeded in our mission," Doc said, smiling. "It appears that we have now reached your dimension. We are currently ascending at Mayfair Mall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin."
"Why did we come here at midnight, though?" Amanda asked, confused. "Not many places will be open."
"We couldn't risk coming here at broad daylight," Doc explained. "We'll try to find a park where we can camp out. I brought along a few sleeping bags and blankets, and some pairs of pajamas for everyone. We should be all refreshed, when we wake up in the morning. Then we'll start searching for your mother. Her name should be in the phone book."
"Her name is Karen Faye Martini," Amanda explained. "Thank you so much for helping me, Doc."
"That's the least we could do for you, Amanda," Calvin said, smiling. "I really can't see any reason whatsoever for the state to forbid you to even have contact with your mother, when the two of you love each other. Granted, if she was abusive to you, then that would be different. It really sounds to me that your music was much nicer to you than your foster parents were. I know all about abusive parents, after all."
"Yeah, living with the rich and corrupt Biff Tannen can be such a living nightmare," Marty agreed. "I only knew him for a few hours, and that was bad enough for me. So I can understand what life for Calvin would've been like."
"That isn't a problem, Amanda," added Doc. "I made some tuna fish sandwiches for everyone, and I brought along some cans of Pepsi Free. I hope the three of you don't mind not having a full course supper tonight. We could have a big breakfast, tomorrow. How does that sound to you guys?"
"That sounds great, Doc," Amanda replied. "I can hardly believe that we're all going to bed so early tonight."
"It's currently ten minutes after midnight," Doc replied. "You think that's early, Amanda?"
"Well, it was only a little after four in the afternoon when we left 1986," Marty pointed out. "I'm quite sure that was what Amanda was referring to. After all, we didn't even have supper yet."
"Yeah, what's this you've said about thinking fourth dimensionally, Doc?" Amanda teased.
"Huh?" Doc asked, confused. "When did I say that? What do you mean, Amanda?"
"Oh, well, in the third movie from the Back to the Future series," Amanda explained, "you have lectured Marty twice about not thinking fourth dimensionally. Then again, I guess the events of that movie don't apply to you."
"Actually, he did lecture me about that a few times," Marty replied, blushing. "The very concept of time travel can be so confusing, sometimes I'm not even sure of what tense verbs I'm suppose to be using."
"Okay, I understand now," said Doc. "I made twenty sandwiches, so that should be enough for everyone."
"I think three will be enough for me," Amanda said, smiling, as he reached for three sandwiches.
"While the three of you are eating," Doc explained, "I'll set up came for all of us. We could all then hit the sack and grab some shut-eye. We need all the energy as possible, when we wake up tomorrow."
Amanda, Marty, and Calvin all nodded enthusiastically - as they began to eat their sandwiches.
oooooooooo
Marty stretched his arms sleepily, as he woke up late that morning. At first, he was rather confused about where he was - then he realized that they were camping out at a park. He felt somewhat disoriented, as he glanced around.
"What time is it?" mumbled Calvin. He then glanced at Marty, and added, "Oh, I can see that you're awake, also? Are you feeling a little nervous about the whole thing? I know I certainly am."
"Well, I do admit that I feel somewhat nervous," replied Marty, "but I'm rather certain Amanda is even more nervous than either of us. After all, we are back in her dimension."
"Are you talking about me?" Amanda asked, sleepily. "Where am I? I'm feeling a bit hungry."
"Oh, good," Doc said, as he walked into the tent where the teens were sleeping. "I'm so glad that you are all awake now. It's almost noon, so would you rather have breakfast or lunch?"
"I'm in the mood for lunch," Marty replied. "Maybe we could stop at Taco Bell. Considering that we had Italian food yesterday, I think I'm in the mood for something Mexican."
"I am thinking that we should just stop at a pay phone," Doc suggested, "and we could call information. So, Amanda, are you sure that your mother still lives in Wisconsin? If we could narrow it down to one state, that would help us out a lot. I mean, I don't want to be searching all day."
"She never really seemed like the type of person to leave the state," Amanda explained. "I always did tell her that I would be sure to look her up, as soon as I turned eighteen. I think she'll be really surprised to see me again."
"So did you say that your mother has a mental illness?" Marty asked. "It sounds a lot like they were discriminating against your mother, simply because she had a mental illness. Like I said before, I really don't see any reason why the two of you can't at least have contact with each other. It wasn't fair for the two of you to be separated."
"It's so nice to have all of you on my side," Amanda said, smiling gratefully. "I really hope that you will be able to convince the state to at least allow the two of us to have contact. Right now, I feel so angry at whoever it was that decided that the two of us should be separated. I will do my best to keep my temper in check, though."
"So exactly what illness doesx your mother have?" Calvin asked. "I hope you don't mind me asking."
"Well, she has schizophrenia," Amanda explained. "She also has diabetes and hypothyroidism. I really wonder what it was like for her, to not be able to see me within the last three years. I sometimes go through periods of time where I feel so depressed, because I miss my mother terribly. I really do want to see her again."
"I remember how I felt, when my dad died," Calvin said, with understanding. "I wasn't even five at the time - but I still missed him terribly, even when I was seventeen. So I really understand how it feels to lost a parent. I mean, it's not quite the same situation - as it's not like your mother died, and there was hope that you would be able to see her again. I mean, there never was any hope for me to see my dad again."
"Well, my foster parents were not quite like Biff Tannen," Amanda explained, "but they were still very repressive."
"Let's start putting all the camping gear away," Doc suggested, "and then I'll find a nice restaurant for all of us to eat at. I really don't feel like eating at Taco Bell. I'm in the mood for something a little more fancy."
"Sounds great, Doc," Marty replied. "I would like something a little more than just tacos. I could go for some BLTs and maybe some cottage cheese."
"Oh, I love BLTs!" Amanda gushed. "It's been awhile since I last had a BLT. Let's go."
Marty feel feeling cheerful, as he helped everyone else pack up the camping gear. He hoped that their plans to help reunite Amanda with her mother would go smoothly.