2:20 PM CDT
Real World Universe
"So are you feeling excited, Amanda?" Calvin asked, gently. "You seem awfully quiet."
"I guess I'm just a little nervous," Amanda said, quietly. "I mean, I have not seen my mother in three years now. It seems like a real dream come true. I still have a hard time believe that this is actually happening."
"We should be there in about ten minutes," commented Doc. "Everything will be all right, Amanda. Your mother seemed like a very nice person, when I spoke to her on the phone."
"I guess it's things like this that really reminds me that I should appreciate my family more," sighed Marty. "This really is not fair, Amanda. If you and your mother had a close relationship with each other, then they should allow the two of you to have contact with each other. So my heart really does go out to you, Amanda."
"I wonder what Paula and Gordy Lewis are doing right now," pondered Amanda. "I wonder if I'll have to at go back to that home to collect my belongings. As far as I'm concerned, I never want to step foot in that home again."
"I don't blame you, Amanda," Calvin replied. "I really have nothing against religious people in general, but I just don't understand why some people use their religion to oppress people. Besides, doesn't it say in the Bible that we should love one another - and treat other people the same way we would like to be treated?"
"It seems like a lot of Fundamentalist Christians prefer to interpret the Bible in a more legalistic manner," Marty said, grimacing. "I think it was totally wrong for them to punish you just for having different political views."
"I really don't understand why a lot of Fundies are so gung-ho on national pride," Amanda said, sighing. "I thought that the Bible said that pride was one of the seven deadly sins. Anyway, why should I be proud of being an American citizen? It's not like I chose to be born in this country. If I was born about two hundred miles to the north, then I would be a Canadian. Being proud to be an American makes about as much sense as being proud to be a brunette."
"Well, in all fairness," Doc replied, "I believe the people who extol the virtues of national pride are not so much saying that you should take pride in being an American citizen - but, rather, they really mean that you should take pride in what this country stands for. I do see what you mean, though. I agree with you that it's better to embrace global unity, and that national pride can be rather divisive."
"Right," Marty said, nodding. "While there are a lot of things that I love about this country, there are also other things about this country that I'm not real happy about. I personally have no desire to leave the country, but that doesn't mean that I believe this country is objectively number one. I think good and bad can be found in just about any given country. I agree that national pride is highly overrated."
"Having spent most of my life in a world where Biff Tannen practically ran this country," Calvin added, "I honestly can't say that I ever felt a major attachment to this country. I realize that I am not in that other world anymore, but I guess the fact that the US government had allowed themselves to be manipulated by Biff had placed a damper on how I feel about the overall federal government."
"Gee, I guess I never really thought of that before," Amanda said, sighing. "It does sound like you have had a very rough life, and maybe that's why the two of us can relate to each other so well."
"Well, we're in Hartford, now," Doc announced. "Now I just need to find your mother's place."
"I am really worried that I might eventually wake up," Amanda groaned, "and discover that this whole thing was just a dream. I mean, you guys are fictional characters from my perspective. I want so badly to believe that this really is happening, and that this is not just a dream."
"Should I pinch you?" Calvin asked, teasingly. "Maybe I should tickle you! How would you like that?"
Amanda burst out laughing, as Calvin began to tickle her on her sides and her belly.
"Oh, please, please, stop," Amanda begged, through helpless laughter. "This really tickles! You have to stop!"
"Nope!" Calvin said, smirking, as he continued to tickle Amanda. "I'll keep on tickling you until you are convinced that this is not a dream, and that we are real. Besides, you have such a cute laugh."
Amanda continued to giggle helplessly, as she tried to squrm away from Calvin's relentless fingers.
"Here we are," called out Doc, as pulled into a parking lot. "Here is the apartment where your mother lives!"
Amanda was breathing quite heavily, as Calvin finally stopped tickling her. She felt like she was in a daze, as she glanced around the parking lot. She was feeling a little jittery, as she stepped out of the station wagon.
Amanda followed to others to the apartment - and she was fidgeting very nervously, as Doc rang the buzzer. In a few minutes, she saw her mother walking down the steps. She blinked a few times, to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
"Amanda!" gushed Karen Martini, as she threw her arms around her daughter. "It's so good to see you again! I cannot even begin to tell you how much I missed you. Why don't we come upstairs? Grandma will very happy to see you again, too. The two of of us have been living together for the last four years."
"I missed you so much, Mother," Amanda said, as tears filled her eyes. "It is so good to see you again."
"Why don't all of you come upstairs?" Karen said, invitingly. "Your grandma made some tuna casserole. I'm sure that there should be enough for everybody."
Amanda began to skip up the stairs after her mother, as Doc and the twins followed her. As soon as everyone entered the apartment, Amanda could hear polka music playing from the stereo. She realized just how nice it felt to finally be able to see her mother and grandma again.
"Sweetheart!" called out Eleanor Martini, as she hugged her granddaughter. "So how are you doing? Your mom tells me that you weren't very happy at your last foster home."
"No, I really wasn't," Amanda said, sighing. "They punished me, because I disagreed with them."
"Well, that isn't right," Eleanor replied. "Why don't all of you hang up your jackets in the closet over there? The tuna casserole should be done very soon. We have some cans of Diet Pepsi, if you guys are thirsty."
"Thank you so much," replied Marty. "I certainly could go for a Diet Pepsi, right now."
"Yeah, I'm really thirsty, too," added Calvin. "It's been kind of a long day for us, you know."
"Yeah, my name is Emmett Green," replied Doc. "I decided to help Amanda reunite with you two again, when she was so unhappy at her foster home. Anyway, I will appeal to the state on your behalf."
"I hope you guys don't mind staying out here," Amanda said, "while I head into my mother's bedroom. We have so much catching up that we really need to do, you know."
"We understand, Amanda," Doc said, smiling warmly. "We'll be fine out here for awhile."
Amanda then skipped happily, as she followed her mother to her bedroom. Perhaps, dreams really can come true!