#future ties

Alex had never seen a house so small in his life. Compared to his own home back in Ohio, it was tiny. How could a family of five fit in such a shack? He couldn’t help but wonder this to himself.

Marty, still carrying his skateboard, looked a little embarrassed about the whole thing. Again, Alex felt a slight stab of pity for him and had no idea why. This certainly never happened around his friends back home, so why should this stranger suddenly make him emotional?

“Okay, you guys have done enough,” Marty said quickly, parking himself in front of the door. “I can take it from here.” He gave an apologetic smile to Elyse, who just shook her head forlornly.

Oh no. Elyse and her savior complex coming out full force. Alex shuddered. This was going to turn ugly if he didn’t do something about it.

“Marty, are your parents still up? Elyse asked slowly, as if this information was a lot for him to take in.

“Well, yeah, it’s only 11 now. I’m sure they’re just watching TV-.” Marty suddenly stopped speaking, realizing his mistake a little too late. “But, it’s fine,” he said lazily, trying to catch himself. “Really. You guys can go back to your hotel now. I’ll be fine.”

“I’d like to speak to them,” Elyse said briskly.

And then Alex saw that familiar look on Marty’s face: panic. He had had that look so many times before without somebody to help scrape him out of a bad situation.

Leaping to his feet, Alex knew he had to do something for this stranger. “Elyse, Elyse. You heard the kid.” He walked over to Elyse and placed a loving hand on her shoulder. “Let’s just take a walk back to the hotel and get some sleep tonight. You’re looking kind of tired. Maybe a nice warm bed or a-?”

Our of the corner of his eye, Alex thought he saw Marty mouth a “thank you” to him, but it was too dark out to tell. In the end, though, it didn’t matter.

“Alex, what’s gotten into you this vacation? First, you don’t want to come. Now, you’re being extremely disrespectful. We’re the Keatons. We help other people. Unless you’re even too Conservative to do that?”

“Yes! Yes, I am!” Alex answered quickly, grabbing onto that. “That sounds great, actually. Really sounds like me.”

“He never learned how to share in Kindergarten,” Jennifer said, giving Alex a sorry look. Alex just ignored her.

Suddenly, the front door opened, and an older woman, whom Alex assumed to be Marty’s mother, stood in the doorway. “What’s all this commotion about?” she asked, sounding annoyed. Alex saw a bottle of a strong drink in her hand and at once understood Marty’s predicament.

Marty, then, turned beet red and became super quiet.

Marty’s mother turned to him. “Marty, what are you doing out here with these strangers? Can’t you tell your father and I had a long day?” Still, though, Marty remained silent, looking from his mother, drink still in hand, to the Keatons, trying to hide his panic.

Elyse walked forward, then, and said in a brisk tone, “Hello, I’m assuming you’re Marty’s mom? I’m Elyse Keaton. Did you know your son was running around tonight unsupervised for most of the night?”

“What’s it to you?” Marty’s mother asked, grumpily, obviously turned off by the question.

Elyse cleared her throat awkwardly. “Well, it’s just you should know where your own son is. He is the youngest, and if anything happened to him, that would be on your conscience.” Elyse held out her hand again. “Elyse. Elyse Keaton.”

“Lorraine. Lorraine McFly,” Lorraine answered, not taking Elyse’s hand. “And, Elyse, please don’t tell me how to take care of my family. I may not know where my son is at all times-.”

“He’s in high school!”

“Why do you care? And, really, who are you, anyway?”

Elyse and Lorraine stared at each other, sizing each other up, as Marty just stood there, looking bewildered. Now all Alex felt was humiliation on the part of his mother’s prying ways.

“I’m a mother as well,” Elyse answered slowly and carefully, “who cares deeply for my children, and wants to make sure other children are treated right.”

It looked as though Lorraine was about to answer with a rude remark, when Alex knew he had to cut in.

“Alright. I think we both learned a lot about each other tonight,” Alex cut in, squeezing himself between Lorraine and Elyse. “We learned that both of our mothers did a hell of a bad job raising us. Isn’t that right, Marty?”

Lorraine gave Alex an annoyed look. “And is this one of yours, Elyse?”

“Why, yes, ma’am,” Alex answered, giving Lorraine a wink, as Elyse glared at him. He knew he would get in trouble tonight, but he couldn’t stop himself; it was worth it, though. “And, Elyse, don’t act so high and mighty. There were plenty of times you didn’t know about me.”

“Like what?” Elyse snapped.

“My eighteenth birthday. Hotel Keaton. That stock market fiasco,” Alex said quickly, naming just a few times he had disobeyed his parents and gotten into big trouble.

But Alex, with surprise, saw Jennifer, Mallory and even Steven giving him small smiles. Had they also caught on to what he was doing?

“Okay. You made your point.” Elyse sighed and turned to Steven, who just nodded. It was time to go. “I’m sorry to bother you, Mrs. McFly. Just take care of your son, okay? He’s a good one.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Alex saw Marty sigh with relief.

“Okay, mom. You made your point. Time to get going.” Alex gave Elyse a slight push in the opposite direction, as she sighed.

“Well, what’s all the commotion?” an older man said, sticking his head out the door. Alex could only assume this was Marty’s father. “I’m sorry, I’m not so good at confrontation.”

“It’s nothing, George. Just some rabble-rousers,” Lorraine answered. “Come on, Marty. I think it’s time to come inside and get some sleep.”

“Yeah, one sec.”

As the Keatons turned to leave, Alex felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey, Alex? Can I talk to you for a sec?” It was Marty, grinning slightly, his skateboard still slung under his arm.

Alex nodded, but couldn’t help but wonder what this was about.

The rest of the Keatons walked ahead, smiling, leaving Alex alone with Marty.

“What’s going on?”

“Just, thanks. Thanks for what you did back there.”

Alex smiled. So, it was just thanks. “Hey, Marty, want to trade places for a day? Maybe you can deal with my family better than I can?”

“Get out of town! That sounds heavy.”

“Heavy?”

“Never mind.” Marty grinned and held out his hand. “Thanks for saving my skin back there. My family, you see, we’re not exactly conventional.”

“None are, Marty,” Alex answered, frowning slightly, thinking of his own.

“But your family, they’re just so-.”

“Not if you live with them.”

Alex took Marty’s hand and was surprised when, instead, Marty gave him a big hug. “Take care of yourself, Alex. And don’t let your family push you around too much. You’re a great guy.”

So, Marty had noticed, then. Alex felt slightly humiliated, but at the same time he had a strange, fuzzy feeling in his stomach. He couldn’t help it. It felt good that Marty, of all people, had noticed.

“Take care of yourself, too, Marty. You and that Doc of yours.”

Marty let go of Alex and grinned. “Thanks, Alex. I guess I was wrong about you.” Marty then walked away, heading back to his house, and left Alex feeling slightly bewildered.

“Wait. Wait. Wrong about what?” Alex called after him.

But it was too late. Marty was gone.

Alex heard the Keatons calling after him and turned to follow them. They were all smiling now, even Elyse. Had Alex really affected everyone tonight?

Maybe, just maybe, this vacation would be okay after all.

Marty casually leaned against a tree, while the Doc took a look at the Keatons’ car. Folding his arms and leaning backward, he observed, relaxing, the Keatons and how they treated Alex. Although they teased him, the family seemed to love him, and it looked as though they were all very close.

“So, tell me, Marty, are you from Hill Valley?” Elyse asked him, taking a step away from the car.

“Huh?” Marty looked up at her, interrupting his daydreams, and tried to grasp what Elyse had just asked. Introductions had been made minutes before, and Marty had quietly stepped aside, letting the family talk amongst themselves. He had just never thought they’d be interesting in speaking to him.

Doc muttered to himself under the car, as the evening grew darker and the moon shone above the trees.

“Marty,” Elyse began again, “you’re from Hill Valley, aren’t you?”

“Oh. Oh, yeah.” Marty stepped forward, and held out his hand to Elyse. “It’s nice meeting you all.”

“What a polite young man,” Mallory marveled. “Alex, you could learn a thing or two from him.”

“Excuse me, but I’m great just the way I am,” Alex answered back huffily. “I’m polire-.” The whole Keaton family interrupted him, laughing to themselves, as Alex crossed his arms, a frown on his face.

Elyse shook Marty’s hand. “We want to thank you for helping us, of course. But, just wondering, what were you doing alone this late at night? Weren’t your family worried?”

“Geez, mom!” Alex interrupted, coming over to Elyse and placing a hand on her shoulder. “Leave the poor kid alone. It’s none of your business what he does with his time.”

“I’m a parent. I worry.”

“Then, worry about your own kid: me!” Alex answered, shaking his head forlornly.

“Marty, did your family know you were out so late?” Elyse asked, ignoring Alex, who stamped his foot in disapproval.

Marty just shrugged. “My family? Yes, of course they knew.” He tried to sound confident, but the words came out muddled and unclear. He cursed silently to himself for not having more confidence in front of these strangers.

Elyse just raised her eyebrows. “Maybe we can take you back home soon?”

“No!” Marty answered a little too quickly and loudly. Both Elyse and Alex raised theit eyebrows at him. “No,” Marty continued a little quieter, sighing and taking a deep breath. “My family knows what I’m up to. They’re fine without me.”

“Well, you heard the man, so stop bothering him, Elyse!” Alex shook his head, a small grin on his face. Elyse just gave him a glare. “I mean, mommy…”

Marty couldn’t help but giggle at their antics. At times like these, he really hated his own dysfunctional family.

Mallory stepped forward now, a sly smile on her lips. “Marty, is it? You know, you’re pretty cute, and we’re the same age about-.”

“He has a girlfriend,” Alex answered shortly, as Mallory pouted. Marty just blushed. This family was great!

“Great Scott!” Doc exclaimed from under the car.

Steven stepped up to the Doc’s feet. “Doctor Brown, is everything okay under there?”

Doc rolled himself out from under the vehicle and shook his head. “This car’s broken. I’ll probably need at least two more days to fix it. Do you have anywhere to stay?”

“Two days!” Mallory whined. “We could have been in Hollywood by now!”

Jennifer just shook her head. “Sad day, isn’t it?”

Elyse stroked her chin for a moment. “Yes, Doctor Brown, we have a place to stay. You’ll definitely be able to fix it?” The Doc nodded. Elyse then turned to Marty. “Marty, why don’t we at least walk you home? I’ll feel safer doing that.”

Marty and Doc exchanged glances, as Doc just shook his head and muttered to himself. Marty, though, suddenly felt one very strong feeling: panic!

“No, no. It’s really okay. I can get myself home. I still have my skateboard on me.”

“Really, it will be no problem at all,” Elyse pressed.

Marty just gave a timid smile. “Get out of town, Elyse. That’s really nice of you guys. But-.”

“Okay, it’s settled, then,” Elyse finished. “When you’re ready, Marty, let us know.”

Marty tried to smile, but his insides suddenly hurt. What would the Keatons think of his messy, dysfunctional family? Would they call childhood services on the McFlys? He shuddered to think of what sweet Steven and Elyse Keaton would think of his alcoholic mother and absent father.

“Get out of town?” Alex asked, giving Marty a strange look. “Is that slang or something over here?”

“Alex, stop!” Mallory interrupted. “Can’t you see our guest is tired?”

“Well, technically, aren’t we his guest because he lives here-?”

“Alex!”

This time, the whole family called out his name, and Alex shut himself up instantly.

Marty still wasn’t sure what to think of Alex. He seemed incredibly full of himself, yet still had gone out of his way to help his family, something that seemed so unlike him at the outset. Marty would just have to wait and see if Alex really was as selfish as he imagined him to be.

Doc checked his watch quickly. “Well, I really must be going. Things to do, people to see.”

Marty gave Doc a pleading look, hoping he would get the message, but Doc quickly shook his head. If the Keatons noticed this look between the two of them, they didn’t say anything. “I’ll meet you here tomorrow at 9AM to work more on the car.”

“9AM?” Steven asked, stifling a yawn. “Isn’t that a little early?”

“Do you want your car fixed or not?” Doc asked. “I’ve got places to go, things to do.”

“Better listen to him,” Marty agreed. “He knows exactly what he’s talking about. Don’t you, Doc/”

Steven nodded. “Alright. 9AM, then.”

“Good. Good-bye all and have a great night.” The Doc walked away from the group, now leaving Marty alone with the Keatons.

“Marty?” Elyse asked softly. “Do you want to show us to your house?”

Marty gulped. “Oh, yeah. Right this way.” His hand began to shake, as he pointed in the general direction of his house. Mortified, he hoped the Keatons hadn’t noticed.

Alex, though, gave him a silent, quizzical stare, apparently already noticing Marty’s troubles.