Author's Note: This story takes place eight days before the events in Back To The Future, when Marty has an especially bad day. This story takes place in Twin Pines Timeline/Universe.

October 17, 1985
3:30 PM PST

It was a very bad day for Marty McFly. It started from the moment he went to the kitchen, in order to fix breakfast. His mother happened to be there, and she proceeded to rant at him. She insisted that Marty was a real disappointment to her, and even added how she couldn't believe that he was really her son.

When Marty asked if his mother loved him, she smacked him across the face - as she yelled, "Love you? How on earth can I love a brat like you? No, I don't love you! I don't have to love you, just because I'm your mother."

Right then and there, Marty felt like crying. He didn't, though - as he figured that crying would only make his mother tell at him all the more. He never got around to eating breakfast, as he no longer felt hungry. He also didn't bother to bring his skateboard with him. He just walked slowly to school, as he tried very hard to not cry.

By the time he finally arrived at school, he was late. Mr. Strickland ended up giving Marty a detention, as he had four tardys in a role. Mr. Strickland had also proceeded to call Marty a slacker, and ranted to him about what losers all of the McFlys were. By then, Marty was struggling hard to keep from crying.

By third period, the results of the math test were given. It turned out Marty failed - which, by itself, made Marty feel bad. However, his teacher also proceeded to call Marty a loser - and insisted that he would never amount to anything. At that point, Marty really was fighting to hold back the tears.

During lunchtime, Marty sat with his pals - who were part of his rock band, called The Pinheads. He had to explain to them that they wouldn't be able to practice after school, because he had detention. His friends responbded by chewing him out, and even threatened to break up the band.

After school, he encountered the last straw - which broke the camel's back, metaphorically speaking. As Marty caught up with Jennifer, she had yelled at him - and threatened to break up with him. She was very upset - becaus, the previous night, Marty failed to call her. When Marty tried to explain that he was busy, Jennifer simply shrugged it off as a lame excuse. She slapped Marty in the face, and then ran off.

Marty then decided to run over to Doc's house. He was praying with all of his might, that Doc wouldn't also be angry with him. He was also trying hard to not cry. After about fifreen minutes, Marty finally reached Doc's garage.

"Hey, Doc?" called out Marty. He walked into the door, and threw the key back under the mat. "Doc, are you there?" Marty sat down on the bed.

"Yeah, Marty, I'm here," called out Doc, as he came up to Marty. He sat down, right next to Marty. When Doc saw that Marty had tears in his eyes, he asked, "Marty, what's wrong? Did you have a bad day?"

"Uh, yes, I did," stammered Marty, as he finally began to cry. "Doc, I've had such a horrible day. I mean, this has absolutely got to be the worst day of my life."

Doc gently placed his arms around Marty - and he began to rock the teen, back and forth.

"First, my mo... mom, uh, uh..." continued Marty, sobbing. Marty was crying so hard, he could no longer speak. He simply buried his face into Doc's shoulder, and clung onto him.

"Shh," Doc soothed, gently. "Don't say anything, Marty. Just let it all out. Just let it out."

Marty freely gave way to tears, as he was finally releasing the emotions - which he spent the who day repressing. It felt so comforting, being in Doc's arms - as the scientist tenderly rocked him, back and forth. Doc always was such a good friend of Marty's, and he was always the kind of person to let Marty cry on his shoulder. Doc was such a special person to Marty. About a half an hour later, Marty's sobs finally began to subside.

"Thank you, Doc," Marty said, hoarsely. "Thank you so much."

"Oh, Marty, it's no problem," Doc replied gently. "It really breaks my heart, seeing you so sad. I bet it feels good, though, to finally let it all out of your system."

"Yeah, I suppose," Marty said, with a sigh. "Doc, do you know what my mom told me this morning? She said that she didn't love me, and that I was disappointment to her."

"Aw, poor Marty," murmured Doc, softly. "I can imagine that it would really hurt. Your mother shouldn't've said those hurtful things to you. I mean, that was wrong."

"That was probably what hurt me the most,' Marty commentd, with a sigh. "I mean, Strickland's cutting remarks usually don't bother me - as he's pretty much mean to everyone. I wouldn't exactly expect for him to be understanding. To hear those cutting remarks from my mother, though... That really hurt me, Doc. That hurt me, so deeply. Do you have any idea how it feels, Doc, to be scorned by your very own mother? Oh, Doc, why couldn't I have a more affectionate and loving mother?"

Marty began to cry, again - as he recalled his mother's harsh words to him.

Doc held him, tightly - as he said, "I'm very sorry, Marty. I can understand that your mother was, well, maybe going through some rough times. That was no excuse, though, for her to take it out on you. I don't blame you for being upset. It's really no wonder that... that you've had such a bad day."

"She's supposed to love me, Doc," Marty sobbed. "She's my mommy! She's supposed to care about me. It hurts so much, Doc, to be rejected. Having my friends yell at him isn't quite as hurtful. Even having Jennifer yell at me isn't... I thought mothers were supposed to love unconditionally."

"I understand that, dear," Doc replied, gently. "Well, Marty, you'll always have me. I'd never lash out at you. If you'd like me to, I... I could talk to your mother."

"I'm not so sure she'd listen," Marty sobbed, as he knew that his mother was never fully approving of his scientist friend. "I... I sometimes wish you were my dad."

Doc rocked Marty back and forth, as he tried to hold back his own tears. Fortunately, Doc had a very loving mother - who actually thought the world of him, and was very supportive. He remembered how sad he felt, many years ago, when his mother died.

He then felt bad for Marty, that he had to endure scorn and rejection from his own mother. It simply wasn't right. After about fifteen minutes, Marty was finally done crying. He just wished that he could, somehow, make Marty's parents become more supportive. There were times, in fact, when he wished to adopt his young friend.

"You really are the best, Doc," Marty said, hoarsely. "You really are. I really mean it. Thank you so much for being there. I don't care if... if some people say that you're crazy. I mean, you're almost like the father that I... that I never had."

"That's no problem," Doc said, gently, giving Marty a tight squeeze. As Marty gave a small smile, he added, "Try to have a good rest of today, okay? Don't be afraid to talk to me, if you should still have trouble."

"Thank you, Doc," Marty replied, softly. "I'm almost afraid to go home, but I guess I really should. I hope that my mother... Well, I don't want her to hate me."

oooooooooo

Fortunately, for Marty, things did improve - later that evening. Somewhat tearfully, Marty's mother apologized for all that she said to Marty. She even hugged him, as she begged him for forgiveness.

Soon after that, Zach Nelson - who was bassist of The Pinheads' - called Marty. Zach apologized for blowing up at him, and told Marty that he was a great guitarist.

Last, but not least, Jennifer called Marty. She apologized for being petty, and blowing up at him. About an hour later, they were walking at Hill Valley Park.

Life for Marty maybe wasn't so bad, after all. His life definitely could be worse. At the very least, Biff Tannen wasn't his father! Biff was only his father's superviser.