Disclaimer: I do not own Back to the Future.

Author's Note: This story is in response to October's Challenge of last year. Marty calls up Jennifer to deliver the bad news about the car. Obviously takes place in Twin Pines Universe.

October 25, 1985
7:30 PM PST

Today was a rather bad day for Marty McFly. Granted, it wasn't the worst day he ever had. Still, this was one of those days that Marty wouldn't wish to repeat.

First, Marty blew up the amplifier in Doc's garage - as he decided to practice his guitar. The force managed to push Marty back into a bookcase, causing him to have a sore back. Granted, Doc did warn him about the amplifier - but there was really one major problem with that. The warning actually came after the fact!

Marty was then late for school, as Doc turned the clocks 25 minutes back. Just exactly why, Marty couldn't figure out. As this was the fourth day in a row that Marty being late, he had to stay in after-school detention.

Marty, at least, was able to make it to his band's audition. However, the audition judge decided fail Marty's band - called The Pinheads. The judge insisted that band was "just too darn loud". On top of everything, the judge bore a strong resemblance to Huey Lewis - who happened to be among Marty's favourite musicians. In fact, the band decided to do their own rendition of The Power of Love - which was a latest hit of Huey Lewis and The News.

After Marty went home, he found out that Biff Tannen - who happened to be the superviser of Marty's father - ended up totalling the family car. This greatly upset Marty, as his father had promised to loan the car to Marty - so that he could take Jennifer Parker, his girlfriend of nearly two years, to the lake.

Speaking of Jennifer, Marty realized that he needed to call up her - to deliver the bad news to her. While his older brother, Dave, had a car - it wasn't in very good working condition. In fact, the car was in for repairs - which meant that Dave had to take the bus to Burger King, where he worked as a fry cook.

When Marty's mother, Lorraine, left to attend a meeting - Marty headed off to his room, so that he could call Jennifer. Marty just couldn't understand why his mother disapproved of Jennifer. She was a very supportive girlfriend, and she tried to be polite to everyone. His mother certainly seemed to be such a prude.

He remembered how, as the two were sitting in The Courthouse Square, Jennifer mentioned that she would be by her grandmother's place. She wrote her phone number on the back of the Save The Clock Tower flyer - which he received from Carol Vincent, who was the leader of the Hill Valley Preservation Society.

After three rings, Jennifer's grandmother answered the phone. "Hello, this is Eleanor Parker speaking. Who is this?"

"This is Marty McFly," explained Marty. "Um, Mrs. Parker, I'm wondering if I could... could speak to Jennifer."

"Oh, sure! Just a minute,' replied Eleanor Parker. In the background, Marty heard her calling, "Jennifer! Sweetheart! There's a Marty McFly on the phone for you."

"Tell him I'll be right out," Jennifer called back.

"She'll be right there," Eleanor Parker said, to Marty. "It'll just be a sec."

"Oh, thank you, Mrs. Parker," Marty replied, politely.

Jennifer's grandmother seemed to be very nice. He thought of his own grandmother, Stella Baines. She was Lorraine's mother - and, strangely enough, she didn't seem to be all too strict. Marty always loved to spend time with him.

Marty then thought of Grandpa Sam - who died, when Marty was just a small boy. As a result, he didn't know his grandfather that well. Apparently, though, he was a very strict man - which was what, very likely, rubbed off on Lorraine. He was also the one to run over Marty's father, by accident.

After about a minute, Jennifer finally picked up the phone. "Uh, hello, Marty. I'm very sorry about the wait. I just stepped out of the shower."

"Oh, Jenn, that's no problem," Marty replied, gently. 'Listen, Jenn, I'm afraid that I have some very bad news for you."

"Oh, what happened, Marty?" Jennifer asked, concerned. "Did your mom find out?"

"I won't be able to use my dad's car, tomorrow," explained Marty, sadly. "You see, he loaned his car to Biff Tannen - who happens to be his superviser... and a complete asshole! Anyway, Biff wreched the car - while he was drinking, no less. I mean, he completely totalled it. I just wish Dad the guts to say 'no' to Biff. He insists that he's not very good at confrontations, though."

"Oh, Marty, I'm so sorry about that," Jennifer replied, quietly. "I'm very bummed about this, y'know. I'm mean, we've actually been waiting for a few weeks."

"Yeah, really," Marty said, sighing, "tell me about it. I really do love my dad, Jenn. I mean, honestly, I do - but I sometimes get so damn frustrated with him. I mean, Biff has been bullying Dad since... since they went to school together. Even after over thity years, Dad never had the courage to stand up to the asshole. I mean, I try to be a very nice person - but there's no way that I'd let people walk all over me. I don't understand why Dad can't be a little more assertive. It's almost like he's a glutton for punishment. I mean, why's he even still working for the man?"

"Your dad seems to be rather, uh, masochistic," Jennifer suggested, sympathetically. 'It's pretty common for people who... who are victims of abuse. It's their way of, well, coping with the pain. I'm just as disappointed about the car as you are, Marty. Please don't be too hard on him, though. Your dad is just the way he is."

"Yeah, you're right, Jenn," Marty said, sighing. "It's just that Mom gets so depressed, because of Dad's inability to stand up for himself. I sure beginning to think that Linda is right. Mom just married Dad, because she felt sorry for him. I'm really not saying all this to be mean - but it's hard to argue with Linda's logic. I don't think my parents even have anything in common with each other. I mean, they seldom ever do anything together! The thing is, Jenn, I don't even remember the last time that my parents had a serious... y'know, heart-to-heart... discussion with each other."

"How did your parents meet, anyway?" Jennifer asked, with curiosity.

"Grandpa Sam, my mom's dad, hit my dad with his car,' Marty explained. 'I guess Dad was bird watching, or something - and he fell in the middle of the street. That was when Grandpa hit him with the car. As a result, Grandpa took Dad into his home - and that's how Mom met him. I guess Mom really felt felt sorry for Dad, so that's why she offered to go with him to The Enchantment Under The Sea Dance. Apparently, that was where they had kissed... for the very first time. That must've been some kiss!"

"Ah, I see," said Jennifer, with understanding. "'I think you'd call that the Florence Nightingale effect."

"What does that mean, Jenn?" asked Marty.

"The Florence Nightingale effect is where a woman falls in love with a man," explained Jennifer, "because he's weak, and... Well, she wants to take care of him."

"That really sounds like my parents, all right,' Marty said, sighing. 'I wish that I could go back in time, and make my parents meet under different circumstances. I'm sure that we'd have a happier family life, if my parents met... under different conditions. Oh, well, I suppose it could be much worse. At least, my parents are not physically abusive. I also don't have Biff for a father!"

"That's true," Jennifer said, gently, "even though I understand that your mom's gotten verbally abusive, a few times. Even just last week, for instance."

"Yeah, when she's very drunk," Marty replied, quietly. Marty did remembered what happened, just eight days ago - when his mother blasted him out, and called him a disappointment. Lorraine apologized, later that evening. The event still left an emotional scar on Marty. Lorraine very seldom ever hugged Marty, or told him that she loved him - which was the kind of affection that Marty desperately craved for.

"Anyway," continued Jennifer, "we'll have to try to plan the trip, for another time. I don't blame you for being a bit annoyed with your dad. I agree that he shouldn't let Biff walk over him like that. Anyway, you have a nice night."

"Yeah, Jenn, I'll try," replied Marty, sighing. "Well, anyway, I love you. Maybe we can try to catch a movie, sometime tomorrow - or eat at Francesca's Italian Diner. It's not quite the same thing as, well, going to the lake - but, at least, it'll be something.'

"Sure, Marty," Jennifer said, softly. "You take good care of yourself. Try not to feel too upset, okay? I really do love you."

"I love you, too, Jenn," replied Marty, as he hung up the phone.

Marty decided to lie on his bed, and rest for awhile. After all, he was supposed to meet Doc Brown - at 1:15 in the morning! He wondered what Doc's major project could possible - and why he needed Marty to be there, at such a strange time! He really had no idea, just what was to lie ahead.