Disclaimer: I do not own Back to the Future.

November 16, 1891
3:55 PM PST

Jules Clint Brown swallowed, just as he glanced at the clock on the wall. School would be letting out in just five minutes, and he sure began to feel so anxious. This was the day that he has simply been challenged to take on the school bully. In all honesty, he felt so terrified of Charlie Needles - who was always accompanied by his lackeys.

He felt so disgusted with how Charlie seemed to find it fit to kick William McFly around, just because Willie really happened to be so short. Even though Willie was a little over a year older than Jules - he was the same height as Jules' younger brother, Verne.

When Charlie was not busy kicking Willie around, he also rather delighted in harassing Jennifer Peabody and Tiffany Tannen - and even insisting that they would marry him, one day. Jules did not see how that was even possible, since polygamy was illegal.

His parents have reacted with mixed emotions over his agreement to take on Charlie - but, in the end, Jules came to the conclusion that he had a very major duty to defend himself and his friends. He especially felt for Willie, who was too weak to fight back. If anything, Jules felt as if he owed it to Willie - and, as such, it was the right decision.

Granted, Charlie was a little taller than even Jules. However, Jules felt quite confident in his ability - and, of course, he rather did not wish to be a coward. More importantly, though - he had no desire to let down his friends, or cause them to think less of him.

He turned to Willie, who sat beside him. His friend still had a black eye from the punch that Charlie Needles had delivered to him, just the previous Friday. That event simply enraged Jules so much, he had opted to just shove Charlie right into the mud puddle.

Nonetheless, that made Charlie turn on him - and this was what really lead to the challenge. While Jules was not the type of person to take needless risks, simply out of fear of being called a "coward" - this was not one of those instances. Rather, this was about showing Charlie that he and his friends would not continue to be intimidated.

"Attention!" called out Clara, as she rang the bell. "School will now be dismissed. Have a great evening, remember to work hard on your assignments, and do not forget that tomorrow is test day. You have all been very well-behaved, today - and good bye."

Jules swallowed, as he sat up from his desk. His palms really began to feel sweaty, as he saw Charlie smirking at him. Jules left his books on his desk - knowing that he could just go back for them, once he managed to teach that Charlie a lesson to remember.

"All right, squirt!" sneered Charlie, as the boys started to head outside. "Let's have it out. You and me, right now." Jules swallowed, as the boys quite headed towards the back of the school. Jules' friends rather followed right behind them, as well as that of Charlie's. Even some of the older pupils decided to watch on. "Or are you a coward?"

"You think mere words will hurt me?" sneered Jules, as he pushed Charlie against the picket fence. Charlie reached out to punch him, but Jules had quite managed to grab at the bully's arm. He then bit Charlie's arm, as the bully cried out. "How's that feel?"

"You made me draw blood!" roared Charlie, as he grabbed at his sore arm. "I am going to make you..." Before Charlie could continue, Jules managed to flip the bully over the fence. "Ouch!" shrieked Charlie, as he grabbed at his ankle. "You will pay for this!"

"Oh, I don't think so!" Jules sing-songed, as he then grabbed at the bully's arms - and he forced Charlie up from the ground. As Charlie began to whimper, he mocked, "Just who is the baby, now?" Charlie reached out to punch Jules, as the latter simply kicked the bully in the leg where his ankle wasn't sore. "That will teach you to mess with us!"

As Charlie fell to the ground, his hand sure got caught in the picket fence - twisting it backwards. When Jules heard his friends and the older pupils applauding, he realized that he had won! With a sprained ankle and a sprained wrist, Charlie was beaten!

Upon really taking a closer look, Jules saw that Charlie's nose was also bleeding. Jules smiled, as it was obvious that Charlie was in a lot of pain. While he had been raised to not take pleasure in the sorrow of other people, he really could not help how he felt.

Jules swallowed, as his mother came running to the fence. He began to worry that he went too far. He glanced at Willie, who simply had a wide smile on his face. Jules then tried to decipher how his mother was feeling. Was she mad at him for what he did?

Jules watched, as his mother stepped over the fence. The moment seemed tense, as his mother silently lifted up Charlie - who simply seemed to be in a state of catatonia.

"Clara! Honey!" called out Emmett, as he ran outside the house that was adjacent to the school. "What has happened here? Why is everyone so..." He then glanced over the fence, as he gasped, "Great Scott! What in the name of Sir Isaac H Newton..."

"I do reckon that Charlie Needles is rather in a lot of pain," Clara explained, quietly. "I can't say that I feel too bad for him, to be honest. He simply brought it on himself. He does seem quite keen on bullying the other pupils, especially Jules and his friends."

"Yes, those Needles quite seem to be as bad as the Tannens," Emmett agreed. "Well, should we bring Charlie to Dr. Everest? We sure might not be terribly fond of him, but we must do what is right." Turning to Jules, he asked, "Did you do that to him?"

"Yes, I did," Jules confessed, as he began to feel guilty. "When he gave Willie a black eye, I felt it my duty to defend my friend. However, he then... I guess I really did go too far, but... When he started taunting me, something inside me... just snapped. In fact, all of my anger towards him just started pouring out. I then really felt as if..."

"Please, Mr. Brown," Willie added, "do not be cross with him. He did it for me. Do you see my black eye?" The teacher's husband nodded, as he continued, "I am simply grateful to have him for a friend. Why does Charlie pick on me, just for being short?"

"It is because some people are so insecure with themselves," Emmett explained, "they feel the need to pick on people who are weaker than them. They believe that it makes them stronger - but, in actuality, it simply just makes them cowards." Turning to Jules, he added, "Be honest, Jules. Do you feel bad about what you have done to Charlie?"

"No, Daddy, I don't," Jules replied, truthfully. "I guess it is wrong for me to... not feel remorseful. However, I simply can't help but feel happy that he got hurt. I just got so weary of him picking on me... and my friends. I guess this makes me a naughty boy."

"Oh, Jules," Emmett whispered, as he drew his son close to him. "Actually, no, I don't naughty for you to feel this way. In fact, I really think it is something that you should have done sooner. Quite the contrary, Jules, I must say that I am so proud of you."

"You're... proud of me?" Jules asked, as he was in a state of shock. He was ready to accept punishment for his actions - and, instead, his father decided it fit to commend him for his actions. "But I... hurt him. I thought it was wrong to hurt other people."

"Your father is actually right, Jules," Clara replied, with a sudden smile. "While, in most circumstances, we do not condone hurting other people - Charlie is a bully. Bullies sure don't care if they hurt other people, so... However, I do quite have one question to ask you. How did you do it? He's a lot bigger than you, so how did you defeat him?"

"I'm really not too certain of the answer, myself," Jules replied, softly. "I guess all the pent-up rage that I had towards him started pouring out, and then I felt invigorated - and then, once I started, I just couldn't stop. Plus, thinking of Willie's black eye..."

"Well, I'll be darned," Clara muttered. Turning to the rest of the pupils, she added, "I think you children better start heading home, now. I sure don't want your parents to worry about you. Except for you, Willie." To Emmett, she asked, "Where is Verne?"

"He was still taking a nap, when I came running out," Emmett explained. Jules turned, as he saw the rest of the children walking away. "So, Clara, how about I bring Charlie to Dr. Everest - and then you can start preparing dinner? I shouldn't be gone long."

"I recon that will work," Clara replied, as she and her husband lifted Charlie off from the ground. "I've a feeling that Charlie sure will have learned a valuable lesson. It is no guarantee that he will quite turn from his bullying ways, though. Jules and Willie, why don't you two head in the house? You can have two chocolate cookies each."

"Yes, Mom," Jules replied, as he and Willie started heading into the cabin. Turning to Willie, he added, "I can't believe I did it. I'm quite glad that my parents are nor cross with me. Your eye does look to be healing, quite nicely - but it bothers me to see it."

"You were very brave, Jules," Willie replied, softly. "Sometime, I do wish that I was a little taller - but, then again, I understand that there really must be good reason why God made me this way. Well, I must say, I certainly do love your parents cookies."

"I do, too," Jules agreed, as he grabbed four cookies from the cookie jar. He handed two to Willie, before adding, "Well, you remember what my father said. Charlie really only picks on you, because he's insecure of himself. I quite hope he will think twice of picking on either of us. He'd better leave the girls alone, as well - or else, he will..."

"Hey, Jules! Hey, Willie!" Verne called out, as he stepped into the living room. "Do you want to play Crazy Eights with me?" Jules and Willie nodded, as he added, "It is simply a fun game to play. You must have so much fun at school. I can hardly wait to go."

Jules simply smiled, as he reached for the deck of playing cards. While Jules really did enjoy learning, he know that many children simply would not rank it as being amongst the most enjoyable. Verne, at the age of three, would have just a couple more years before attending school. Perhaps, by then, Charlie would know not to bully Verne.