April 10, 1892
3:30 PM PST

Emmett Lloyd Brown smiled, as he was watching young William Sean McFly wade in the creek. The event really gave him a strong sense of deja vu. After all, Willie rather was about the same age as another boy that he really had grown fond of was - when they first met. In fact, aside from Willie's brown eyes - he looked exactly like the other boy.

The other boy in question happened to be Martin Seamus McFly - who, in fact, would become the great-grandson of Willie. In several ways, Willie actually reminded him of Marty. Aside from their appearances, they also seemed to have similar personalities.

Willie, being very small for his age, happened to be the unfortunate target of bullying by Charlie Needles and his crowd. Even his own son, Jules, was just a little taller than Willie - and Jules was about a year and half younger. He really adored Willie, though.

"Look at what I can do, Mr. Brown!" called out Willie, as he picked up several pebbles. As the little boy smiled, Emmett realized that it was actually the same smile that Marty was known for. He even had a soft dimple in his left cheek. "I can skip stones. I spent a lot of time practicing, after Otis showed me how. Would you like to see me do it?"

"You bet, Willie," Emmett replied, smiling back. Otis Peabody was William's best friend, and the same little boy who would grow to really develop an interest in pine trees. "I'll bet you're good at it. My wife really told me all kinds of interesting things about you."

Willie smiled back, as the little boy began to throw stones into the creek. Emmett then thought about their two female friends, Jennifer Peabody and Tiffany Tannen. It was
certainly an intriguing assorted group of friends, as far as Emmett was concerned.

It seemed hard to believe that a Tannen could actually be nice - but, indeed, Tiff was just a sweet little girl. As for Jennifer, she was Otis' adoptive sister - and she actually reminded Emmett of Marty's girlfriend with the same name. She sure looked uncannily like a younger version of Marty's girlfriend, and he wondered if they were related.

"You're good, Willie!" gasped Emmett, as he felt impressed. "Well, how about having a little ice cream?" With that, a smile spread across Willie's face. "I have some cookies to go along with it. I know how much you certainly enjoy that, so... What do you say?"

"I would certainly love that, Mr. Brown!" exclaimed Willie, as he ran up to Emmett. The blacksmith scooped up the little boy, as he added, "Mr. Brown, when do you think that the teacher and the boys will get back? I was hoping to be able to play with them."

"I'm afraid they won't be back, until this evening," replied Emmett, just as he began to tickle Willie under his chin. As the little boy laughed, he added, "We are still just gonna have fun, though. I'll even let you lick the bowls, since Jules and Verne really won't be here to do so. We could make some more cookies, since I promised the wife that I..."

"I quite enjoy spending time with you, Mr. Brown," Willie commented, smiling. "I almost think of you as really being my... my uncle. Of course, all my real aunts and uncles still live far away, and I... It's nice, though, spending special occasions with you - and..."

Emmett smiled, just as he stepped into the cabin. He set Willie, to the ground - and he really pondered over how the little boy sure made a good point. The McFlys practically have become a part of Browns' extended family, as the two families were quite close.

"I see you like a nephew, myself," replied Emmett, as he reached for the cookie jar. "I believe that you are a very intelligent young boy. At any rate, Willie, I sure made you your favourite - chocolate chunk chocolate cookies. Jules and Verne simply love them, as well - and I do that they would eat those cookies all day, if we were to let them."

"My parents don't let me eat cookies all day, either," Willie replied, as he grabbed two cookies. "Especially Mommy. She says that it's not real good for my health, and... So, what was your life like - when you were a little boy? Did you also like to skip stones?"

"Oh, I certainly did enjoy doing that," Emmett replied, smiling. "I sure was also fond of horses, and..." He paused, as he was very uncertain of how to continue. After all, his childhood had occurred four decades into the future! "I also really liked to go fishing."

"I enjoy going fishing, too!" exclaimed Willie, as a smile spread across his face. "I think swimming is much more fun, though. I really remember the time that Jennifer Peabody went swimming with us - and, after her mother found out... I sure felt so bad for poor Jenny, as it seemed unfair that her mother felt that it was... unladylike... to swim."

"Jenny's so lucky to have you for a friend, though," Emmett replied, smiling. He placed five more cookies in front of Willie, as he added, "Enjoy the cookies, Willie! I just won't tell your parents that you had more than two cookies. It is my special treat, to you!"

"Thank you so much, Mr. Brown," Willie replied, as he flashed a lopsided smile. "Where did you live, before you moved to Hill Valley? One day, I sure do want to take a trip to Ireland - where my parents came from. I quite wonder what it's like, in that country."

"If you put your mind to it, Willie," Emmett pointed out, gently, "you could accomplish anything. It sure sounds like a good goal to strive for." Remembering the cover story that he simply created, he continued, "Well, I'm from Canada. That's also where Clint Eastwood came from. We were just such close friends, until the day that he... he..."

"Daddy told me all about Clint Eastwood," Willie explained, nodding. "That young man sounds like a big hero. It is such a shame that I was only a baby, at the time. Mommy did say that he was a little, uh, eccentric - but, in the end, he really proved himself."

"Yes, he was a fine young fellow," Emmett replied, sighing wistfully. His emotions were quite genuine - even if "Clint Eastwood" was, in actuality, Marty McFly. It was simply a long time, in fact, seen he had last seen his friend of the future. "I really do miss him."

"Daddy says that I look a little like him," Willie commented, softly. "While I would really hate to die so young, I quite hope to... While I am very grateful to Jules, that he was able to take on Charlie - I sure can't help but feel a little... insecure. He still taunts us, but he no longer threatens to beat any of us up. You certainly must hand it to Jules!"

"There's no need for you to feel insecure, Willie," Emmett replied, as he drew the little boy into a hug. This reminded him of when he would have rather similar conversations with Marty, regarding Douglas Needles - who happened to the descendant of Charlie.

"I reckon that you're right, Mr. Brown," Willie replied, sighing. "Well, if Clint Eastwood was also short for his age - and he managed to take on Mad Dog Tannen, then... It's a little bothersome, though - when people think that Linda and I are the same age."

"Well, being short really can have it's advantages," Emmett explained, softly. "Would you like a little ice cream?" Willie simply smiled, as the blacksmith continued, "I guess I sure do spoil you, a little. Do not let Jules and Verne know that I allowed you to have many sweets, all right? Or else, they might come to resent you for it. Understand?"

"Most certainly, Mr. Brown," Willie replied, cheerfully. "So, what is it like in Canada? I heard that it's always cold up there - and that you have snow all year round. I really do like snow, but I'm not so certain that I would actually like to have it all the time."

"That is not completely true, Willie!" Emmett replied, laughing. "It is true that, overall, Canada is colder than northern California - because it sure does happen to be farther north from the equator. A good portion of Canada does still have a summer season."

"That is nice to hear," Willie replied, smiling. "I love that we get to enjoy four season, and I could not imagine never having summer - and never being able to go swimming. Wouldn't it be quite great, though, if you could have snow in the warm weather? You would not have to bundle up, in order to go sledding - and it would not be that cold."

"Oh, Willie, I'm afraid that it could never be possible!" gasped Emmett, as he burst out laughing. "The thing is, snow is none other than frozen water - and you can only have frozen water if the temperature is lower than 32 degrees Fahrenheit. As such, it..."

"Oh, I see," muttered Willie, as Emmett placed the bowl of ice cream in front of him. "I suppose that would be rather impossible, then. Well, Mr. Brown, thank you for the ice cream. I love the ice cream that Mrs. Brown makes. She is not only a great teacher."

"Well, I'll let her know you said that," Emmett replied, smiling. "I really made you your favourite, mint ice cream with chocolate chunks. Jules and Verne quite enjoy that, as well." He glanced at the clock on the wall, before adding, "We sure can take a hike, if you feel up to it. I know you like to go swimming, but it's still a bit too early for that."

"I understand, Mr. Brown," Willie replied, nodding. "I'd love to take a hike - but, first, I want to look at those butterflies. The kind that Mrs. Brown's father had discovered. In fact, those are about the most beautiful butterflies that I've seen. Do you reckon..."

"Oh, I think we could arrange for you to have a couple," assured Emmett, softly. "You really are a joy to have around, and... Perhaps, this week Saturday, we might have a little picnic - and you will have Jules and Verne to play with, as well as the Lathrops."

Willie smiled, as Emmett planted a kiss on the little boy's forehead. Indeed, Willie quite reminded him of Marty - and, if it were not for Willie's brown eyes, Emmett might have easily mistaken the boy for Marty. Willie was almost seven years old. It did feel rather strange to think that, when Emmett first landed in this era, Willie was not yet born!