‘Then wait for a guy named Griff,’ Doc continued.
‘Griff,’ Marty repeated.
‘Right.’ Doc nodded, pleased that Marty was taking this all in. ‘Griff’s going to ask you about tonight - are you in or out? Tell him you’re out.’ Doc raised his voice, as if this part was even more important than what he had said already. ‘Whatever he says, whatever happens, say no, you’re not interested.’
Doc waved at the alley-way. ‘Then leave, come back here, and wait for me.’ Doc’s voice started to rise again. Don’t talk to anybody, don’t touch anything, don’t do anything, don’t interact with anyone. And try not to look at anything!’
Doc was really serious about this not-messing-with-your-future business. Still, there were some things that Marty didn’t understand.
‘I don’t get it, Doc. I thought this had something to do with my kids.'
‘Precisely.’ Doc rummaged in the gym bag. ‘In those clothes, you’re the spitting image of your future son, I know, I just checked on him with my binoculars -’
He paused, staring at Marty quizzically. ‘Hmmmmm,’ he murmured, then grinned with a snap of his fingers. ‘Pull out your pants pockets.'
Marty did as Doc asked.
‘Perfect!’ Doc declared.
Marty’s eyes rose doubtfully toward the cap above his forehead. ‘I still don't get it, Doc.'
‘Well...' Doc replied hesitantly, ‘I guess there’s no point in keeping it a secret.'
He reached into another one of his pockets and pulled out a newspaper. It was a USA Today: ‘Hill Valley Edition’!
LOCAL YOUTH JAILED IN ATTEMPTED THEFT! the main headline screamed, and below that, in smaller letters, ‘Youth Gang Denies Complicity’.
But Marty’s eyes were drawn to the colour picture immediately beneath, a photo of a kid who looked exactly like Marty!
Chapter Three
Marty realised he was staring. He pulled his gaze away from the photo to look back at Doc.
‘My son? He looks just like me!’ He looked back down at the paper, and tried to read the story, but that only made it worse. What could he do if his son was in jail? ‘This is terrible! But, Doc, if this is already in the newspaper -’
Doc pointed at the date in the corner: ‘October 22 2015.’
‘This is tomorrow’s newspaper,’ he explained. ‘That’s why we’re here today - to prevent this event from ever happening!'
Marty looked up from the paper again. Now he understood why Doc needed him!
He whistled softly. ‘Whoa, Doc, this is heavy.’
‘I know,’ Doc agreed grimly. ‘And it gets worse. As a result of this, your daughter goes into a state of severe depression and commits -’
‘My daughter?’ Marty asked. This was getting to be beyond heavy! ‘I have a daughter? What does she do?’
Doc's watch beeped loudly.
‘Damn!’ Doc snapped his head down to look at the dial. ‘I’m late!’
He grabbed the newspaper and ran down the alley.
‘Doc, wait!’ Marty yelled, trying to keep that touch of panic he was starting to feel from growing any larger. ‘Where are you going?’
‘To intercept the real Marty Junior,’ Doc called over his shoulder. ‘You're taking his place!’
He disappeared around the corner.