Disclaimer: I do not own Back to the Future.

Author's Note: Marty McFly discusses the pros and cons of rock star fame with twelve-year-old rock star, Emerald Green.

June 28, 2005
4:30 PM PST

It seemed strange to think that this was Marty McFly's last concert tour. He decided to make this his last tour, as he felt that it was really his duty to spend more time with his family. It wasn't to say that he would never again record any new songs, or even perform. It was just that he'd likely never record another full album.

When he released his first solo album, back in 1992 - it made it to seventeen on the Billboard charts. His first hit had actually made it to number seven. He did have one minor hit with his former band, The Pinheads, before then.

Marty was currently on tour with a twelve-year-old rock star, named Emerald Green. Emerald had just released her first album, a few months ago. For several weeks, Desire, had been number one. It happened to be her first hit.

Despite her newfound status as a bona fide rock star, she and her parents decided that she would continue to attend a public school - and that she would do her tours during the summer. The rule her parents had set was, school and family went first. Her parents were in the process of moving, but Emerald would be attending a public school this coming fall.

"It's really not fair," Emerald was complaining to Marty. "I really want to go to that party in Hollywood, but Mom and Dad are telling me I can't go!"

"Well, I'm sure they have their reasons," Marty replied, gently. Being a father himself, he could empathize with Emerald's parents. "They just want to keep you respectable."

"But I'm a rock star!" Emerald protested. "I should be able to do whatever I want!"

Marty chuckled at Emerald's comment. "Look, Emerald," Marty explained, softly, "you may be a rock star, but you are still a kid - and your parents have a responsibility to watch after you, and to set limits."

"How many other rock stars have limits placed on them?"' grumbled Emerald.

"You really have to be reasonable about this, Emerald," Marty insisted. "I mean, look at it this way. They're being quite supportive about your dreams, right? They're sure supporting your career as a rock star, no?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Emerald replied, sighing. "It's just that... Well, I was just wanting to go to the party. I was hoping to meet some of my favourite celebrities."

"But, Emerald, you are a celebrity!" Marty pointed out, laughing.

"Yeah, I know," replied Emerald, "but there are still a lot of celebrities that I haven't met. I guess it's ironic that I still get starstruck, eh? You know, Marty, I've been a huge fan of your music, since I was four years old. I'm so glad that I got a chance to join you on your last tour."

"Well, I'm flattered to hear that," Marty replied, smiling. "You know, looking back, I wish I had someone to set limits for me. In the early days of my career, I mean."

"Yeah, right," protested Emerald, snorting. "I'm really supposed to believe that?"

"I understand that it's hard for you to believe," Marty explained, gently. "However, looking back, I've made some mistakes that I now regret."

"Oh, what kind of mistakes?" Emerald asked, with sudden curiosity.

"Well, I used to party real hard," replied Marty. "It's true that I never smoked pot, or did other illegal drugs. Still, beer was a vice for me. I used to rationalize my drinking problems, by insisting that it was only beer. That, at least, I didn't drink hard liquer. That I was never drunk in the recording studio, or on stage, or when I had other commitments. Still, the fact remains, whenever I partied - I would party hard. I would often wake up with a hangover, the next day."

"Wow!" gasped Emerald. "I never knew that you had a drinking problem. I'm glad that you never did illegal drugs, though - or drink anything that was harder than beer."

"Well, yeah, that is true," Marty said, slowly. "That still doesn't justify how I used to drink a lot, though. I mean, it's nearly caused problems between my wife and me."

"So, Marty, what prompted you to quit?" asked Emerald.

"Well, after my Grandma Stella passed away," Marty explained, "I actually became so depressed, I would resort to beer to drown my sorrows. I was always rather close to her, and her death had placed a huge hole in my heart. So, one day, when I was supposed to be watching Marlene and Junior - they were three and two at the time - Jennifer found me, passed out on the floor. It was on that day, y'know, that I came to the realization - that it was time for me to quit."

"Oh, wow!" gasped Emerald. "I bet you wish you could go back in time - and undo all that, eh? Wouldn't it be nice, if that was possible?"

Marty pondered over Emerald's words. for a few minutes. After Marty decided that he wanted to quit drinking, Jennifer suggested that he borrow Dr. Brown's - or Doc, as Marty called him - DeLorean time machine. It was so that he could go back in time, and warn his younger self to not start drinking. Marty was initially tempted to do just that. However, after putting some thought into it, Marty had decided against it. He figured that the time machine shouldn't be used fix every problem.

"Yeah, I do sometimes feel that way," replied Marty. "Still, it's better to just learn from our past mistakes, and to just move on from there."

"So, Marty, are there any other mistakes that you've made?" asked Emerald.

"Well, yeah, I used to let other people take care of my responsibilities," Marty replied, blushing. ' You see, because math was never my strong subject, I let other people be responsible for paying my bills and such. Also, once I sold off my mansion, the new owners ended up pressing charges against me - because I didn't let them know about any defects."

"Oh, wow!" exclaimed Emerald, stunned. "That sounds awful!"

"The thing is, I wasn't aware of any defects," Marty continued, "and I wasn't even the one responsible for making the transaction. Once I started seeing a councillor, to help me quit drinking - she insisted that I myself pay for the bills. She actually wanted me to take more responsibility for myself, instead of letting other people do stuff for me."

"Why did you sell off your mansion, anyway?" asked Emerald.

"I decided that I didn't need such a big house," Marty explained. "I also purchased a lot of cars... enough to fill up a parking lot. Yeah, I used to be so obsessed with cars - I would purchase every car that I was attracted to. When I sold off my mansion, I also sold off my cars - except for two of them. I ended up giving much of the money that I made from the sales to charity."

"Well, that's nice," Emerald said, smiling. "Do you sponser any children from Unicef?"

"Yeah, I've sponsered many children through Unicef," Marty replied. "Even before I developed success as a rock star, I would sponser two children through Unicef. Then, as I become richer, I would start to expand the list of charities. I would also donate some of my time to charity work, like working at the hospital."

"Well, that's good to hear," Emerald replied. "Say, do you donate to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research?"

"Oh, yes, most definitely," Marty replied. "I've met him, on several occasions. He's a very wonderful man. He's so nice, with such a sweet personality."

"Just like you?" Emerald asked, smiling.

"Naa," Marty replied, smiling. "I think he's nicer than I am."

"Oh, I don't think anybody could be nicer than you," Emerald protestd, smiling. "Do you get compared to Michael J Fox a lot, and has it ever bugged you?"

"Oh, yeah, a few people have made the comparison," Marty replied. 'Some have even called me the Michael J Fox of rock music. No, I don't get bugged by the comparison - especially since I myself am quite fond of the man ."

"I do hope to meet him someday, as well," commented Emerald.

"Well, anyway," Marty said, smiling, "do you understand a little better, about where your parents are coming from? They're not placing limits on you, just to be mean. They just want you to become a respectable young woman. That's all."

"Right, I understand," Emerald said, smiling. "I feel ashamed, now, for getting mad at time. Now that you've told me your story, I understand the pros and cons of fame."

"Good for you!" gushed Marty. "Now how about a big hug for me?"

Marty and Emerald then embraced. With her long blonde curls and bright blue-green eyes, Emerald sort of reminded Marty of Harmony Brown, who happened to be Doc's granddaughter. She was certainly one very pretty girl.

"Thanks again for the talk, Marty," Emerald said, softly. "I'm going to talk to Mom, now. I'll talk to you, a little later"

Marty smiled, as he watched Emerald leave the room. He felt confident that Emerald would know not to make the same mistakes as he made. He knew one thing that was certain. There were definitely a lot of pros and cons to the life of being a rock star.