Disclaimer: I do not own Back to the Future.

'... and I would like a life-sized Emerald Green doll and a hologram of Emerald Green's summer of 2005 concert performance,' Marlene McFly was saying. 'Gee, I would like to be able to meet her and talk to her someday. Dad is so lucky that he got to join her on her first ever concert performance. It's a real shame Dad hasn't been able to contact her, lately. Dad told me she was a big fan of his, you know.'

'Marlene!' Marty Jr chided, gently. 'Christmas isn't about getting - it's about giving! It's about family, friends, and the birth of Christ. It's not all about presents. Anyway, I hope you remembered to buy something for Harmony with that thousand dollars.'

'Of course I did, Marty!' snapped Marlene. 'You think I would forget her present?'

In all honesty, Marlene did end up keeping the money for herself. Instead, she just searched around for items she no longer wished to keep and wrapped them up for Harmony. At any rate, she was certain that Harmony wouldn't mind so much. She was pretty easy to please. She shouldn't get too mad at Marlene about it.

'It was just a friendly reminder, Marlene,' Marty Jr said, gently. 'You don't have to yell at me. Anyway, let's go put some rocking Christmas music on the stereo.'

'Aw, Marty!' groaned Marlene. 'I'm tired of Christmas music! Can't we just listen to some regular music? Why don't we go listen to Emerald Green's new CD, In Love?'

'I thought you liked the Trans-Siberan Orchestra,' protested Marty Jr. 'What is with you, Marlene? You've been acting a bit like Ebeneezer Scrooge, lately - you know.'

'That is so insulting and degrading, Marty!' shrieked Marlene. 'How dare you accuse me of acting just like him! Why don't you go nump off and just leave me alone?'

Just then, the doorbell rang. Marlene went to press her thumb to the plate, causing the door to open. It was Harmony and Melody Brown, friends of the family.

'Harmony! Melody!' gasped Marlene, staring at them. 'What are you girls doing here?'

'How about just a simple 'Hello, how are you doing', Marlene?' Harmony asked, as she rolled her eyes. 'I mean, really, what is up with that attitude of yours?'

'I'm busy, Harmony, okay?' snapped Marlene. 'I don't have to be cheery all the time!'

'Come on in, you two,' Marty Jr said, in a friendly voice, as he came to the door. 'Just don't mind my sister. I guess she's just in one of those mood today. Don't ask what's wrong. It seems like the Christmas spirit just passed her by, for some reason.'

'Yeah, I'll say,' Melody said, rolling her eyes. 'Really, she's acting just like Scrooge!'

'Will all of you please stop saying that?' shrieked Marlene. 'Just nump off, all of you!'

oooooooooo

'There is 100,000 dollars missing from our savings account,' sighed Marlene's friend, Lila. 'Does anyone know where the money went? We were saving up for a pool.'

Marty Jr and the members of his band all looked at each other, shaking their heads.

'Don't look at me,' Melody said, shrugging. 'I didn't touch the money.'

'Okay, it was me,' Harmony said, sighing. 'I gave the money to Hope Green and her family, so that they could buy a decent home in Hilldale. It was my present to them.'

'How could you do that, Harmony?' Marty Jr asked, shaking his head, dismayed.

'Yeah, Harmony,' Melody said, sighing, 'you really should have consulted us, first.'

'I'm sorry, everyone,' Harmony said, sighing. 'I really am. I just wanted to perform a good deed you know. I mean, they needed a home more than we needed a pool.'

Marlene then felt herself bursting with rage, as she shouted out, 'How dare you do this to us, Harmony Clara Brown! It was our money that you stole to give to the family. You should have used your own money! What's with the false generosity?'

'I guess I'm just a disappointment, aren't I?' Harmony cried out, as tears came to her eyes. 'I guess you guys all hate me, don't you? Well, I'm going home, everyone.'

'Hey, Harmony, please wait!' protested Marty Jr, as Harmony headed for the door.

'What for, Marty?' cried out Harmony. 'So that you can yell at me some more?'

Harmony then slammed the door behind her, as she headed for home.

'Now look what you did, Marlene!' Marty Jr shouted angrily, as he turned towards his sister. 'You've made poor Harmony all upset! I mean, I was also disappointed with her - but at least her heart was in the right place. You mustn't be so selfish, Marlene.'

'Well, she deserved it, Marty!' Marlene snapped back. 'I really wanted that pool! She should not have taken our money without talking to the rest of us about it.'

'You really should be thinking about other people for once,' Marty Jr suggested, as he softened his voice a bit. 'We should really be grateful for everything that we have. I mean, imagine if we were homeless. Imagine if we didn't have all the things that we tend to take for granted. Imagine what life in the 1880s was like - or, heck, even the 1980s. If you wanted to watch two shows at once, you had to put two sets next to each other. I mean, it's a nice era to visit - but I wouldn't really want to live there.'

'Yeah, but that was then,' Marlene said, sighing, 'and this is now. Marty, I wanted that pool. I mean, do you have any idea how important this was? Do you have any clue?'

'Marlene!' Marty Jr said, sighing. 'A swimming pool is not anywhere near as important as having a place to live. Look, I really don't want to hurt your feelings, but you are really acting self-centred. You really can't expect to have everything that you want.'

'Yeah, but some of this was my money,' protested Marlene, 'that I worked really hard for. Why couldn't Harmony have just used her own money to give to the family.'

'Probably because the money she had was not enough to cover the home,' Marty Jr replied, gently. 'I agree that she should have talk to us first, but her heart was in the right place. Now I'm going to do some last minute Christmas shopping. Please think of everything that I've discussed with you, okay? I'll be back in an hour or so.'

'Good bye, Marty,' Marlene said, as she went to her bedroom and began to sulk. Unbeknownst to Marlene, she was just about to be taught the lesson of a lifetime.