Chapter 1

September 7, 1943, 7:50 a.m., Hill Valley, Mason St.

"Now, Lorraine, smile!" Stella Baines says, holding the camera close to her face. "Your first day of school. Oh, honey, how exciting!" She snaps a photograph then sets the Kodak Brownie camera down on the table and waddles over to her daughter to fuss with her hair.

"Mom, stop. You'll mess up my pony tails."

"Yes, dear. Sam, stop fiddling with your things and come and see Lorraine!"

The man grunts and comes into the kitchen. "Very nice, Lorraine."

"Thanks, Daddy," the girl says shyly. "Can I go now? Please?"

"Now, dear, don't you think you should go with Mary from down the block?" Stella asks as they walk down to the sidewalk."

"I can walk with her, Miz Baines," a small voice pipes in.

"Oh, Biff, that's a wonderful idea." The pregnant woman ruffles the boy's brown hair. "Have a good day, now!"

Lorraine rolls her eyes. "Hi, Biff."

He pulls at his collar. "Hey, Lorraine. You…uh, you ready for school?"

The five year old nods. "Is it scary?"

"What, school? No, it ain't."

She purses her lips. "Don't say ain't."

The older boy's ears turn red. "Uh, right."

Lorraine looks down Mason Street and slips her hand into his. "You're sure it's not scary?"

He looks sideways at her. "I'm sure. Besides," he puffs out his chest, "I'll look out for you."

She looks up at him with wide brown eyes. "Do you promise?"

His face hardens. "Tannens don't make promises."

"Why's that?"

Biff shrugs. "I dunno. Cuz we never keep 'em, I guess. That's what the old lady says."

"Your gramma, you mean? Isn't she a Tannen, though?"

"Only cuz of who she married. Least, that's what she says when she yells at me."

Lorraine bites her lip, and then squeezes his hand, as if in apology. "How come you don't got a mom or dad?"

He snorts sadly. "I do too got a mom and dad. They're just not around."

"Why's that?"

"Cuz. Dad's in jail. An' Mom's…sick."

"Oh."

He pulls his hand away. "See, you can't count on a Tannen for nothin'."

They're almost to the school, Lorraine realizes. She grabs his arm. The six year old gives her a long-suffering glance.

"What, kid?"

"Maybe, nobody can count on you, cuz you don't let 'em," Lorraine says. "But I will. You'll walk me home, won't ya?" She doesn't give him any time to answer, skipping up the steps in her shiny Mary Jane's.

Biff Tannen looks after her and grins. "Lorraine Baines," he whispers to himself and follows her inside Hill Valley Elementary.