JENNIFER seemed to keep to herself lately. For nights she had been late coming home from school and late coming home from work. And each time she was carrying full bags of groceries and taking them straight to her room. And then, she takes long times in there. Also, she looked like she hadn’t been feeling well lately and looked like she was losing weight.

Her parents were noticing this, too. And they were worried.

They were watching television. Jennifer was in her room as she has been lately. And then

Both Parkers were startled.

“Jerry!” asked Prudence, “What as that?”

“I don’t know. But it came from Jennifer’s room.”

They both got up to go there. But the door was closed. Jerry tried to open it but it was locked. He tried knocking but there was no sound of movement on the other side of the door.

“Jennifer.” he said, “Are you alright?”

There was no response. They tried to knock again but nothing. Jerry reached into his pocket to produce the key to his daughter’s bedroom and unlocked the door.

What both father and mother saw shocked them:

The grocery bags that Jennifer had been bringing home lately were nearly empty and scattered around the room. It was also cluttered with chips and bags, banana peels, cookie boxes, candy wrappers, half empty peanut butter jars, and half eaten slices of pizza.

“Jerry.” exclaimed Prudence, “What is this.”

Jerry was just as astonished at this nightmare called a mess as she was. “I don’t know.” he said.

And then, Jennifer emerged from the bathroom. She had looked a lot worse now than she was days ago. Her face was pail and it looked like she was throwing up.

She looked up and saw the shocked faces of her parents with her father demanding “Jennifer! What is this?”

“Mom, Dad.” she said, “I could explain…” But she was unable to because after she started to try, she fainted.

“Jennifer.” said Jerry as both parents were trying to revive her but to no avail, “Prudence, call 9-1-1 right now.”

Immediately, the distraught Prudence did.

Calpurnia returned to Rome after her trip to the catacomb in which the chariot that Doctor Brown called the DeLorean was hidden. Upon her arrival at her house, she heard Mark Antony and Octavius Caesar conversing.

“I can’t believe that you manipulated my uncle’s funeral for your own gain.” said Octavius.

“I didn’t know it would take a tragedy like yesterday to get attention.” said Antony, “And may I point out that it was Brutus who said Caesar was ambitious. And Brutus is an honorable man.” He was looking around saying “What’s taking Lepidus so long? I sent him to Caesar’s study to get that will and he hasn’t come back.”

“He’s a soldier not an errand boy.” said Octavius, “He’s more experienced in the military.”

“So is my horse, Octavius.” said Antony, “I’m going to Caesar’s study to see what’s keeping Lepidus.” At that, he left.

Calpurnia looked on. Following her husband’s death, she entrusted the estate to Antony and lodged with him the best part of the property to the value of four thousand talents; he got also into his hands all Caesar's papers wherein were contained journals of all he had done, and draughts of what he designed to do, which Antony made good use of; for by this means he appointed what magistrates he pleased, brought whom he would into the senate, recalled some from exile, freed others out of prison, and all this as ordered so by Caesar.

Dismissing her servant Lorrainia and those who accompanied her to the catacomb and back, Calpurnia approached Octavius saying “Octavius. Mark Antony knows what he’s doing.”

“Does he, Calpurnia?” asked Octavius, “I heard that Mark Antony has been given to sports, wildness, and much company.”

“He was also one of my husband’s closest and dearest friends.” said Calpurnia.

“So was Brutus, Calpurnia.” said Octavius, “So was Brutus.”

Calpurnia looked at him. Then, she said “Does this have to do with my leaving the estate with Marc Antony?” Octavius didn’t respond. But the look on his face told her that it did. “Octavius.” she said, “You’re only eighteen. Give yourself a few more years and you’ll inherit the empire that my husband built for our family.” Putting her hand on his shoulders, she said “Let me talk to Mark Antony. “

Octavius agreed and Calpurnia left for her husband’s study. Once there, he saw Mark Antony telling Lepidus “Check the file cabinets. I know I put the will there.”

“Antony.” called out Calpurnia, Antony turned and saw her say “A word with you please.”

Turning to Lepidus, Antony said “Keep checking, Calpurnia wants a word with me.”

“And when I find it, will I still find you talking to her out in the hallway?” asked Lepidus.

“Talking with her in the hallway.” said Antony, “Or being with Octavius in the Senate.”

“Very good.” said Lepidus. At that, the two left him alone.

In the hallway, Calpurnia asked “Antony. What do you want with my husbands will?”

“To decide how to cut down the amount that must be paid out.” said Antony.

Calpurnia was miffed at this. All this hassle of going back and forth in time to get that will of her husband f or Antony to read to the public during the funeral. Now he wants to cut off the amount of money the will stated for that same public.

Then, she noticed a scroll embedded in his toga.

“Antony.” asked Calpurnia, “What’s that you got in your toga?”

“What’s what?” asked Antony.

Calpurnia reached in to get out what she saw saying “This!”

“Oh that.” said Antony, “It’s a list of citizen’s condemned to die for the murder of your husband.”

Calpurnia read it. “You’ve got senators on the list.” said Calpurnia, “Oh the gods, Cicero is one of them.”

“I heard from witnesses that he was talking with Casca on the night before your husband’s murder.” said Antony.

Now Casca was one of the conspirators against Caesar. He made the first attack on him with his dagger.

Calpurnia read on. “Lepidus’s brother is on this list too.”

“Yes.” said Antony, “He agreed as long Publius dies too.”

“Your nephew?” asked Calpurnia.

“Yes.” said Antony.

“Antony.” said Calpurnia, “Your sister won’t like that.”

Antony didn’t say anymore. When Lepidus came out, he said “Here’s the will.” handing it to him.

“Now, if you could excuse us.” said Antony to Calpurnia, “Us two and Octavius will like to discuss this further at my place.”

At that, she did handing the list of condemned back to Antony.

Once the two and Octavius left the house, Calpurnia turned to her handmaiden Lorrainia saying “Lorrainia, let’s go shopping.”

The two went to get ready to go.

Jennifer was rushed to the hospital following the 911 call. After a half an hour, the doctor came out and with the look on his face, the news was very grim.

“She’s got bulimia.” he said.

“Bulimia?” repeated her father.

“It’s a form of anorexia.” said the doctor, “It’s an eating disorder.”

“But she’s going to be alright won’t she?” asked her mother.

“Hopefully.” said the doctor, “She’ll have to stay here for a few days for treatment. After that, she’ll have to undergo therapy and attend a few meetings hereafter.”

“Why?” asked her father.

“Mr. Parker.” said the doctor, “Bulimia is a serious illness. By what you saw, apparently she’s been stuffing herself with junk food just so she could throw up just to lose weight.”

“My God.”

“Like I said, she has to stay here a few days for treatment, followed by therapy-and soon.”

“Or else?”

“The bulimia could go unchecked and she could die.”

Both hearts sank. Prudence put her head over her husband’s shoulder and started to cry.

“My poor baby.” she said.

“Can we talk to her?” asked her father.

“The nurses are preparing a room for her now.” said the doctor, “We’ll let you know when.”

The next thing she knew, Jennifer found herself in a hospital bed feeling very weak. As she was making herself aware of her surroundings, her parents entered.

“Mom?” she said, “Dad.”

“Oh, Jennifer.” cried her mother, “What made you start eating like that? When did it start?”

Knowing that her eating disorder started shortly after her return from Renaissance Italy months ago, she asked herself How can I tell them that it started with me blaming myself for not listening to Marty when I insisted we go back in time to 1978 for our first meeting?

It was that trip to that year that changed the destinies of the Jandicks and got Jennifer paranoid when she saw Marty chatting with Jan when her new gallery opened. The chat that led to the temporary break-up between Marty and Jennifer. It took Doc’s idea of taking those two back in time to Florence, Italy to bring them back together.

However, it was what happened towards the tail end of that trip that finally rattled Jennifer into her eating disorder.

It was the fact that she was almost raped.

So she said “It started after I got upset over Marty talking to Mrs. Jandick months ago. “ Then, she began to feel some pain in her stomach. “Oh my stomach.”

“Jennifer.” said her father, “You and Marty made up after that breakup. Why didn’t you stop eating?”

Then a voice from behind said “Miss Parker will need her rest now.”

Turning to see the nurse with a tray, the two parents kissed Jennifer saying “Get some sleep, Jennifer. We’ll visit you tomorrow.”

“Good night, mom and dad.” said Jennifer.

At that, the Parkers left.

Marty came into the dining room for breakfast when the phone rang.

“I’ll get it.” said Lorraine.

Sitting down with Dave and Linda, Dave looked at Marty asking “Did you sleep in your clothes again?”

“Very funny.” said Marty.

“Marty.” said Lorraine, “Telephone.”

Marty got up and took the receiver from his mother saying “Yo!”

But the voice on the other line was not Jennifer but her father. “Marty.” he said “Jennifer’s not going to school today.”

“Why?” asked Marty, “What’s wrong?”

“She’s in the hospital.” said Mr. Parker.

Marty’s heart sank. “What happened?” he asked.

“She’s suffering from an eating disorder.” said Mr. Parker, “Bulimia.”

“Bulimia?” repeated Marty, “Eating disorder? Mr. Parker when the hell did this happen?”

“She said during your breakup with her.” said Mr. Parker, “Apparently when you two made up, she couldn’t stop.”

Marty’s heart sank at this. Then, he asked “Are you gonna visit her today?”

“Yes.” said Mr. Parker.

“I’ll be over there after school. What’s her room number?”

“202.” said Mr. Parker.

“Okay.” said Marty, “See you later.”

At that, both phones hung up.

Turning around, he saw the entire family turn to look at him. “Marty.” asked Lorraine, “What’s wrong. You look worried.”

“It’s Jennifer.” said Marty, “She’s in the hospital.”

There was a gasp from the other four.

“Oh my God.” exclaimed Linda.

“Marty.” asked Lorraine, “Jennifer’s in the hospital? For what?”

“Bulimia.” said Marty, “It’s an eating disorder. Listen, I’m not in the mood for breakfast now. I’d might as well get ready to go to school.”

“Marty.” said Lorraine, “I don’t think you should go today after hearing what happened to Jennifer. I’d think…”

“Thanks, Mom.” said Marty, “But I’m gonna go anyway. After school, I’m going over to the hospital to visit her.”

At that, Marty turned to go to his bedroom to get ready to go.

The classes that he and Jennifer shared were not the same without her. After school, he drove his truck to the hospital.

Upon arriving, the nurse escorted Marty to Jennifer’s room. When he entered there lay Jennifer pail and thin.

Marty was aghast at the sight and asked “Jennifer, what happened?”

“Oh Marty.” she wept, “I did a terrible thing.”

Marty knew what she did but had to ask “What did you do?”

“I’ve been pigging out lately.” said Jennifer, “I’ve been doing that ever since our return from 15^th century months ago.”

“Jennifer.” asked Marty, “How did this happened? What got you started on this eating disorder?”

“The thought of me losing you after I saw you talking to Jan Jandick.” said Jennifer, “I knew I got you back but I couldn’t get rid of that thought and started eating furiously.”

Marty sat back on a chair as his heart sank. If only I didn’t let that violent son of a bitch get to me. Things would’ve been different.

“Marty.” said Jennifer, “Promise me that you’ll visit me every day .”

“I will.” said Marty. At that, the both kissed.