The Weirs were having meatloaf for dinner. All four family members were present, Harold, Jean, Lindsay, and Sam. Harold and Jean thought the family dinner was extremely important. Lindsay and Sam needed extremely good reason to miss it.

Sam tentatively said, "Bill, Neal and I were invited to a special Model UN session next Tuesday at UM."

Jean smiled, "That nice Mr. Rosso called me today to tell me about it. It sounds very exciting."

Sam, for once, was glad the counselor called home. He didn't need to lie as much. Rosso unwittingly already provided the boys' alibi so they could go sneak off and see the premiere of Empire Strikes Back.

Harold added, "Not much notice though. I guess you can go, but be careful. I knew a guy at college, he partied too much. You know what happened to him? He died! Alcohol poisoning."

Sam and Lindsay smiled at each other. Dad had been using the 'he died!' line since they were small. Jean really didn't appreciate how it scared the children at first, but he's said it so much now, the kids nor she hardly noticed it anymore.

That weekend Sam and Neal slept over at Bill's place to make final plans. It was also a good place to stash the sleeping bags to pick them up on their way out of town Monday. With both Gloria and Ben working, nobody would be home right after school. As soon as their last class was over, they would quickly go over to Bill's to pick up the sleeping bags, costumes, and snacks. After that, they would go to the new mall between Chippewa and Detroit to wait in line 30 hours to see Star Wars Episode VI, The Empire Strikes Back.

Bill was apprehensive, "What will we do when we have to go to the bathroom?"

Sam replied, "The theater put up porta potties for the people camping out."

Bill let out a disgusted, "eeewww"

Normally cynical Neal was into going, though, "come on, Bill. It will be an adventure."

Bill reluctantly gave in, "OK."

The three went back to watching Saturday Night Live.

Sam commented, "Its just not the same without Bill Murray."

Neal agreed, "Yeah, I like SCTV better now."

Bill added, "Guy Caballero on SCTV reminds me of Sam's dad."

Sam was getting tired of hearing that, "Shut up, Bill."

Neal laughed. Harold Weir did resemble an older version of SCTV star Joe Flaherty. When Flaherty did the Caballero character, you really could see it.

On Sunday, Sam got his car ready. It was a 1974 Arctic Blue Ford Pinto runabout in good condition. He would have preferred an import, but his dad was real big on buying American. At least the two liter four cylinder engine got good gas mileage. Sam filled it up, and carefully washed it. It may not be much, but it's his.

Monday morning Sam put an overnight bag in the back of the car and went to pick up Neal and Bill. Sam drove to school today instead of taking the bus because of the "Model UN Convention."

"I see you put a little spit and polish on the old blue bomb" Neal teased his friend. Sam just smiled. If you drove a Pinto you gotta have a sense of humor. He did like to think of his car as his "Millennium Falcon."

School that day seemed to drag. Minutes seemed like hours, hours seemed like days. Third period, Sam was listening to his US History teacher go on about Vietnam. It was kind of interesting, the dude was actually a chopper pilot in country. Sam was actually getting into the discussion when he was called to the guidance office. Figures, the one time he really doesn't want to leave class, he has to go.

When he got to Rosso's office, Bill and Neal were already there. For a moment, Sam did start to panic that they were found out. But Neal looked calm, so there was probably nothing to worry about.

"Sam, sorry to drag you out of Mr. Richards class. I'm sure he as a lot of interesting things to say about the 60s. If you want a different perspective, though, you can always come see me." Rosso, the perpetual hippie, lectured. "I was just going over some last minute preparations for the summit. Neal tells me you three are representing Isreal at a mock International Court of Justice. I have a file here of past ICJ cases involving Isreal for you guys to go over before the conference. Time is short, so Bill and Neal, I actually want you guys reading these files out loud in the car on the way up."

Sam had to hand it to Neal, he could come up with some pretty elaborate fabrications. Neal and Rosso did most of the talking, while Sam and Bill sat back and awe. Sam knew Neal wanted to be a doctor, but he thought his friend would also have a future as a lawyer, used car salesman, or professional poker player.

At lunch the three were at "their table", the one that they've had since their freshman year. They had a little more respect as upperclassmen, but they still were geeks.

Sam remarked to Neal, "Man, I can't believe you pulled that off with a straight face. Israel on the ICJ, where did you come up with that?"

Neal answered, "It just came to me while I was watching the news."

Bill praised Neal with, "You are the master!"

While Sam, Neal, and Bill were in the cafeteria, Sam's sister Lindsay was out at the smoking patio. She didn't smoke, but many of her friends hung out there. Lindsay still occasionally wore the olive drab army jacket she daily donned in her sophomore year, but today she was wearing a denim Levi's jacket that matched her jeans.

Lindsay walked up to her friend, fellow senior and school wild child Kim Kelly, who was chatting with Maureen Sampson. Maureen was a junior, who also was a friend of Sam's. Maureen reminded Lindsay of herself, a basically good girl with a bit of a wild streak. Lindsay was surprised to see her on the smoking patio.

"Hey Linds, I was looking for you, but found Kim instead!" Maureen smiled.

Kim added, "Wait'll you hear this Lindsay!"

Maureen got a devilish grin, "You ever hear of the Motown Cabaret?"

Lindsay looked disgusted, "Yeah, its some strip joint outside Detroit."

Kim asked, "But do you know what Monday night is at the MC?"

Lindsay looked puzzled.

Both girls sang in unison, "its ladies night…"

Maureen explained, "They're going to have male strippers there! No men allowed!"

Lindsay asked, "Don't you have to be 21 to get in there?" Lindsay was a little shocked that sweet little Maureen was part of this.

Kim pleaded, "C'mon Lindsay, I know you have a fake ID. Believe it or not, Maureen has one too. It's always the quiet ones you've got to watch out for."

Maureen explained. "Actually it's a real Arizona driver's license that belongs to my cousin, she's 23. We look a lot alike."

Lindsay said, "I hope so. One time Kim and I went with some friends to see a band using a fake ID and we got busted."

Kim reminisced, "The only reason we got busted was that Rosso was in the band."

Maureen looked surprised, "Rosso was in a band? Well, I certainly hope he's not one of the male strippers!"

At that, the three girls started laughing so hard the other burn-outs at the patio started turning their heads to see what was going on.