Chapter 2 Homeward Bound
The Thursday before the assembly and dance, Sam got permission to borrow his mom's station wagon (which he dubbed "the Family Truckster" in honor of one of his favorite movies) and miss a day of school to go to Ann Arbor to research Cuba for Model U.N. Harold wasn't so wild about the idea, but one thing he did like was that Sam was going to pick up Lindsay and her room mate and childhood friend Millie Kentor.
Sam drove up to Neal's house first. Neal was taking his parents separation fairly well.
"Good morning Comrade Weir, I see the old family truckster is still running," Neal jovially announced walking up the car, much to Sam's amusement.
The two then picked up fellow Model UN'ers Bill Haverchuck, Maureen Sampson, and Gordon Crisp. Even though Gordon lost quite a bit of weight, and thank god most of that body odor problem, Sam thought that it was just as well they had the old 70s vintage wagon that seated nine. Even then it might be a little tight coming back with the seven of them.
Maureen was one of those unique individuals that was able to hang out with the popular kids, but still able to do the geeky stuff she enjoys. Nothing was more geeky than the "unwanted nobodies" club as the mostly male organization was dubbed. Even Bill, varsity letter and all, while being accepted by the jocks, still felt a level of separation.
"Allright guys," Maureen said with her usual enthusiasm, "lets get this road trip underway!"
MUSIC: "Homeward Bound" by Simon and Garfunkle
About the same time the McKinley High group was getting underway, Airman Nick Andopolis was touching down at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. It was a ways from Chippewa, but it was a lot closer than Homestead, where he was stationed in Florida. Nick was also able to fly for free by "deadheading" on a military transport. He planned on taking a bus the rest of the way.
His plans changed immediately when exiting the plane. He was shocked to see a very familiar officer on the tarmac. Nick saluted immediately out of habit "Good Morning, sir"
"Good Morning, son," Major Andopolis replied, returning his son's salute.
The thought of spending five hours in the car with his father did not exactly appeal to him, but Nick did appreciate the thought. It was a little awkward at first, the dad in Major Andopolis wanting to drive, but the officer in him knowing that driving is the duty of the airman. Since they were in uniform, Nick ended up driving. Which made things much more comfortable for Nick, since he could just focus on the road.
Nicks dad broke the silence with "I see you've been promoted. Congratulations"
Nick replied "yeah, I just made senior airman, its just a matter of time before I make sergeant." "By the way, thanks for coming to pick me up," Nick added.
"I had business to do at Wright Patterson anyway, I figured I could wait and do it when you were arriving." That was pretty much the extent of the conversation on the road to Chippawa.
Nick and his dad made it into Chippawa that afternoon. Nick was amazed how little the town had changed, then he realized why should it have? He was the one who had changed. After dropping his dad off, he decided to go look up Daniel and Kim Desario.
He gave Kim a call, she was at home with her and Daniel's daughter, Nicole. Nicole was definitely the light of Daniel's life. Kim was taking courses at the local community college, while Daniel was working overtime at the garage to make ends meet.
"Sergeant Nick" Kim greeted Nick.
"Not a Sergeant yet, Kim Kelly Desario," Nick replied with a hug.
"So, fly boy, you have a woman in every airport?" Kim taunted.
"Nah, flying solo, as usual." Nick replied.
"Oh, those high school girls will be falling all over you at the assembly," Kim said with a wicked grin. Nick replied with an "oh great" grunt. Then Kim added "Lindsay will be in town this evening. The gang's meeting at the Iron Horse at eight.
"Great," Nick said a little to eagerly, "I'll be there." Kim smiled, some things never change...
The McKinley Model U.N. group spent very little time studying UN resolutions and Cuban government. Actually, Maureen did most the work. Neal was out checking out college girls, Bill and Sam were just kind of taking in the atmosphere.
The McKinley group met Lindsay and Millie for lunch at a nearby pizza place. Sam was surprised, his sister had gained some weight. He had heard about the "freshman 15" but didn't dare say anything.
Neal announced his presence with "Ladies, I see you look as lovely as ever."
"So how's your love life, Sam," Lindsay teased. She could see he had a crush on Maureen. Maureen grinned, and Sam turned beet red.
Millie chimed in with " Awe, Sammy is so cute when he blushes." College probably changed Millie the most. She's was still somewhat naive, but much more open minded. Lindsay had gained a new respect for Millie, and it had reminded her why they had been friends for so many years.
After lunch Millie and Lindsay went to their afternoon classes, and the Model U.N.'ers hit the stacks.
"Sam, just look at those women," Neal sighed.
"Yeah, but we'll be freshman again next year," Sam Lamented.
Sam was sitting in the station wagon wondering what was taking his sister. The plan was to be back in time to have some ribs and the Iron Horse at eight. She and Millie showed up a half hour late with a couple of friends.
"Sam! you remember Ken and Amy?" Lindsay asked, continuing "Amy graduated with me, Ken a year earlier."
"Oh yeah, hey" Sam greeted them.
"Hey dude, thanks for the ride" Ken responded. Sam glanced at Lindsay with a look that said 'ride????' Lindsay gave Sam a 'what can you do' glance.
Everybody crammed into the station wagon. Maureen in the middle in front with Sam and Neal. Ken, Amy, and Lindsay in the back seat. Millie, Bill, and Gordon were in the far back.
"Bill you better not get sick" Sam said, which gained very worried looks from Gordon and Millie. But having Maureen crammed up against him definitely changed Sam's opinion of having so many people in the car. He did think they all went crazy at one point. The Doobie Brother's "Jesus is Just All Right" came on the radio, and Millie and Lindsay started screaming along with the lyrics... pretty soon the whole car was singing the song.
Jeanne and Harold Weir were surprised at the number of kids in the car. Lindsay and her parents exchanged hugs, and promised them she would have dinner with them Friday night, but her friends wanted to get together that night. The Weirs were pleased to see that Sam and his friends were going along. The Weir kids honestly did enjoy each others company.
Sam asked, "Mom, can I borrow the car"
Jean laughed, "Of course...if you can fit everyone back in there."
After a couple hours of visiting, they were all off to the Iron Horse. Sam wondered if Maureen remembered the night they spent their as freshmen.
As if reading his mind Maureen asked Sam, "I wonder what the specials are tonight...."
The Thursday before the assembly and dance, Sam got permission to borrow his mom's station wagon (which he dubbed "the Family Truckster" in honor of one of his favorite movies) and miss a day of school to go to Ann Arbor to research Cuba for Model U.N. Harold wasn't so wild about the idea, but one thing he did like was that Sam was going to pick up Lindsay and her room mate and childhood friend Millie Kentor.
Sam drove up to Neal's house first. Neal was taking his parents separation fairly well.
"Good morning Comrade Weir, I see the old family truckster is still running," Neal jovially announced walking up the car, much to Sam's amusement.
The two then picked up fellow Model UN'ers Bill Haverchuck, Maureen Sampson, and Gordon Crisp. Even though Gordon lost quite a bit of weight, and thank god most of that body odor problem, Sam thought that it was just as well they had the old 70s vintage wagon that seated nine. Even then it might be a little tight coming back with the seven of them.
Maureen was one of those unique individuals that was able to hang out with the popular kids, but still able to do the geeky stuff she enjoys. Nothing was more geeky than the "unwanted nobodies" club as the mostly male organization was dubbed. Even Bill, varsity letter and all, while being accepted by the jocks, still felt a level of separation.
"Allright guys," Maureen said with her usual enthusiasm, "lets get this road trip underway!"
MUSIC: "Homeward Bound" by Simon and Garfunkle
About the same time the McKinley High group was getting underway, Airman Nick Andopolis was touching down at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. It was a ways from Chippewa, but it was a lot closer than Homestead, where he was stationed in Florida. Nick was also able to fly for free by "deadheading" on a military transport. He planned on taking a bus the rest of the way.
His plans changed immediately when exiting the plane. He was shocked to see a very familiar officer on the tarmac. Nick saluted immediately out of habit "Good Morning, sir"
"Good Morning, son," Major Andopolis replied, returning his son's salute.
The thought of spending five hours in the car with his father did not exactly appeal to him, but Nick did appreciate the thought. It was a little awkward at first, the dad in Major Andopolis wanting to drive, but the officer in him knowing that driving is the duty of the airman. Since they were in uniform, Nick ended up driving. Which made things much more comfortable for Nick, since he could just focus on the road.
Nicks dad broke the silence with "I see you've been promoted. Congratulations"
Nick replied "yeah, I just made senior airman, its just a matter of time before I make sergeant." "By the way, thanks for coming to pick me up," Nick added.
"I had business to do at Wright Patterson anyway, I figured I could wait and do it when you were arriving." That was pretty much the extent of the conversation on the road to Chippawa.
Nick and his dad made it into Chippawa that afternoon. Nick was amazed how little the town had changed, then he realized why should it have? He was the one who had changed. After dropping his dad off, he decided to go look up Daniel and Kim Desario.
He gave Kim a call, she was at home with her and Daniel's daughter, Nicole. Nicole was definitely the light of Daniel's life. Kim was taking courses at the local community college, while Daniel was working overtime at the garage to make ends meet.
"Sergeant Nick" Kim greeted Nick.
"Not a Sergeant yet, Kim Kelly Desario," Nick replied with a hug.
"So, fly boy, you have a woman in every airport?" Kim taunted.
"Nah, flying solo, as usual." Nick replied.
"Oh, those high school girls will be falling all over you at the assembly," Kim said with a wicked grin. Nick replied with an "oh great" grunt. Then Kim added "Lindsay will be in town this evening. The gang's meeting at the Iron Horse at eight.
"Great," Nick said a little to eagerly, "I'll be there." Kim smiled, some things never change...
The McKinley Model U.N. group spent very little time studying UN resolutions and Cuban government. Actually, Maureen did most the work. Neal was out checking out college girls, Bill and Sam were just kind of taking in the atmosphere.
The McKinley group met Lindsay and Millie for lunch at a nearby pizza place. Sam was surprised, his sister had gained some weight. He had heard about the "freshman 15" but didn't dare say anything.
Neal announced his presence with "Ladies, I see you look as lovely as ever."
"So how's your love life, Sam," Lindsay teased. She could see he had a crush on Maureen. Maureen grinned, and Sam turned beet red.
Millie chimed in with " Awe, Sammy is so cute when he blushes." College probably changed Millie the most. She's was still somewhat naive, but much more open minded. Lindsay had gained a new respect for Millie, and it had reminded her why they had been friends for so many years.
After lunch Millie and Lindsay went to their afternoon classes, and the Model U.N.'ers hit the stacks.
"Sam, just look at those women," Neal sighed.
"Yeah, but we'll be freshman again next year," Sam Lamented.
Sam was sitting in the station wagon wondering what was taking his sister. The plan was to be back in time to have some ribs and the Iron Horse at eight. She and Millie showed up a half hour late with a couple of friends.
"Sam! you remember Ken and Amy?" Lindsay asked, continuing "Amy graduated with me, Ken a year earlier."
"Oh yeah, hey" Sam greeted them.
"Hey dude, thanks for the ride" Ken responded. Sam glanced at Lindsay with a look that said 'ride????' Lindsay gave Sam a 'what can you do' glance.
Everybody crammed into the station wagon. Maureen in the middle in front with Sam and Neal. Ken, Amy, and Lindsay in the back seat. Millie, Bill, and Gordon were in the far back.
"Bill you better not get sick" Sam said, which gained very worried looks from Gordon and Millie. But having Maureen crammed up against him definitely changed Sam's opinion of having so many people in the car. He did think they all went crazy at one point. The Doobie Brother's "Jesus is Just All Right" came on the radio, and Millie and Lindsay started screaming along with the lyrics... pretty soon the whole car was singing the song.
Jeanne and Harold Weir were surprised at the number of kids in the car. Lindsay and her parents exchanged hugs, and promised them she would have dinner with them Friday night, but her friends wanted to get together that night. The Weirs were pleased to see that Sam and his friends were going along. The Weir kids honestly did enjoy each others company.
Sam asked, "Mom, can I borrow the car"
Jean laughed, "Of course...if you can fit everyone back in there."
After a couple hours of visiting, they were all off to the Iron Horse. Sam wondered if Maureen remembered the night they spent their as freshmen.
As if reading his mind Maureen asked Sam, "I wonder what the specials are tonight...."