Chapter 8 Drama and Diet Pills

Sunday, November 27, 1983

Music: Grateful Dead "Ripple"

Lindsay found her seat on the bus. She waved to her parents and brother who were at the bus stop. Millie came and sat next to her friend.

Millie asked Lindsay, "So how was your Turkey day?"

Lindsay smiled and said, "I ate too much. Sam's friend Neal stayed with us for the holiday. I guess that was OK, but he kind of looking at me weird."

Millie laughed, "He's had a crush on you forever. So are we on for Cabo?"

Lindsay smiled and replied, "You bet, just three and a half more months."

The two young women laughed and chatted all the way to the University of Michigan.

Monday, November 28th, 1983

Music: Easybeats "Friday on My Mind"

Miss Foote called out, "OK people, curtain is going up on Thursday. Maureen, how's the painting of Big Brother coming along?"

Maureen replied, "Almost finished, Miss Foote."

Neal and Sam looked at the large painting of Big Brother that would be in the center of the stage. And then they both had a devious thought.

Sam said, "Neal you know who that looks like?"

Neal replied, "I see it too, all it needs is a few minor adjustments."

Maureen looked up from her work and asked, "All right, you two, what are you up to."

Sam said, "You're probably better off not knowing. But you'll find out soon enough."

The two senior boys left, leaving a very puzzled Maureen Sampson. They met up with Bill and headed over to Rosso's office. The three hung out there quite a bit since their sophomore year when they became part of the Model UN program Rosso sponsored. The guidance counselor saw himself as spreading the message of peace one student at a time. Jeff Rosso was a political science major at Berkeley, and taught social studies in inner city Detroit before getting his Counseling masters and going to work at McKinley.

Neal said, "I spy with my little eye something from New York." On Rosso's desk was a large manila envelope from the United Nations in New York City.

Sam asked, "I wonder what it is?"

Bill speculated, "Maybe Mr. Rosso going to work for the UN. He's smart enough and all."

Sam rebuffed, "Bill, that's ridiculous."

Neal said, "There is one way to find out what's in it. The envelope is open."

Bill warned, "I don't know, its illegal to read other people's mail."

Sam rationalized, "It is addressed to the McKinley Model UN Club, and we have the president and vice-president right here…"

Neal grabbed the envelope and said, "Exactly…" Schwieber then took the contents out and read, "The United Nations Association would like to invite the McKinley High School Model United Nations club to the annual UNA Model United Nations held in New York City."

Sam exclaimed, "Wow! We've been invited to nationals!"

Bill nervously said, "Quick Neal, put the envelope back."

Neal quipped, "Here we thought the UM Conference was a big deal, now its just going to be a rehearsal for the big show." He then carefully placed the envelope back on Rosso's desk.

Within minutes, Jeff Rosso returned to his office, "Hey guys, I hope you haven't been waiting long."

Sam cleverly said, "Not long. We just wanted to know if there was any news regarding Model UN."

Rosso replied, "No, nothing new. We're still Cuba at the UM Conference in January. I figured you guys would be more focused on the play right now."

Neal smiled and said, "Whatever you say, Mr. Rosso."

The three decided they should make an appearance at their next class.

Once they were in the hall, Sam theorized, "He must be saving the New York conference as a surprise."

Neal agreed, "Must be."

Later that evening, at the University of Michigan.

Amy popped into Lindsay's and Millie's dorm room, "I'm going to the union go get some dinner. You two want to come?"

Millie replied "Sure!"

Lindsay said, "I should skip dinner tonight. Look at me, I must have gained five pounds this weekend."

Millie asked, "You sure?" Then headed off with Amy.

When the two were in the hall Amy said, "Hang on a second, Millie."

Music: Steppenwolf: "The Pusher"

Amy stepped back into the dorm room and quietly told Lindsay, "I know what you're going through. I have a little something that helped me lose weight and have more energy for rehearsals." Amy then produced a little pill bottle.

Lindsay's exclaimed, "Amy! I had no idea."

Amy said, "Now don't get too excited, they're just energy pills. They let me eat and help me stay awake. It's just like having a few extra cups of coffee." Amy poured out a few pills for Lindsay.

Lindsay mumbled, "I don't know…"

Amy responded with, "Take them, flush them, its up to you. I'm going to get some dinner. See you later."

Lindsay said, "Bye, see ya." She then looked at the pills, and 10 minutes after Amy left, swallowed one with the Tab she was drinking.

Thursday, December 1, 1983

Music: Rush "Limelight"

It was finally opening night for the McKinley High Players production of 1984. Everybody had their lines down, and even Bill had the tech aspects down. Sam and Neal peered through the curtain.

Sam said, "My folks are here."

Neal observed, "So are mine. In two different sections of the auditorium."

When the curtain was lifted, several audience members started to laugh. The face of Big Brother strangely resembled that of McKinley High Dean of Students Frank Kowchevski. For some reason, Mr. Kowchevski and Miss Foote didn't see the humor.

Sam and Neal were trying to make themselves scarce after the play. Miss Foote, normally a very cheerful person, gave them both very icy glares.

Maureen came up to them and exclaimed, "That was outrageous. I can't believe you did that!" Referring to the Kowcheveski Big Brother painting.

Sam denied, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Maureen scoffed, "Yeah right. You two were snickering about that painting all week."

Just then Rosso found them in the hall. Rosso said, "Great show guys! By the way, I'm sure that Big Brother won't be resembling our dean of students for tomorrow night's performance."

Maureen assured, "No, he won't. I'll make sure of that."

Neal said, "I hope this doesn't affect the New York trip."

Rosso asked, "Who's going to New York?"

Sam answered, "Model UN, to the national conference."

Rosso got quiet and said, "Oh, you found out about the invitation. We haven't received approval from the school district governing board, and it doesn't look likely that we will be able to go."

Neal exclaimed, "What! We worked hard for that invitation."

Maureen added, "If it was the football team, you know they would get to go."

Sam agreed, "Its just not fair."

Later when Sam got home, he found a tin foil star on his bedroom door.

Jean Weir told her son, "You did great honey."

Harold agreed, "It was a great show."

Sam just said, "Thanks."

Jean could see her son was down and asked, "What's wrong honey?" Sam then explained about Model UN not being able to go to New York. Jean comforted Sam by saying, "I'm sorry, sweetie."

Harold simply said, "I know its something you wanted to do, but I'm sure the governing board has their reasons."

Friday, December 2, 1983

2:00 AM

Music: Golden Earring "Twilight Zone"

Sam looked at the clock when the phone rang. He got up to get it before it woke his parents. It was probably one of his idiot friends anyway.

"Hello," He groggily mumbled into the phone.

"Hi baby brother its me!" The voice way too cheerful for this hour chirped.

Sam groggily said, "Lindsay? It's two a.m. are you drunk?"

Lindsay laughed, "Drunk, no. I just wanted to see how you're play went."

Sam explained, "The play went well, but Rosso said the Model UN club couldn't go to New York."

Lindsay said, "I'm glad the play went well, Rosso can be such a jerk." The college freshman went into a half hour monologue of peculiar things Mr. Jeff Rosso did while she was at McKinley. She finished her diatribe of the Counselor by saying, "I really miss him."

Finally Sam could take no more, "Linds, I gotta get up in less than four hours. Talk to you later."

Lindsay said, "Nite nite."

Millie was dragging pushing Amy into the dorm room she shared with the now sleepless Lindsay. Amy was protesting, "It's the middle of the night, Millie, what can't wait until morning?"

Millie pointed at Lindsay who was just getting off the phone at 2:30 in the morning and replied, "That! She hasn't slept since Wednesday thanks to your pills!"

Amy said, "The pills I gave her were look-a-likes. The strongest ingredient in them was caffeine. The dosage I gave her was no stronger than a pot of coffee."

Lindsay explained, "Amy's pills ran out yesterday. I got some more from a boy downstairs yesterday." Looking at the clock, Lindsay corrected, "I mean Wednesday."

Amy said, "Uh oh. Sounds like she got some of the real McCoy. She's going to crash hard when she finally does go to sleep."

Millie moaned, "Great. Its not like I needed any sleep this week anyway."

Later that evening at the McKinley High Auditorium.

Music: Buffalo Springfield "For What It's Worth"

Just before the second show of 1984, Maureen stated to Sam and Neil, "It's ironic that we are doing Orwell for the school play, considering what they are doing with the Model UN Club."

Neil agreed, "It was appropriate that we made Kowchevski 'Big Brother'. Too bad we had to change it back."

Sam said, "Yeah, but now I wish we hadn't." Sam then added, "I have an idea… make sure I have a mike after the last curtain call."

The play went well. The administration was pleased to see no familiar faces painted up as Big Brother. After the last curtain call, Sam grabbed a mike, pointed at it while waving to Bill in the sound booth. Bill gave him a thumbs up.

Sam said, "Thank you all for coming! If you could stick around I have an important announcement."

Both Miss Foote and Mr. Rosso looked nervous. This was not scheduled. Neal and Maureen just wondered what Sam was up to.

Sam continued to work the crowd, "We just saw a play about the effects of uncontrolled government. Well, there is a group of students here at McKinley High dedicated to studying the democratic process and diplomacy. It is my pleasure to announce that the McKinley High Model UN club was invited to a conference put on by the United Nations in New York City." The audience applauded

Maureen and Neal looked at each other.

Maureen exclaimed, "I can't believe he did that!"

Neal agreed, "I didn't know he had it in him."

Rosso said to Miss Foote, "I'll be damned. He pretty much forced the board to approve and fund the trip. "

The drama teacher asked the counselor, "What should we do with Sam?"

Rosso answered, "What can he do? He didn't break any rules."

Sam arrived at the cast party as a hero. After the odd early morning call, he decided to see how his sister was doing. When he called the dorm, Millie answered.

"Hey Millie," Sam said, "Is everything all right up there?"

Millie replied, "Yes, I think we got everything under control. Lindsay just went to sleep."

Sam acknowledged, "OK, talk to you later." The drama star then went to enjoy his cast party.

Saturday, December 3, 2003

Music: Harry Nilsson "Coconut"

Millie was just coming back from dinner when she saw Lindsay stirring.

Millie apologized, "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

Lindsay mumbled, "That's OK, what time is it?"

Millie said, "Nine PM"

Lindsay started to get up explaining, "I got to call my brother to see how the play went tonight."

Millie looked concerned and said, "Lindsay, that was last night. Today is Saturday. Remember, we have finals next week."

That woke Lindsay up with a start. She then got out of bed walked over to the pill bottle. Millie was worried, and followed Lindsay into the restroom. Millie's concern turned into relief when she saw her friend dump the contents of the cylindrical container into the toilet.