Chapter 11 T&A: Travel and Alcohol

March 1984

Music: Steve Miller "Jet Airliner"

The senior members of the McKinley High Model UN club were meeting at the gate in the Detroit airport. The group was flying to New York for a conference in the United Nations building itself. Faculty Advisor Jeff Rosso would have liked to take the whole club, but the budget only allowed him to take five kids. Gordon Crisp, Maureen Sampson, Cindy Sanders, Neil Schwieger, and Sam Weir were the lucky travelers.

Sam was embarrassed that his parents walked him all the way to the gate. But the high school senior did notice that the others had at least one parent with them waiting with them and Rosso.

Rosso announced, "Well, it looks like everybody is here. It's nice to see so many parents to see your kids off. I'll go ahead and start passing out boarding passes now, but don't go too far. The gate agent told me they would start boarding in 30 minutes."

Jean Weir asked her son, "Sammy do you have to go to the bathroom?"

Sam said, "Mom! I'm 17!" The Model UN President wanted to find somewhere to hide.

Harold Weir advised, "Listen to your mother, son, you never know about those airplane bathrooms. You could be in there an the plane might lose pressure and…"

Sam cried, "Dad! Please no stories about dying on the toilet." Sam was a little nervous about flying.

Once they were done snickering while overhearing Sam's conversation with his parents, the other Model UN'ers hit the nearest restroom. Sam wasn't far behind.

While in the restroom, Neal teased, "Now did you finish your business, Sammy?"

Sam replied, "Shut up, Neal." He then added, "What died in here, it reeks!"

From a stall Gordon Crisp said, "Hey, I don't wanna be sucked out of an airplane toilet!"

Neal laughed, "I doubt very much that would happen my friend. Have you ever heard of a courtesy flush?" Neal turned back to Sam and asked over the sound of a loud flush, "So Sam, big plans with Maureen in the Big Apple?"

Sam replied, "Neal, you know Maureen and I are just friends."

Neal observed, "More importantly, does she know that?"

Giggling Marlin Cantina. Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Music: Glenn Fry "Party Town"

Lindsay was glad she took this trip to Mexico with her childhood friend Millie for spring break. The beaches were awesome and the men were gorgeous. There was no need for fake ID, or any ID for that matter, to get a drink. Watching Millie down her fifth margarita, Lindsay was wondering if the lack of alcohol control was such a great idea.

Millie shouted, "I love this song!" And within a flash was engulfed in the mob of spring breakers on the dance floor.

Lindsay was wondering if she should go out in search of her friend when a familiar male voice said, "Lindsay? Lindsay Weir, is that you?"

Lindsay looked at the guy about her age that was calling her. He looked familiar, but she couldn't come up with a name, so she just smiled and greeted him with, "Hey, you."

The young man smiled and said, "You don't remember me, do you." He then offered his hand, "Harris Trinsky, we were in the same class at McKinley High."

While shaking his hand, Lindsay marveled at how much the boy had changed. He cut his hair, got contacts, spent some time in the sun, and looks like he had been working out some.

Lindsay recalled, "Harris, of course. I remember you now. You hung out with my brother Sam some. It's been awhile."

Harris explained, "I've been at Cal Tech studying computers. I really love the California weather. How about you?"

Lindsay replied, "I'm at the University of Michigan. I really like the atmosphere on campus. Right now I'm between majors, but am leaning towards…"

Harris interrupted his former classmate with, "My God! Is that Millie Kentner?"

Lindsay said, "Huh!" When she turned around to see what Harris was looking at she exclaimed, "Oh, No!"

There, dancing on the bar with Millie. She and a group of sorority girls were doing a drunken chorus line while passing a bottle of Cuervo, much to the enjoyment of the male patrons of the cantina.

Harris helped Lindsay get to the bar. Lindsay pleaded, "Millie come down!"

Millie said, "Hi Lindsay! I see you found a friend!" Millie tried to wave, but almost slipped off.

Lindsay told Harris, "I gotta get her down, give me a boost." Soon Lindsay was on the bar, much to the cheers of the patrons.

Millie hugged her friend and slurred, "I love you, man."

The guys at the bar shouted, "Kiss her! Kiss her!" And much to Lindsay's shock, Millie surprised her with a quick kiss. This gained approval from the cantina's patrons.

Lindsay lowered Millie to Harris. Harris said, "Let's get her out of here before she starts a riot."

Lindsay asked Harris, "Are all guys such perverts?" Harris just shrugged.

The three started walking towards the girls' hotel, with Millie in the middle being half carried by the other two. Millie looked at Harris and asked, "Do I know you?"

Harris answered, "Yes, I'm Harris. We went to school together."

Millie replied, "Man, you got hot. Lindsay needs a boyfriend."

Lindsay cried in horror, "Millie!" Harris just smiled.

Millie then said out of nowhere, "They got busted, then they got badges. Da da da da. We're the mod squad. I'm Julie, cause I'm in the middle, Lindsay you're Link cause you're cool, and Harris you can be Pete."

Lindsay laughed, "She's gone."

Harris teased, "What, aren't I cool?"

Millie said, "You're the coolest. I'll be Pete. Harris you can be Julie." Giggling, Millie tried to change places with Harris and almost knocked all three of them over.

Harris suggested, "No, lets just stay where we are."

Lindsay said, "This is our hotel. I think I can take it from here, thanks all your help Harris."

Harris replied, "Anytime. We've all been there. Take care of your friend."

Lindsay said, "Nite"

As Lindsay was guiding Millie to their room, Millie shouted loud enough for Harris and half the hotel to hear, "Aren't you going to invite him up to the room?"

Lindsay realized then it was going to be a long night. Then she realized it wasn't that long ago that she kept Millie up for two nights because of Lindsay's experimentation with diet pills. Karma can be a real bitch.

Lindsay helped Millie get into a nightshirt and into bed. Millie wasn't in bed more than ten minutes before she ran into the bathroom. Lindsay then heard her friend loudly regurgitating the Jose Cuervo.

Lindsay held back her friends hair, rubbed her back, and soothed, "That's it, get it out…"

After blowing chunks, Millie drunkenly told her friend, "Lindsay, you should be a Nurse. You're so caring."

Lindsay laughed, "Me a Nurse? I'd feel sorry for anyone who came into that ER."

Millie started to laugh, but the laugh quickly turned into puke. Millie then started to cry.

Lindsay consoled, "Its all right, sweetie, this happens to everybody who drinks."

Millie cried, "Its not that, I think I'm turning into a lesbian! I'll never get to be a math teacher!"

Lindsay laughed, "Millie, you are not gay. Even if you were, you could still teach math."

Millie protested, "But I kissed you."

Lindsay explained, "You were, and are, drunk."

Millie then asked, "Was there tongue?"

Lindsay sighed, "No Millie, no tongue."

Millie said "Good," Then proceeded to pray once again to the porcelain god.

After it looked like Millie had quieted down a bit, Lindsay had her drink some bottled water, and helped her friend to bed. Lindsay then went out to the hotel's balcony and watched the surf pound the shoreline. She found the steady rhythm of the ocean very soothing.

Lindsay woke up a few hours earlier very hungry. She decided to go down to breakfast, but decided she better take a shower first. After all, who knows who may be downstairs. The bathroom looked like it belonged more in a frat house than two girls hotel room. Lindsay tried to avoid gagging, and did as much of her business as she could while holding her breath. When she got out of the bathroom, Millie was staring at the door. She looked very ill.

Lindsay said, "Sorry, I tried to be quiet. How are you doing?"

Millie replied, "I'm never drinking again. Remember when I tried pot sophomore year? This is far, far worse."

Lindsay, still concerned, "I'm going down to the restaurant to get some chorizo and eggs. You want anything?"

Millie cried, "Oh god. Please don't mention food."

Lindsay could hear Millie running to the bathroom as she was leaving the room. She made a mental note to leave the maid a big tip.

Music: Eagles "In the City"

Sam knocked on the girl's hotel room. Cindy answered.

"Hey Sam," The redhead greeted.

"Hey Cindy," Sam said, "is Maureen here?"

Maureen laughed, "I'm right here in front of you Sam. The room isn't that big."

Cindy said, "Oh, I just realized I should go over the Grad Night budget with Neal." Neal was McKinley High's student body treasurer. Cindy added, "I'll be back in 60 minutes."

Once Cindy was gone, Sam pointed out to Maureen, "Subtlety was never her strong suit."

Maureen retorted, "And you have a penchant for stating the obvious. What's up?"

Sam replied, "Oh nothing much. Just wanted to chat. So what do you think of New York?"

Maureen replied, "I think its great. I'd love to explore the art museums more. But that's not why you came here is it?"

Sam then embraced Maureen, and the two started kissing. They fell on the bed, but Sam kept to their unspoken boundries.

Maureen finally asked, "Are we buddies, or are we dating?"

Sam admitted, "I don't want to ruin our friendship. It was years before Cindy and I could be friends after I went out with her in Freshman year."

Maureen asked Sam, "Do you regret going out with her?"

Sam honestly replied, "No, not really."

Maureen said, "Then I think you have your answer."

Sam thought about it and said, "Maureen would you like to go out on a date sometime."

Maureen teased, "Let me think about it"

Sam groaned.

Maureen replied seconds later, "Yes."

The two resumed kissing until Cindy lightly knocked on the door 60 minutes later.