I could sense George slipping out of control. I knew if I failed to step in and calm him down. George would have to sit out school for a week. I would catch hell from Mom and probably lose car privileges.

"Take it easy, George. This is what President Reagan calls 'private sector initiative.' It's a laudable attempt by good natured businessmen to step in where the public sector would just screw things up. I mean, look at all the flak Medicare gets for transferring tax dollars to impoverished physicians. Don't you think doctors have problems covering payments on those beach houses, with the economy the way it is?"

"I guess you have a point."

"And look at it from the personal side. Think of all those independently wealthy former Porcellian members, sitting around the Grenada Yacht Club. This season's topsiders remain untouched by saltwater, but they have to sit around the club, fearful they might take one in the gut if they merely head out in the $50,000 yachts. Yachts they certainly have a right to sail. There's fairness for rich people too, you know."

"What's the Porcellian?"

"I guess you could call it Harvard's encounter group for the upwardly mobile, but don't lose any sleep over it."

"Mom says you get more obscure as you get more conservative. But I suppose you're right about this Grenada business. Still, I take issue with your defense of Michael Jackson. He and his brothers made five million on that commercial."

"Hey--Brooke Shields demands the very best."