Dead Poets Society

to death.” Pitts
turned quickly to face the wall as the gym master strolled through the shower
room, monitoring the activity.
    “How about a study
group?” Meeks called out from the shower. “Right after dinner.”
    “Great! Good by me,”
several of the boys agreed. “Pick up the soap, Harrison,” the gym master called
out. “You there,” he pointed at another boy, “hurry and dry off!”
    “Sorry Meeks, I
can’t make it,” Knox said. “I have to sign out to have dinner at the Danburrys’
house. “
    “Who are the
Danburrys?” Pitts asked.
    “Whew! Big alums,”
Cameron whistled. “How’d you pull that?”
    Knox shrugged.
“They’re friends of my dad. Probably in their nineties or something.”
    “Listen,” Neil
laughed. “Anything is better than the mystery meat we get here.”
    “I’ll second that!”
Charlie agreed.
    The boys finished
getting dressed, tossed their gym clothes in their lockers, and headed out.
Todd sat silently on the bench, slowly pulling up his sock.
    “A penny for your
thoughts?” Neil laughed, as he sat down next to Todd.
    “Not even worth that
much,” Todd said, shaking his head.
    “Want to come to the
study group?” Neil asked.
    “Thanks, but... I’d
better do history,” Todd smiled.
    “Okay, you can
always change your mind,” Neil answered. He gathered up his books and headed
out of the gym. Todd watched him leave and then stared into space again. He put
on his shoes, picked up his own books, and walked slowly back to the dorm.
    In the distance Todd
saw the fiery-red sun sinking behind the green perimeter of trees that enclosed
the sprawling campus. “It’s big, but it’s so small here,” he sighed, looking
around.
    Inside the dorm, he
smiled at several boys in the hall but walked into his room and quickly closed
the door. He put his books on the desk, sighed again loudly, and sat down.
    “1 can’t believe all
the work I have to do,” he said as he flipped through the stack of books. He
opened his history book, took out a notebook, and stared at the first clean
sheet of paper. Absently, he scribbled SEIZE THE DAY in big, black letters.
    “Seize the day?” he
questioned aloud. “How?” He sighed again, ripped the page out of the notebook, and
threw it into the wastebasket. He turned a page in the history book and started
to read.
     
    “Ready, Overstreet?”
Dr. Hager asked, as he walked into the Honors Room, where Knox Overstreet was
once again studying the pictures of old Welton students.
    “Yes, sir. Thank
you, sir,” he answered as he followed Dr. Hager out to the school “woody”
station wagon parked in front of the building. The changing colors of the
Vermont autumn were muted by the darkness. “It’s beautiful when the colors
change, isn’t it, Dr. Hager?” Knox asked enthusiastically.
    “Colors? Oh, yes,”
Hager mumbled as he drove the old wagon to the rambling mansion where the
distinguished Danburry family lived.
    “Thanks for the
ride, Dr. Hager,” Knox smiled. The Danburrys said they’ll bring me back to
campus.”
    “No later than nine,
my boy,” the old teacher said solemnly.
    Yes, sir.” He turned
and walked to the door of the large, white, colonial house and rang the bell. A
beautiful girl, maybe a bit older than he was and Wearing a short tennis skirt,
opened the door.
    "Hi,” she said,
smiling. Her blue eyes glowed softly.
    Knox hesitated,
speechless with astonishment. “Ah... hi,” he finally got out.
    “Are you here to see
Chet?” she asked. He stared at her for a moment, unable to keep his eyes from
moving up and down her athletic figure. “Chet?” she repeated, laughing. “Are
you here to see Chet?”
    “Mrs. Danburry?”
Knox stammered as a middle-aged woman stuck her head around the girl.
    “Knox,” Janette
Danburry smiled, as the girl moved back toward the huge staircase. “Come in.
We’ve been waiting for you!”
    Knox walked in
behind Mrs. Danburry, but his eyes followed the girl who raced up the stairs
two steps at a time.
    Mrs. Danburry walked
into a huge wood-paneled library. “Joe,” she said to a sharply dressed man who looked
about forty. “This is Knox.”
    Joe stuck out his
hand and smiled warmly. “Knox, good to see you. Come in. Joe Danburry.“
    “Nice to meet you,”
Knox smiled, trying to keep himself from looking toward the staircase.
    “You’re the spitting
image of your father. How is he?” Joe asked as he offered Knox a glass of soda.
    “Great,” Knox
nodded.