Dead Poets Society

meeting must have been fifteen years ago,” Keating recalled. He looked around again to make sure no one was observing, then turned and strode away.
    “I say we go tonight,” Neil said excitedly when Keating was out of sight. “Everybody in?”
    “Where is this cave lie’s talking about?” Pitts asked.
    “Beyond the stream. I think I know where it is,” Neil answered.
    “That’s miles,” Pitts complained.
    “Sounds boring to me,” Cameron said.
    “Don’t come, then,” Charlie shot back.
    “You know how many demerits we re talking about here?” Cameron asked Charlie.
    “So don’t come!” Charlie said. “Please!”
    Cameron relented. “All I’m saying is, we have to be careful. We can’t get caught.”
    “Well, no kidding, Sherlock,” Charlie retorted sarcastically.
    “Who’s in?” Neil asked, silencing the argument.
    “I’m in,” Charlie said first.
    “Me too,” Cameron added.
    Neil looked at Knox, Pitts, and Meeks. Pitts hesitated. “Well...”
    “Oh, come on, Pitts,” Charlie said.
    “His grades are hurting, Charlie,” Meeks said in Pitts’s defense.
    “Then you can help him, Meeks,” Neil suggested.
    “What is this, a midnight study group?” Pitts asked, still unsure.
    “Forget it, Pitts,” Neil said. “You’re coming. Meeks, are your grades hurting, too?” Everyone laughed.
    “All right,” Meeks said. “I’ll try anything once .”
    “Except sex,” Charlie laughed. “Right, Meeks, old boy?” Meeks blushed as the boys laughed and horsed around him.
    “I’m in as long as we’re careful,” Cameron said.
    “Knox?” Charlie continued.
    “I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t get it.“
    “Come on,” Charlie encouraged. “It will help you get Chris.”
    “It will?” Knox looked mystified. “How do you figure that?”
    “Didn’t you hear Keating say women swooned!”
    “But why?” Knox asked, still uncertain.
    The group started to break up, and Knox followed Charlie toward the dorm.
    “Why do they swoon, Charlie? Tell me, why do they swoon?” Knox’s question remained unanswered when off in the distance a bell rang, summoning the boys to dinner.

    After dinner, Neil and Todd went to study hall and sat down at a table together.
    “Listen,” Neil said to his roommate in a hushed voice. “I’m inviting you to the society meeting.” Neil had noticed that no one had asked Todd if he was in. “You can’t expect everybody to think of you all the time. Nobody knows you. And you never talk to anyone!”
    Thanks,” Todd said, “but it’s not a question of that.”
    What is it then?” Neil asked.
    I-—I just don’t want to come,” he stammered.
    But why?” Neil asked. “Don’t you understand what Keating is saying? Don’t you want to do something about it?” Neil quickly turned a page in his book as a study proctor walked by, eyeing the hoys suspiciously.
    “Yes,” Todd whispered, after the proctor was out of earshot. “But...”
    “But what, Todd? Tell me,” Neil begged.
    Todd looked down. “I don’t want to read.“
    “What?” Neil looked at him incredulously. “Keating said everybody took turns reading,” Todd said. “I don’t want to do it.”
    “God, you really have a problem, don’t you?” Neil shook his head. “How can it hurt you to read? I mean, isn’t that what this is all about? Expressing yourself?”
    “Neil, I can’t explain it.” Todd blushed. “I just don’t want to do it.”
    Neil shuffled his papers angrily as he looked at Todd. Then he thought of something. “What if you didn’t have to read?” Neil suggested. “What if you just came and listened?”
    “That’s not the way it works,” Todd pointed out. “If I join, the guys will want me to read.”
    “I know, but what if they said you didn’t have to?”
    “You mean ask them ?” Todd’s face reddened. “Neil, it’s embarrassing.”
    “No, it’s not,” Neil said, jumping up from his seat. “Just wait here.”
    “Neil,” Todd called, as the proctor turned and gave him a disapproving look.
    Neil was off before Todd could stop him. He slumped miserably in his seat, then opened his history book and began to take notes.

Chapter 7

    Neil talked in low tones to Charlie and Knox in the dorm hall as the evening parade of prebedtime activity went on around them. Boys moved about the hallway in pajamas, carrying pillows under one arm and books under the other. Neil threw his towel over his shoulder, patted Knox on the back, and