Dead Poets Society

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. “Just did a big case for GM.”
    “Ah. I know where you’re headed—like