Dead Poets Society

the third bus was a bunch of
giggling and singing cheerleaders, including Chris Noel.
    Knox stood at the
fence watching her. He saw her rush up to Chet, who was carrying his football
gear, and kiss him on the lips. Chet pulled her to him, and she giggled, then
ran and climbed into the cheerleaders bus.
    Knox got on his bike
and slowly pedaled back to Welton. Ever since the dinner at the Danburrys, he’d
fantasized about seeing Chris Noel again. But not like this—not in a passionate
embrace with Chet Danburry. Knox wondered, could he really come up with the
words to make Chris swoon over him?
    Later that
afternoon, Todd sat on his bed, one elbow leaning on a pad of paper. He started
to write something, scratched it out, ripped off the page, and threw it in the
trash. He covered his face in frustration just as Neil came flying through the
door.
    Neil dropped his
books on his desk, his face flushed with excitement. “I’ve found it!” he cried.
“Found what?” Todd asked.
    “What I want to do!
Right now. What’s really inside of me.” He handed Todd a piece of paper.
    “A Midsummer
Night’s Dream” Todd read. “What is it?”
    “A play, dummy.”
    “I know that,” Todd
visibly winced. “What’s it got to do with you?”
    “They’re putting it
on at Henley Hall. See: ‘Open Tryouts.’”
    “So?” Todd said.
    So I’m gonna act!”
Neil shouted, jumping onto his bed. “Ever since I can remember I’ve wanted to
try it. Last summer I even tried to go to summer stock auditions, but of course
my father wouldn’t let me.”
    And now he will?”
Todd asked, raising his eyebrow.
    Hell, no, but that’s
not the point. The point is that for the first time in my whole life I know
what I want, and for the first time I’m gonna do it whether my father wants me
to or not! Carpe diem Todd!”
    Neil picked up the
play and read a couple of lines. He beamed, clenching his fist in the air with
joy.
    “Neil, how are you
gonna be in a play if your father won t let you?” Todd pressed.
    “First I gotta get
the part; then I’ll worry about that.”
    “Won’t he kill you
if you don’t let him know you’re auditioning?”
    “As far as I’m
concerned,” Neil said, “he won’t have to know about any of it. ”
    “Come on, you know
that’s impossible,” Todd said.
    “Bull! Nothing’s
impossible,” Neil said with a grin.
    “Why don’t you ask
him first? Maybe he’ll say yes,” Todd suggested.
    That’s a laugh,”
Neil snickered. “If I don’t ask, at least I won’t be disobeying him.”
    But if he said no
before, then...” Todd began.
    “Whose side are you
on, anyway? I haven’t even gotten the part yet. Can’t I even enjoy the idea for
a little while?”
    Sorry, Todd said,
turning back to his work. Neil sat on his bed and started to read the play.
    By the way, there’s
a meeting this afternoon,” Neil said. “You coming?“
    “I guess,” Todd said
as he grimaced.
    Neil put down the
play and looked over at his roommate. “None of what Mr. Keating has to say
means anything to you, does it?” he asked, incredulous.
    “What is that supposed
to mean?” Todd was defensive.
    “Being in the club
means being stirred up by things. You look about as stirred up as a cesspool.”
    “You want me out? Is
that what you’re saying?” Todd said angrily.
    “No,” Neil said
softly. “I want you in. But it means you gotta do something. Not just say you’re in.”
    Todd turned angrily.
“Listen, Neil, I appreciate your interest in me but I’m not like you,” he
insisted. “When you say things, people pay attention. People follow you. I’m
not like that!”
    Why not? Don’t you
think you could be?” Neil pressed.
    “No!” Todd shouted.
“Oh, I don’t know. I’ll probably never know. The point is, there’s nothing you
can do about it, so butt out, all right? I can take care of myself just fine,
all right?”
    “Er, no...” Neil
said.
    “No?” Todd looked
astonished. “What do you mean, ‘no’?”
    Neil shrugged
matter-of-factly and repeated, “No. I’m not going to butt out.”
    Neil opened his play
and began to read again. Todd just sat and stared at him. “Okay,” Todd said,
defeated. “I’ll go.”
    “Good.” Neil smiled
and continued reading the play.

Chapter
8

     
     
    The Dead Poets
Society met in the cave before soccer practice that afternoon. Charlie, Knox,
Meeks, Neil, Cameron, and Pitts walked around the in-ground clubhouse,
exploring its nooks and