Behind The Sea- DEAD POETS SOCIETY STORY

Chapter Seven

It was nine thirty at night. All the boys and girls in Welton had been ushered to bed. Most of them were probably already asleep. Some were probably dreaming of life beyond this realm. But none were getting ready to sneak out... none besides the new members of the Dead Poets Society.

Desmond was waiting in Neil and Todd's room. She had stuffed her bed to make it look like she was sleeping just in case faculty were to open her dorm room door and check if she was really asleep. Her and Todd were picking a poem to read at the meeting. Todd wasn't going to speak but Desmond might've wanted to. She couldn't make up her mind. She couldn't find a good enough poem to read in that moment or within the hours leading up to the meeting.

Neil looked at the book that held the opening poems that started each meeting. As he shut its pages and put on his shoes, he turned to Desmond and Todd. "Ready?" She asked him, not even trying to hide her pure excitement. Neil nodded and put on his coat. "It's go time."

The three opened their doors and saw everyone else looking at them. Charlie left his dorm room first. Cameron followed him. Meeks was the third one to rush behind them. Todd just followed Neil. Desmond waited for Pitts who grabbed her hand and ran out the exit doors of Welton.

Everyone tripped over branches, hopped over puddles, and whispered as they got further from Welton and closer to the cave.

Eventually, everyone made it. Not without some cuts and bruises though. Pitts banged his head on the entrance of the cave. Desmond couldn't help but want to laugh. Once she saw he was upset and it actually hurt, she managed to bury and kill the chuckle before Pitts acknowledge it. Her and him sat on a rock. He was a bit below her because she sat on a rock that was higher up in height. As soon as they sat, she examined his head. Neil conducted the meeting as she made sure the bump wasn't a sign of a concussion. Much to her shock, it wasn't.

"You're all good." She whispered.

"I'll now read the traditional opening message of society member Henry David Thoreau..." Neil began. But Desmond and Pitts weren't paying attention to Neil. They had eyes on each other. Their eyes adventured across each others faces and most of all, kept their attention on each others lips. Desmond bit hers. "I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately..." Neil's voice said once again. Desmond and Pitts couldn't hold it in anymore. Was this the right moment? Probably not. Was it the perfect moment? Most definitely not. But Desmond looked beautiful under the dim lighting and shadows of the poets cave. Pitts couldn't help but feel his heart grow bigger for her. She leaned towards him. He leaned towards her. Their lips collided. His hands went to hold hers but her one hand roamed free and cupped his right cheek. The kiss was no longer than three seconds but it was three seconds of magic. No one had noticed they kissed. All had their attention on Neil. That's when Pitts and Desmond concluded they probably should have their attention on him too. They blushed madly and smiled at each other before turning to Neil who had just finished the poem.

Poems and voices of opinion soothed and coddled the cave that evening. Ghost stories were told, ones some of the boys had heard before. Desmond didn't hear most of them. She was never around ghost stories as a kid. Her parents didn't like her around that kind of stuff. They much preferred she read and surrounded herself with fairytales and myths of adventure.

Pitts read a story or two from the bible sized book Neil had read from moments before. Desmond loved to watch him nose dive into the tales and poems he read about. It gave his eyes life, beauty that was indescribable.

The meeting had began to wind down and the group was going to make their way back to school. Desmond had one question before they left the cave though.

It was just after Thanksgiving, a few weeks out. This solely meant Hanukkah was arriving soon. This was her least favorite time of the year. It was eight days she was forced to spend with her mother and her scared father. Any moment Desmond's mother could pick on her and they could start an argument. Any moment Desmond's mother could burst out and tears and cry about how bad of a mother and person she is, and Desmond would have to bite her tongue, and tell her she want a bad mother... she had to lie to her crying face. But her father said that she should invite a few friends for the holiday. They could spend the night, learn some of their holiday traditions, and save Desmond's mother from acting out! I don't think that Mr. Skies meant inviting seven boys back home but, he trusted Desmond enough to know that there would be no funny business with them. Desmond knew her father wanted her to invite them to fill the empty place setting of her brother. It was their second Hanukkah without him. It was harder on Mr. Skies than anyone else in the family. Every time Mrs. Skies saw the empty place setting, she beam in pride. Her boy was off fighting for the country, her boy was off being a hero, and it was all because of her advice. Every time Desmond saw the empty place setting, she couldn't help but seize in anger. You bitch, she would think as she looked at her mother's smile. You ruined his life. You signed his death warrant. You killed your own son, my fucking big brother. Mr. Skies would just get sad. His little boy, his star athlete, his famous football player, was in a place he was never meant to be. But all of the Dead Poets had some quality of Thomas... he needed the Dead Poets to be at his dinner table all eight nights of Hanukkah. He couldn't wait to meet all of them and shake Neil's hand in person.

"Hey, guys?" Desmond asked kindly, nervousness breaking her voice.
"What's up?" Charlie asked as he ate a half bread roll.
"In three days, the first night of Hanukkah is going to arrive. I was just wondering... if, maybe, you'd all want to come to my home and spend the holiday with my family? My parents have already gotten in contact with the school and your parents. Your excused of all your work and your parents are fine with you coming to my home... no worries there." They all looked at her. Smirks grew on their face. Todd sat up first.
"I'd be honored, Desmond. I- I know nothing about the holiday but I'd love to meet your family." He said. Those were the only words he had spoken the entire night. Desmond jumped and hugged him, thanking him right after.
"If Todd is going, we're all going!" Charlie concluded. Everyone cheered and Desmond blushed, thanking them all.
"Okay okay okay, here's the final poem of the evening." Meeks said standing up.

He began speaking the words in the page in the book. As he spoke, his words made a rhythm. A song of some sort. Charlie started banging a drum. Then they all joined in, speaking the lines within the poem, turning it to a song. Well, all besides Desmond. Although the boys turned this portion of the poem into a groovy rap, the entire poem had the most gruesome undertone. She followed them, but barely participating. The boys let the song carry them out of the cave, and walk them back to their dorm rooms in Welton.

The next morning, she called all the boys to her room before breakfast. She was doing Todd's makeup as she explained to them the game plan for their little vacation.
"Although it's Hanukkah, you guys do not have to get gifts. We're not doing an exchange thing so don't get all stuck and worried on what to get each other, okay?" That was really Desmond's only qualm that she wanted to express to them. She also told them the time they'd be leaving the day school that day, what time they'd arrive back home, and what they should pack. It wasn't anything major and anything they didn't already assume because of the common knowledge they had. All the felt was excitement. Excited to get away from school, meet Desmond's father, and spend a very important holiday together.

All the boys left for breakfast one by one. Desmond and Todd were the only ones who were sort of late.

On their walk to the cafeteria, she realized she was still accidentally holding the clear mascara in her skirt pocket. She pulled it out and chuckled. She then handed it to Todd.
"Keep it." She said glumly. His eyes opened wide and his face shifted to a soft happy smile.
"Really?" He asked so kindly and so genuinely.
"Yes, really." Desmond laughed, pushing his shoulder. He put it in his pocket now, and kept that smile on his face all day.