The following weeks at Wellton Academy were even more dismal than the precedent. Whatever hope had been left to the remaining members of the Society had disappeared when Mr. Keating had decided to brave and had lost his life because of it.
Hell-ton had not yet found a replacement teacher for their senior english class, and didn't seem to be looking. All of the administration seemed prefectly fine with having the Dean teach the class. But outside influences, especially one Ms. Monique Keating, felt differently. And one cold Sunday morning, about two weeks after the funeral for Mr. Keting, which none of the boys had been permitted to attend, Monique decided to let Hell-ton Academy know exactly how she felt.
She pulled the heavy oak doors open and strolled confidently down the center isle, feeling the stares of hundreds of young men on her as she bodly interrupted their morning services. Charlie Datlon, standing in the wings, waiting to read that mornings scripture, caught the eyes of Todd Anderson and Todd smiled. Three rows away, Meeks and Pitts nodded and smiled as well. Charlie scanned the rest of the curious faces and found that the only one not smiling was Knox. But then again, Knox had Chris.
Monique was used to creating quite a stir wherever she went. She had been beautiful since a young age but took much more pride in her wit and her intelligence. Because of this pride in knowledge, she had always ignored her outer beauty, something that her mother considered to be a ghastly mistake. Monique was only 31, but seemed so much younger due to her rosy, clear comlexion, healthy auburn hair that fell in waves to half way down her back, and her sparkling green eyes that could switch from jovial to passionate in split seconds. Monique was the daughter of a born and bred New Yorker, a woman who had grown up drinking latees and spending all of her fathers money on fashion trends. Moniques father was an English literature professor who taught at the New York University offices in Paris. Monique had spent her years split almost equally between New york and Paris and had come to love both as home. Monique only had one brother, who had left home as soon as he graduated college and gotten the first job that was offered to him- a teaching job at his old school. When John had come home and told everyeone that he would be working at Wellton Prepatory Academy, the whole family was overjoyed- until John's letters home became more and more troubled as he spoke of the situations with his students. He had loved his students, but so much had happened not only to them but the John as well. When Wellton Academy had fired him and he died shortly after, Monique made it her personal resolution to continue her brothers goal to make sure that the boys of Hell-ton could think for themselves. And thats why, sitting in the front pew of the schools chapel, Moniques fixed her eyes concretely on the dean and did not move until the service was over.
"Did you see her? She's gorgeous!"
"Whats she doing here?"
"I don't know, but who cares! Shes a goddess."
"Chill Nuwanda. She's an adult."
"Knox, thats not just and adult. Thats a WOMAN."
"'Yeah yeah yeah. Well, what would a woman like that want with a BOY like you?"
"Ha ha ha. What a funny guy. you should really write your material down, fuck face."
Todd blocked out the voices of the other guys as he focused his gaze on the woman who had invaded Wellton Academy with such bravado. He had never seen a woman who looked like she did before. Monique was the most beautiful girl Todd had ever seen. The way she carried herself, the way she laughed lightly at everything Dean Bolander said, the way that her hair fell lightly over her right shoulder and rested gingerly on her breast. Todd was enamored. But he also knew that she would never notice him. Todd was not the kind of guy who got noticed by woman of any kind- even his mother barely acknowledged his presence. Which is why Todd started with surprise to see his goddess turn and walk down the isle straight to where Todd stood with all of the other boys. Her eyes met and held his with a gaze he would come to realize that Monique was walking for the reason of reaching her destination, and for that reason only. Todd turned back to the other boys and tried to pick up on the conversation but was utterly lost. Suddenly, he felt Moniques presence behind him and then the light weight of her hand on his shoulder. she leaned in to the group of boys and began whispering.
"This must be the newest class of the Dead Poets Society. Lets see...Charlie, excuse me, Nuwanda, Meeks, Pitts, Knox and...Todd," she pointed to each of the boys in turn and each ones eyes widened with surprise at her knowledge, "my brother described you almost perfectly. I know you must miss him terribly. I know how you feel. But never fear, boys. I may not be the Captain but the days of Carpe Diem at Hell-ton aren't quite over yet. I'll see you in class."
With that she nodded and smiled slyly before turning and walking up the isle quickly. Each of the boys looked around the circle and Charlie was the first one to speak.
"THAT was Keatings sister? Man, Keating was holding out on us."
"What do you think she meant that the days of Carpe Diem weren't quite over? You don't think she's gonna be a hellraiser like Keating was, do you?"
"I don't know Knoxious. I really don't. But I'll tell you one thing- if shes not, shes not gonna be nearly as much fun."
The boys all laughed and turned, heading up the isle, hoping to get to the dining hall for breakfast before the rest of the mob scene. Todd tried to pay attention to his breakfast but found himself day dreaming again. He found himself fantasizing about what kind of joys English class would hold now, what new adventures this woman would bring with her, and how he was supposed to get through it all without Neil.