Dead Poets Society Ficlet
AN: Non-slash intended, but could be interpreted as such. This takes place at a random time in the movie and it was inspired by the observation that the Dead Poets Society treated each other like family…….well, except for Cameron……..
Late one Monday night, although the dorm room was silent, both inhabitants of the room lay awake in bed staring at the ceiling; just thinking about life, futures, the Chemistry test the next day, their history essay and other such serious things.
Neil broke the silence suddenly by asking softly, "Todd, are you awake?"
There was a soft mumble as a reply.
"Todd," started Neil hesitantly, "What is your dream? The thing you want most in your life?"
Neil was answered with a tense silence. He could make out the form of Todd staring at the ceiling. There was tension not in the room and it was apparent that Todd preferred to remain silence.
"Ok, I'll go first" Neil said gently. "What I want most is to act – but you already know that of course. I just want to get an award one day – a Tony or an Oscar or something. When I accept the award, I have to make a speech right? My dream is to be able to say 'I want to thank my parents, especially my father, who wanted me to become a doctor, but even though I disappointed him by pursuing acting, he has offered me ongoing support'" Neil trailed off, his dream suspended in the air.
Neil then lightened the mood by saying, "I will also thank the Academy of course" he said with a small chuckle, "and I will mention Mr Keating, the Dead Poets Society and you in particular for listening to my dream and not making fun of me".
There was silence again in the room. This silence is quite a common occurrence is it not?
"My dream" started Todd quietly, "is to be part of a family. It doesn't have to be a blood family" then he whispered "just a family".
Neil turned over to face Todd who was across the room, who happened to have his eyes on the ceiling.
"What about your parents and your brother?" he asked suddenly.
Todd gave a small snort.
"My parents don't see me. They don't know me, I am just my brother's shadow to them" he replied bitterness woven into his sad voice. "Geoffrey only sees me as competition. They don't love me. I want to be part of a family that know each other so well they could finish everyone's sentences. Everyone knows each other so well that they know each other's idiosyncrasies, habits, and everything" Todd lost the little steam he had started off with.
A new experience, opening his heart to someone, but something in the vibes coming from Neil had convinced him to open up. As he emptied his heart, he immediately felt ashamed. With fear rising up in his throat, he panicked as he realized he might not be just 'Anonymous Anderson' anymore to Neil. However, another part of his brain battled 'Anonymous Anderson'. "You want to be remembered Todd" it screamed.
Suddenly, Neil spoke up again; "We'll be your family Todd" he said simply, then closed "Good night"