It is a full moon out as the summer breeze is slightly chilled for the first time. Sitting outside of her bedroom window, Sally writes in her journal about the dull day's passing by. One thing she always admires about her house is that right where her window meets the roof, it is flat so she can come out on the roof just to write or look up at the stars.
Suddenly, she realizes that she must leave soon. She goes back through her window and checks the time. It's almost 9:30. Quickly, she puts the book in her green bag, along with a few other items then turns out her bedroom light.
Slowly and silently, she steps back onto the roof and closes the window leaving a small crack for when she returns. Sally walks carefully over to a great oak tree sticking its strong tree branches out far enough for her to get down fairly easily. Dashing for her bike, Sally flicks on her flashlight and begins to pedal up the road, heading for Bowne Chapel.
The Bowne Chapel was once a very popular and prosperous Baptist chapel during the mid 1800s. However, when the Civil War occurred, the chapel was burned. But, it wasn't completely destroyed. The roof did turn to ashes, but most of the walls remained. All of the townspeople never dare to go to this deserted place; they are very superstitious of it, and have always believed ghosts haunted the chapel. Sally knows that this is the perfect place to conduct the Society's meetings; no one will ever bother them.
"There it is, the Bowne Chapel!" Tacey mutters panicky as she, Adrienne, and Lydia walk through the oak trees up to the white and charcoal ruins.
Suddenly, Tacey begins to turn around, saying, "I think I'll go home!"
But her two friends grab her and Adrienne tells her, "Come on! Don't be so hesitant! We'll have loads of fun! Sally will make sure of that!"
Finally, Lydia speaks up, "This Sally girl, I've never gotten to know her well. Is she nice?"
Both Adrienne and Tacey look at her almost in shock, "Are you kidding? Sally's coolest, nicest, most interesting girl I've ever known in this town!"
But Lydia still wonders, "Then why is she so quiet in school? Every time I pass her, it's like she tries to stay invisible. She looks miserable!"
Adrienne and Tacey exchange looks, and then Tacey begins to say, "Well, she's had sort of a rough year. At school there's-"
Before she could finish, Adrienne covers her mouth and finishes for her, "Nothing really important! She doesn't like the school atmosphere; but now that its summer and we're all getting together, I'm sure you two will have some quality time to get to know each other!"
"What am I hearing about 'quality time'?" Jamie cries out from behind Tacey, scaring the girl half to death.
Jamie and Kirsten come up to the others carrying bags. Curiously, Adrienne asks them, "What are those for?"
"Oh, you'll see!" Kirsten replies, running past them up to the chapel. Jamie runs after her, and the three girls curiously follow them quickly, hearing a wolf howl in the distance.
As they enter the burnt, roofless chapel, a bonfire is roaring and Sally Perkins smiles as the last three enter, "Welcome ladies! Please, take a seat around the fire!"
The girls all find long logs circling the fire. Tacey notices a strange dark haired girl sitting down next to Sally. She has never seen her before. Once everyone gets comfortable, Sally stands up and projects her voice, "This, my fellow companions, is the first meeting for the Dead Poet's Society. I am going to explain to you what this club is all about, and if you are still interested, I will make you official members."
Sally tells them the story about Welton Academy back in 1959 and its first members. After she does this, she waits to see if anyone has anything to say.
Kylar raises her hand, "So, this Society, we get together and read poetry, write poetry, and just encourage each other to be the best at our talents and live life to the fullest?"
Nodding, Sally answers simply, "Yeah."
"Okay. I can live with that." Kylar replies.
Before anyone else speaks, Sally says aloud, "Now, it is time ladies. If you wish to join this Society and stay true to all of its rules and regulations, then take a bag when Kirsten comes around. If not, then you must leave, and speak of this to no one!"
No one moves and the forest stays quiet. Silently, Kirsten goes around to every person with black plastic bags. She starts with Kylar, who takes one. Then goes to Tacey, who also takes one. As do Adrienne, Lydia, Jamie and Sally. Finally, Kirsten keeps one for herself and sits back down next to Jamie.
Sally slowly stands up, and says to them all "Open your bags."
They do, and inside, are three items: a small colored journal (each girl has a different color), a black cape, and a happy meal. The last items causes excitement and the girls begin to eat happily.
Continuing to speak, Sally tells them, "You must bring all of these to every meeting, except for the McDonald's. The cape keeps us hidden out here, and equal. Kirsten, Jamie and I were obliged to bring you these things tonight. But each meeting we have, someone different brings the food! Any questions?"
Quietly, Tacey asks, "Yes, what are the rules for the club?"
Completely forgetting, Sally points at Tacey in thanks and begins to speak again, "That's a great question Tace. I'll go down the list, which I've changed a little. Rule one: There is no leader of the Dead Poet's Society, anyone can speak freely here and express their opinions and ideas for this Society. Rule two: each of us must come with one poem each week, no exceptions. This isn't school though, I promise you. Rule three: no boys! I cannot stress this enough, they cause problems enough as it is! Rule four: always stick out for each other. I know that many of us don't have much to lean on, so we must lean on each other. Finally, the last rule, Rule five: no one can talk about the Dead Poet's Society outside of this chapel. We are the only ones who can know about it. This means no parents, no other friends, no neighbors, and no boyfriends."
Sally grins at Jamie, who laughs out loud and gives her an innocent smile, "I won't tell anyone, I promise!"
Lydia, however, is more concerned with this secret then the others.
After the girls socialize and eat their happy meals for a while, the bonfire begins to die. As this happens, Sally stands up again and hushes the swarm of chattering girls.
"It is now time to close this meeting. We will be meeting here every Saturday night. I know its Sunday, but this meeting was necessary. And remember, bring your form of writing, whatever it may be."
"Do songs count as poetry?" Kylar spoke up eagerly.
Sally reassures her, "Yes you can. I encourage different things. And hey, maybe Tacey will bring faithful Christine along next time!" Tacey begins to slouch shyly, but the girls comfort her cheerfully.
Then, as the girls get ready to leave, Sally stops them, "Wait! I have one last thing! I have a poem that I'd like to share with you all, just to get the inspiration flowing! It's called, When I Heard The Learn'd Astronomer, by Walt Whitman:
When I heard the learn'd astronomer;
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;
When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and
measure them;
When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much
applause in the lecture-room,
How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;
Till rising and gliding out, I wander'd off by myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars."
Everyone sat silently as Sally closes the giant book she holds. Then, she says softly, "Remember, you can always learn about people and places and instruments; but nothing is greater than going out into the world and living those experiences first hand. Carpe Diem! You are free to leave!"
The fire is completely dead as the seven girls go out their separate ways from the chapel. Each carries their bags along with them, each having a certain colored journal inside. Even though they had chosen their journals at random this night, the color they had ended up with defined them completely.