Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Dead Poets Society... I am just inspired by it.
A/N: Frappe is a semi-regional term for a milkshake (also known as a malted).
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The following weekend, I get ready to go into town with Knox to meet Chris at the diner again. He said she'd gotten a packet of letters for us. Todd watches wistfully as he gets ready to go do his work detail... another part of his semester-long punishment for standing up for the Captain.
"I still can't believe Nolan isn't letting you off," Knox grumbles. "What good does he think he's doing?"
Todd shrugs. "Rule of law and all that," he says. "He said I was campused for the semester, he's not going to change his mind now. It might make him look bad, you know. At least he's letting me off the work detail a lot earlier than he was back in January and February."
I nod. "Thank goodness for small favors, then, right? What do you want for lunch and dinner today, then?" I stow the empty Coke bottles in my newly-rigged side baskets to return for my deposit.
"Cheeseburgers and onion rings," Todd replies promptly. "And reubens for later on. They'll keep better for dinner."
"More Cokes?" I ask.
"Yes, please. Unless... I don't suppose you could get a frappe back here somehow?" Todd looks hopeful.
I look at the baskets thoughtfully. It might work, if I'm careful. "I can try. But I'll get the Cokes anyway, in case I can't. What flavor, assuming I can do it?"
Todd grins. "Chocolate, please."
I grin and salute. "Aye, aye, sir!"
Todd laughs, waving as he heads off to Nolan's office to report in. Knox and I head into town. Since we're early for meeting Chris, he comes into the general store with me. I return the empties and buy four more Cokes, several Hershey bars, and a pound of ice.
"What's that for?" Knox asks curiously.
"It'll keep the Cokes cold until I get back," I say. "Plus, it'll give me something to help wedge the frappes into place in the basket, so hopefully they won't spill."
Knox nods. "Good thinking, Cameron. I was wondering how you planned on getting those back to the dorm."
I load my purchases into the baskets, then we walk our bikes over to the diner. Going inside, we sit at the counter, ordering iced teas today rather than coffee. Typically for Vermont, the weather had made a rather abrupt transition from early spring chill to hinting at summer heat since our last pass day. I also place my to-go order of four cheeseburgers, four reubens, two onion rings, and two chocolate frappes. The waitress behind the counter warns me that my order is going to take a while, being so big. I nod and take a sip of my iced tea. Knox is staring at the door.
"You don't think anything's delaying her, do you?" he asks nervously.
I try not to laugh. "We're early. She's got ten minutes yet, maybe more. Don't worry until my food is ready, at the very least."
Knox grins sheepishly just as Chris walks in carrying a large manila envelope. "Mr. Keating apparently decided it would cost him less to mail everything together," she smiles, handing Knox a single letter and giving me the large envelope. "There's letters for you, Todd, Stephen Meeks, and Gerald Pitts in there, Richard. You don't mind delivering them, do you?"
"Of course not, Chris, and thanks once again," I say.
She smiles and gives me a peck on the cheek. "It's my pleasure." She and Knox head out the door, bound for whatever plans they have for the day. A little while later, my order is ready. I take a few minutes settling everything into the baskets... mail and food on one side, drinks, ice, and candy on the other... and set out for Welton once more.
Todd is sweeping up the front walk, apparently after trimming the shrubbery, when I pull in the gates. He gives me a wave and I give him the thumbs-up to let him know that I managed to get the frappe he wanted. A few dribbles have escaped the paper cups, but for the most part they are intact.
"I'll be done in a minute," Todd calls as he sweeps the last of the cuttings into a pile, which he then tosses into a wheelbarrow. "I just need to toss this on the compost heap and put the tools away, then I'm finished for the day. Wait and I'll help you carry everything."
I nod. "Sure thing," I call back
Todd returns a few minutes later and we lug everything... even the ice... up to our room. The ice and the Cokes go into the wastebasket to keep cool for later. After setting the reubens aside, we dig into the onion rings and cheeseburgers. Todd wears an expression of bliss as he slurps at his frappe.
Once we've eaten, I take out the letters and set aside the ones meant for Meeks and Pitts. I hand Todd his and open mine with suddenly shaky fingers.
Dear Richard,
I have to say, you and Todd took me very much by surprise with the revelations in your last letters to me. No, I am not disgusted by the fact that you two are a couple. I would be lying if I said it didn't make me uncomfortable at all, but as far as I am concerned, love is a good thing, even in more... uncommon forms. You're both of an age to start making your own choices in life, so far be it from me to tell you otherwise.
I hope for your sake that your family will react better to finding out than you think they will. You must love Todd very much to be prepared to be rejected by your family for him. But in case they don't, I've enclosed a packet of scholarship information from the University of California in with Todd's letter. You're right in thinking that the San Francisco area is somewhat less hostile to men of your persuasion than most places. It's entirely possible that the two of you could find yourselves a home here.
Speaking of UC, I definitely have the post there. So if you should end up out here for your higher education, you'll end up with the pleasure of having me as a teacher once again. Oh, and now that I have some prospects in my field, I've taken the plunge and asked Jessica to marry me. She'll come out as soon as I'm done for this school year and we'll be married in one of the little mission churches that dot this area. I'm already nervous.
Yours in friendship,
your Captain.