Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Dead Poets Society... I am just inspired by it.
The sun is just sinking low enough to start tinting the sky pink and orange when Todd and I get back to the dorms that night, well pleased with our accomplishments of the day. We head inside, just in time to pass Knox escorting Chris out to her bicycle.
They both smile and say hello as we step out of each others' way, and Knox mutters, "Letters came. I tossed yours into your room."
"Thanks," Todd says. Then we both hurry upstairs and into our room so we can start reading. I tear mine open eagerly.
Dear Richard,
It's a girl! Her name is Jill Marie Keating, and she was born on the third of May. Jill and her mother are both healthy and happy. Expect Mr. McAllister to pull you aside at some point to show you the photo I sent him. I'm sure I'll have plenty of others to show you by the time you and Todd arrive out here.
Speaking of which, I'm quite proud of you both, for standing up for yourselves and your dreams, and for pushing to do what you want with your lives instead of following other people's plans for you. I don't believe I ever told you this before, but that's something with which I am quite familiar. My own father wanted me to become an architect, but I preferred English literature to mechanical drawing and the work of building up young minds to the work of building up houses. I was fortunate in my grandfather, who never had the opportunity to graduate high school, but who greatly valued education and educators, and who interceded with my father to allow me to earn my English degree and teaching certificate.
I'm also glad that you two seem to have made it through the year without any problems. Knowing how conservative Welton is, I worried that if you did get caught, you'd end up hurt by your classmates as well as expelled by the administration. It's good to know you're well and preparing for your trip out here. I'm very much looking forward to introducing you to Jessica and Jill. I realize this will be the last letter you'll be getting from me before the end of school, but I'm expecting at least a couple of postcards from you and Todd while you're traveling out here.
Eagerly awaiting your arrival, your Captain,
John Keating
Todd grins at me as we both look up. "Think they'll give the next one a J name too?" he asks.
"Probably," I chuckle. "John, Jessica, Jill, and... what do you think, James, Jason, or John Junior?"
"It could be Jennifer or Janice, you know," Todd points out.
I nod. "True enough. Well, we can always be nosy and ask once we're there. Where do you think he'll enjoy getting postcards from? I thought maybe the Smokey Mountains, somewhere in Kansas, and of course Yellowstone."
Todd considers. "I don't know. We can always decide when we're on the road, after all." He stretches. "I think I'm gonna hit the showers early tonight. My shoulders are still sore from gym class yesterday."
"Go for it," I nod. "I'm a little stiff myself." I smile then, lowering my voice to a near-whisper. "Want a massage when you come back?"
Todd returns my smile with a nod, and vanishes to the showers. I change into my pajama pants while he's gone. From down the hall, I can hear Nuwanda hooting over a package that arrived for him while he was out. I can't make out everything that's being said, but apparently some family member sent him a camera as a graduation gift.
When Todd returns, he stretches out on his bed. I sit across him, straddling his legs as I pour a bit of suntan oil into my hands, then set to working the knots out of his shoulders. He gives a low moan of appreciation, which makes me smile. I give in to the temptation, leaning over to kiss the back of his neck.
Since we both have our eyes closed, we don't notice the door opening just a crack. But a sudden flash and shouts of laughter from the hallway make us freeze and look towards the door.
"How's it work, Dalton?" I hear.
"The picture comes out the side when you advance the film," Nuwanda's voice sounds just outside. "It should start showing up any minute now..." His voice trails off, then he gives a sudden yelp. "What the hell? I can't believe... fucking perverts!" he screams, slamming our door wide open.