Free Dead Poets Society by N.H. Kleinbaum Page A

pledge class of the Dead Poets Society.”
    “It’s such a strange name!” Gloria laughed. “Won’t you tell us what it means?”
    “I told you, it’s a secret,” Charlie said.
    “Isn’t he precious?” Gloria oozed as she hugged Charlie affectionately. The boys looked flabbergasted at these wild, exotic creatures who had entered their cave. They were obviously older, probably around twenty or so, and the boys all wondered the same thing—where had Charlie picked them up?
    “Guys,” Charlie said, pulling Gloria close to him as the other boys’ eyes opened even wider, “I have an announcement. In keeping with the spirit of passionate experimentation of the Dead Poets, I’m giving up the name Charles Dalton. From now on, call me ‘Nuwanda.’”
    The girls giggled; the boys groaned. “You mean I can’t call you Charlie anymore, honey?” Gloria asked, putting her arms around his neck. “What’s ‘Numama’ mean, sugar?”
    “It’s Nuwanda, and I made it up,” Charlie said.
    “I’m cold,” Gloria said as she squeezed closer to Charlie.
    “Let’s get some more twigs for the fire,” Meeks said.
    Charlie shot Meeks a look as he and the other boys left the cave. Charlie walked to one wall, scraped off some mud and wiped it on his face like an Indian brave. He gave Gloria a sexy stare and followed the boys off into the forest to gather some firewood. Tina and Gloria whispered and giggled.
    As the society pledges were tramping through the woods, Knox Overstreet bicycled off campus to the Danburry residence. He parked his bike in the bushes on the side of the house, took off his overcoat, and stuffed it in his saddlebag. He straightened his tie, leapt up the steps to the front door, and knocked. Loud music blared from the house, but no one answered the door. He knocked again, then turned the knob and walked in.
    Knox found a wild fraternity party in progress. He saw one couple making out on the entrance hall couch. Other couples were on chairs, couches, stairs, or on the floor, oblivious to anyone else around them. Knox stood in the entrance hall, unsure what to do. Just then he spotted Chris, walking out of the kitchen, her hair an uncombed mess.
    “Chris!” he called.
    “Oh, hi,” she said casually. “I’m glad you made it. Did you bring anybody?”
    “No,” Knox said.
    “Ginny Danburry’s here. Look for her,” Chris said as she started to walk away.
    “But, Chris …” Knox shouted over the blasting music.
    “I gotta find Chet,” she called back. “Make yourself at home.”
    Knox’s shoulders slumped as Chris walked briskly away. He climbed over couples sprawled on the floor and dejectedly looked around for Ginny Danburry. Some party, he thought.
    Out near the cave at Welton the boys stumbled in darkness, feeling the ground for twigs and logs.
    “Charlie …” Neil hissed.
    “It’s Nuwanda.”
    “Nuwanda,” Neil said patiently. “What’s going on?”
    “Nothing, unless you object to having girls here,” Charlie said.
    “Well, of course not,” Pitts said, bumping into Neil. “Sorry. It’s just that … you should have warned us.”
    “I thought I’d be spontaneous,” Charlie whispered. “I mean, that’s the point of this whole thing, isn’t it?”
    “Where’d you find them?” Neil asked.
    “They were walking along the fence past the soccer field. Said they were curious about the school so I invited them to the meeting,” he said matter-of-factly.
    “Do they go to Henley Hall?” Cameron asked.
    “I don’t think they’re in school,” Charlie said.
    “They’re townies?!” Cameron nearly choked.
    “Sshh, Cameron, what’s the matter with you?” Charlie said. “You act like they’re your mother or something. You afraid of them?”
    “Hell, no. I’m not afraid of them! It’s just, if we get caught with them, we’re dead.”
    “Say, boys, what’s going on out there?” Gloria called from the cave.
    “Just gathering wood,” Charlie called back.