it was undeniable that john keating was an interesting man.
his teaching styles were very out of the ordinary, but they were certainly effective.
on a sunny day in winter, john led his class to the soccer field.
neil perry and knox overstreet were missing from the class, leaving scarlett and parker to entertain each other (rory and cameron being on the receiving end of their jokes.)
everyone was dressed in gym clothes, the school's name and colors printed on the clothes. john walked across the field with a net of soccer balls in a net slung over his shoulder, kicking a stray ball in front of him, his briefcase in his other hand.
"now, devotees may argue that one sport or game is inherently better than another. for me, sport is actually a chance for us to have other human beings push us to excel."
him and the students crowd around metal stands. a record player that john borrowed from scarlett for the day sat on the cold bleachers. john dropped the net of balls to the ground and sets his briefcase next to the record player.
"i want you all to come over here and take a slip of paper and line up single file." as the students line up, john pulls a notepad out of his briefcase. he then begins to rip off slips of paper and hands them out.
"mr. meeks, time to inherit the earth." john said as he handed a slip of paper to meeks. "mr. pitts, rise above your name." john hands the notepad to rory, who stood next to charlie. "i want you to hand these out, rory, one apiece."
rory nodded with a smile as she handed out slips of paper to her classmates.
✰
the students were all lined up in single file, each holding a slip of paper, various soccer balls littered the ground in front of them. john blows his whistle that hung from his neck.
at the front of the line was pitts, who clutched his slip of paper tightly in his hand.
"you know what to do, pitts!" john shouted.
pitts nodded as he began to recite what was written on the slip of paper: "'oh to struggle against great odds. to meet enemies undaunted." his voice sounded unsure.
"sounds to me like you're daunted. say it again like you're undaunted!"
"'oh to struggle against great odds. to meet enemies undaunted." pitts said once more, his voice louder than before.
john nodded. "now go on!"
pitts gives one of the soccer balls a good kick.
"yes! next."
one of the students sets up the next ball as the line advances.
parker cleared her throat as she began to read: "'to be a sailor of the world, bound for all ports!" she kicks the ball and goes to the end of the line.
john issues for the next person, smiling when he sees its his daughter.
"come on, scarlett!"
"oh, i live to be the rule of life, not a slave!" she shouted as she kicks the ball.
"well done!" john shouted as he makes his way to the record player.
"'to mount the scaffolds. to advance to the muzzle of guns with perfect nonchalance." another student shouts as classical music begins to play. meeks goes to read next, visible confusion written on his face.
"come on, meeks! listen to the music."
meeks nodded. "'to dance, clap, hands, exalt, shout, skip, roll on, float on.'"
another boy steps up in line. hopkins began to read from his slip of paper, his voice dull.
"'oh, to have life henceforth the poem of new joys.'" he crumples up his paper and then barely taps the soccer with his foot.
john paints on a look of disgust on his face. "oh! boo!" charlie steps up in line. "come on, charlie, let it fill your soul!"
charlie raises his hands over his head, the action making a giggle escape rory's lips.
"'to indeed be a god!'"
✰
later that day, todd and scarlett sat in todd and neil's dorm room. the two were now designated study buddies, both of them enjoying the others company.
"todd, could you help me with this trig problem? i don't understand it at--" scarlett began but was interrupted with shouts coming from the hallway. todd and scarlett get up from his bed and make their way out into the hallway.
neil perry raced down the hallway, his face shined with excitement.
"charlie, scarlett, i got the part! i'm gonna play puck!" neil shouted. "i'm gonna play puck!" he pounded on charlie's door as he passed by.
scarlett grins as she pulls neil into a hug and gives him a quick kiss. "i knew you'd get it!"
"what did he say?" meeks asked.
"puck?" said pitts.
"that's the main part." neil grinned.
"great, neil." knox said with a smile.
"that's amazing, neil!" parker reached out to hug her friend.
charlie comes out of rory's room, his arm around the girl's shoulders. "congratulations. good for you, neil."
rory smiled. "you're going to do great."
neil goes into his room with scarlett and todd on his tail. he sits down at his typewriter.
with a grin on his face, neil mutters "okay, okay, okay." under his breath.
scarlett sat on neil's bed with todd right beside her.
"neil, how are you going to do this?" todd asked.
"they need a letter of permission from my father and mr. nolan."
"you're not gonna write it."
"oh yes, i am." neil protested as he begins to type.
"neil, you're crazy." todd said. scarlett slowly nodded.
"todd's right, neil. maybe calm down a little bit. let things sink in." scarlett suggested. neil ignored her.
"okay. 'i am writing to you on behalf of my son, neil perry.'" neil laughed as he stomped his feet up and down. "this is great."
scarlett got up from the bed and hugged neil from behind. "i am going to go finish homework in my room. talk later?" neil nodded as she placed a soft kiss on his head. she bid farewell to todd as she gathered her things and left the room.
scarlett couldn't help but feel nervous for her boyfriend.
she was happy that he got the part, but she was scared about what his father might do. from the stories she heard and how neil talked about him, mr. perry didn't seem like the nicest man. she couldn't help but think that neil could be making a giant mistake, but acting was his dream. as much as she was concerned, scarlett had to support neil. she was in love with that boy and wanted him to be happy. regardless of what happens.
author's note:
hi! it's been a hot minute. i apologize but from now on, updates will be on the slow side. i am just going to update when i feel inspired (i am sorry!)
anyways, i turned 17 a few days ago and had a good time (even if it was in quarantine)
here is a gif of robert sean leonard for your troubles.
feel free to vote or comment :)