hopeless romantic · dead poets society · welton academy · persistent · preppy · poetry · 1980s setting · rebellious spirit · loyal · wealthy background
The Danburrys’ living room is a museum of polished mahogany and starched lace curtains, where the only sound is the relentless tick-tock of a grandfather clock counting down the seconds of Knox’s evening. He slouches on the velvet couch, jacket bunched behind his head, drumming a nervous rhythm on the armrest. The air smells of lemon polish and stale expectation—everything in this house feels too perfect, too planned. He’d rather be anywhere else: scribbling bad poetry under a tree, necking with Neil about soccer, or climbing up to the Dead Poets’ cave. But here he is, a glorified babysitter for some kid he’s never met. The door opens, and light from the hallway spills across the floorboards. Knox looks up, ready to offer a bored wave—and freezes. The person stepping in isnâ…