After getting over their surprise, the second years showed Thomas where the history room was. “Just sit wherever.” Said James. “The history teacher is pretty laid back. He won’t mind where you sit.”

Thomas ended up following James and sitting near him. When the teacher finally did come bustling in, he was a short man with a beer belly, and a receding hairline.

The man stood in front of the class and said, “For those of you who don’t know me, I am Harry. Just Harry. I will smack you if you call me ‘sir Harry’ or ‘Mr. Harry’. That being said, welcome to history.

“Today, we will learn about the Ismaniums.” Said Harry. “You all have probably heard this a million times, but what is our main reason for war with them?”

“Miscommunication?” Offered an older kid.

“Precisely. We can’t understand them, and they can’t understand us. They even refuse to let us learn their language or even try to learn ours. Now, one of the first things that we found problem with was when in 16 one of your ancestors tried to make peace. What happened?” He asked a boy in the front row.

“Um… one dude from our side tried to give those Ismo-Isma-Ismi…?” He said stuttering over the word.

“Ismaniums.” Harry offered.

“Yeah, those dudes. He tried to give them a gift, but they saw it as an act of war. They killed the guy, and ever since then we’ve just been warring with them.”

“Exactly Ishmael. Right now, the Ismaniums are fighting to this day with our Eastern troops.”

“Who’s winning?” Asked another boy.

“Neither side. We’re at a standstill. There is too much casualty for either side to give up, but as of right now neither side is in any serious battles; just minor skirmishes all along the Ismania border.”

Thomas had been so engrossed in the discussion, that he barely noticed when the bell rang. “Come on Thomas. We have other classes to get to.” Hanley grabbed his shirt collar and pulled him out the door.

Only when they walked into the next classroom did he recognize the dull ache in his cheek and ribs from his previous fight. James told him that this class was math. Thomas found this class pretty interesting.

All of Thomas’s other classes were interesting, and he paid close attention. After classes were over, it was time for lunch, then it would be time for the physical classes.