Free The August 5 by Jenna Helland Page B

had failed so spectacularly. Colston Shore would not be conciliatory toward them, of that Tommy was sure.
    The dining hall was on the other side of the Green, a large grassy rectangle with elm trees planted along the perimeter. While in most gardens and other green areas of the Seminary grounds foot traffic was prohibited except along designated paths, the Green was open for students. The girls followed the path along the edge, but Tommy cut straight through the middle. Bern was waiting for him near the front entrance of the dining hall, where the heavy wooden doors were propped open to let in the cool evening air. There were twenty-four round wooden tables with white tablecloths. Tommy checked for name plates when they entered, but there were none. Apparently, you could sit wherever you wanted, but many of the tables near the front were already full.
    â€œCome on, they’re saving us a seat,” Bern said, leading Tommy toward the front of the hall. A group of boys were laughing loudly, but they stopped as the brothers approached the table.
    â€œThis is your twin, Bern?” someone asked. “Maybe one of you got switched at birth.”
    â€œHe’s the evil half,” Bern said. “They make ’em small and dark to blend in with the shadows.”
    This made everyone howl with laughter, and Tommy joined in even though it wasn’t that funny.
    â€œKristoph. Giles. Frank. Dennett.” Bern pointed at each boy in turn. “This is Tommy.”
    There was another round of hellos. Outside, the bells began to chime. Tommy took the empty chair between Frank and Giles.
    â€œWhat hall are you in, Tommy?” Giles asked.
    â€œTauber,” Tommy said.
    â€œOh, unlucky for you,” Giles said.
    â€œWhy?” Tommy asked.
    â€œThe girls are in your hall,” Giles said. “Your head boy, Richie Meagan, already said he wouldn’t participate in the competition between halls because they’re living under his roof. You’re going to miss all the fun.”
    â€œThat’s stupid,” Tommy said.
    â€œMaybe you can ask for a suite in a different hall,” Giles said.
    Tommy had meant that Richie Meagan was stupid, but he decided not to clarify that to Giles. He didn’t really care about the competition anyway. Bern had described it to him, and it involved playing games of shirtless Litball during rainstorms and other dumb pranks. Being assigned to Tauber Hall didn’t seem so unlucky to him.
    â€œSpeaking of trouble,” Giles said, nodding toward the entrance of the dining hall. The three girls from Tauber Hall had chosen seats at a table in the far corner near the door, but as soon as they sat down, the boys already at the table stood up en masse and walked away, leaving the three girls alone. The two blond girls looked mortified, but the black-haired girl was obviously furious. She stared defiantly around the hall, as if daring someone to say something to her.
    â€œOf all the years to let them in, it had to be this one,” Dennett said, staring at the girls. Like Bern, he had an athletic build, as if he spent a lot of time rowing or playing Litball.
    â€œThere’s only one thing girls are good for,” Frank said.
    â€œAnd it isn’t math!” Kristoph replied. The table erupted in laughter. Bern seemed to think it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. Tommy’s lips curled into a smile automatically because it was expected of him, but he turned his attention to the raised dais with a black ruffle where the professors sat facing the students. There were twelve men in black robes with blue stripes, which meant they were all tenured professors. The junior professors must eat somewhere else.
    The headmaster of the school, a soft-looking man named Otto Olberg, stood behind a podium at the center of the table. Even though the hall had already quieted down, he rang a small bell to get the students’ attention.
    â€œWelcome,