Матильда
Mr. Wormwood, the Great Car Dealer
"Iusemybrains.Whenyou’vebeengivenafinebrainlikeIhave,you’vegottouseit.Andallofasudden,theanswerhitsme.Itellyou,Ifeltexactlylikethatotherbrilliantfellowmusthavefeltwhenhediscoveredpenicillin.’Eureka!’Icried.’I’vegotit!"’
"Whatdidyoudo,dad?"thesonaskedhim.
"Thespeedometer",Mr.Wormwoodsaid,"isrunoffacablethatiscoupleduptooneofthefrontwheels.SofirstIdisconnectthecablewhereitjoinsthefrontwheel.Next,Igetoneofthosehigh-speedelectricdrillsandIcouplethatuptotheendofthecableinsuchawaythatwhenthedrillturns,itturnsthecablebackwards.Yougotmesofar?Youfollowingme?"
"Yes,daddy,"youngMichaelsaid.
"Thesedrillsrunatatremendousspeed,"thefathersaid,"sowhenIswitchonthedrillthemileagenumbersonthespeedospinbackwardsatafantasticrate.Icanknockfiftythousandmilesofftheclockinafewminuteswithmyhigh-speedelectricdrill.AndbythetimeI’vefinished,thecar’sonlydonetenthousandandit’sreadyforsale.’She’salmostnew,’Isaytothecustomer.’She’shardlydonetenthou.Belongedtoanoldladywhoonlyuseditonceaweekforshopping.’"
"Canyoureallyturnthemileagebackwithanelectricdrill?"youngMichaelasked.
"I’mtellingyoutradesecrets,"thefathersaid."Sodon’tyougotalkingaboutthistoanyoneelse.Youdon’twantmeputinjug,doyou?"
"Iwon’ttellasoul,"theboysaid.
