Матильда

           "Whathappenedwhenyouwereleftallalonewiththeaunt?Wasn’tshenicetoyou?"

           "Nice?"MissHoneysaid."Shewasademon.Assoonasmyfatherwasoutofthewayshebecameaholyterror.Mylifewasanightmare."

           "Whatdidshedotoyou?"Matildaasked.

           "Idon’twanttotalkaboutit,"MissHoneysaid."It’stoohorrible.ButintheendIbecamesofrightenedofherIusedtostartshakingwhenshecameintotheroom.YoumustunderstandIwasneverastrongcharacterlikeyou.Iwasalwaysshyandretiring."

           "Didn’tyouhaveanyotherrelations?"Matildaasked."Anyunclesorauntsorgrannieswhowouldcomeandseeyou?"

           "NonethatIknewabout,"MissHoneysaid."Theywerealleitherdeadorthey’dgonetoAustralia.Andthat’sstillthewayitisnow,I’mafraid."

           "Soyougrewupinthathousealonewithyouraunt,"

           Matildasaid."Butyoumusthavegonetoschool,"

           "Ofcourse,"MissHoneysaid."Iwenttothesameschoolyou’regoingtonow.ButIlivedathome."MissHoneypausedandstareddownintoheremptytea-mug."IthinkwhatIamtryingtoexplaintoyou,"shesaid,"isthatovertheyearsIbecamesocompletelycowedanddominatedbythismonsterofanauntthatwhenshegavemeanorder,nomatterwhatitwas,Iobeyeditinstantly.Thatcanhappen,youknow.AndbythetimeIwasten,Ihadbecomeherslave.Ididallthehousework.Imadeherbed.Iwashedandironedforher.Ididallthecooking.Ilearnedhowtodoeverything."

           "Butsurelyyoucouldhavecomplainedtosomebody?"

           Matildasaid.

           "Towhom?"MissHoneysaid.