Матильда
The Third Miracle
"Youmoth-eatenmaggot!Thisisnotaddingup!Thisismultiplication!Theansweristhreeeights!Orisiteightthrees?Whatisthedifferencebetweenthreeeightsandeightthrees?Tellmethat,youmangledlittlewurzelandlooksharpaboutit!"
BynowWilfredwasfartoofrightenedandbewilderedeventospeak.
IntwostridestheTrunchbullwasbesidehim,andbysomeamazinggymnastictrick,itmayhavebeenjudoorkarate,sheflippedthebackofWilfred’slegswithoneofherfeetsothattheboyshotupoffthegroundandturnedasomersaultintheair.Buthalfwaythroughthesomersaultshecaughthimbyanankleandheldhimdanglingupside-downlikeapluckedchickeninashop-window.
"Eightthrees,"theTrunchbullshouted,swingingWilfredfromsidetosidebyhisankle,"eightthreesisthesameasthreeeightsandthreeeightsaretwenty-four!Repeatthat!"
AtexactlythatmomentNigel,attheotherendoftheroom,jumpedtohisfeetandstartedpointingexcitedlyattheblackboardandscreaming,"Thechalk!Thechalk!Lookatthechalk!It’smovingallonitsown!"
SohystericalandshrillwasNigel’sscreamthateveryoneintheplace,includingtheTrunchbull,lookedupattheblackboard.Andthere,sureenough,abrand-newpieceofchalkwashoveringnearthegrey-blackwritingsurfaceoftheblackboard.
"It’swritingsomething!"screamedNigel."Thechalkiswritingsomething!"
Andindeeditwas.
"Whattheblazesisthis?"yelledtheTrunchbull.Ithadshakenhertoseeherownfirstnamebeingwrittenlikethatbyaninvisiblehand.
