Матильда
A New Home
"Thismorning,"Matildasaid,"justforfunItriedtopushsomethingoverwithmyeyesandIcouldn’tdoit.Nothingmoved.Ididn’tevenfeelthehotnessbuildingupbehindmyeyeballs.Thepowerhadgone.IthinkI’velostitcompletely."
MissHoneycarefullybutteredasliceofbrownbreadandputalittlestrawberryjamonit."I’vebeenexpectingsomethinglikethattohappen,"shesaid.
"Youhave?Why?"Matildaasked.
"Well,"MissHoneysaid,"it’sonlyaguess,buthere’swhatIthink.Whileyouwereinmyclassyouhadnothingtodo,nothingtomakeyoustruggle.Yourfairlyenormousbrainwasgoingcrazywithfrustration.Itwasbubblingandboilingawaylikemadinsideyourhead.Therewastremendousenergybottledupintherewithnowheretogo,andsomehoworotheryouwereabletoshootthatenergyoutthroughyoureyesandmakeobjectsmove.Butnowthingsaredifferent.Youareinthetopformcompetingagainstchildrenmorethantwiceyourageandallthatmentalenergyisbeingusedupinclass.Yourbrainisforthefirsttimehavingtostruggleandstriveandkeepreallybusy,whichisgreat.That’sonlyatheory,mindyou,anditmaybeasillyone,butIdon’tthinkit’sfaroffthemark."
"I’mgladit’shappened,"Matildasaid."Iwouldn’twanttogothroughlifeasamiracle-worker."
"You’vedoneenough,"MissHoneysaid."Icanstillhardlybelieveyoumadeallthishappenforme."
Matilda,whowasperchedonatallstoolatthekitchentable,ateherbreadandjamslowly.ShedidsolovetheseafternoonswithMissHoney.
