The Hat and the Superglue

           Thefollowingmorning,justbeforethefatherleftforhisbeastlysecond-handcargarage,Matildaslippedintothecloakroomandgotholdofthehatheworeeachdaytowork.Shehadtostandonhertoesandreachupashighasshecouldwithawalking-stickinordertohookthehatoffthepeg,andeventhensheonlyjustmadeit.Thehatitselfwasoneofthoseflat-toppedpork-piejobswithajay’sfeatherstuckinthehat-bandandMr.Wormwoodwasveryproudofit.Hethoughtitgavehimarakishdaringlook,especiallywhenheworeitatananglewithhisloudcheckedjacketandgreentie.

           Matilda,holdingthehatinonehandandathintubeofSuperglueintheother,proceededtosqueezealineofglueveryneatlyallroundtheinsiderimofthehat.Thenshecarefullyhookedthehatbackontothepegwiththewalking-stick.Shetimedthisoperationverycarefully,applyingthegluejustasherfatherwasgettingupfromthebreakfasttable.

           Mr.Wormwooddidn’tnoticeanythingwhenheputthehaton,butwhenhearrivedatthegaragehecouldn’tgetitoff.Superglueisverypowerfulstuff,sopowerfulitwilltakeyourskinoffifyoupulltoohard.Mr.Wormwooddidn’twanttobescalpedsohehadtokeepthehatonhisheadthewholedaylong,evenwhenputtingsawdustingear-boxesandfiddlingthemileagesofcarswithhiselectricdrill.Inanefforttosaveface,headoptedacasualattitudehopingthathisstaffwouldthinkthatheactuallymeanttokeephishatonalldaylongjustfortheheckofit,likegangstersdointhefilms.