Матильда

           Butwhensheenteredthehouse,shewasconfrontedbyasceneofutterchaos.Hermotherandfatherwerebothinthehallfranticallystuffingclothingandvariousobjectsintosuitcases.

           "Whatonearth’sgoingon?"shecried."What’shappening,daddy?"

           "We’reoff,"Mr.Wormwoodsaid,notlookingup."We’releavingfortheairportinhalfanhoursoyou’dbettergetpacked.Yourbrother’supstairsallreadytogo.Getamoveon,girl!Getgoing!"

           "Off?"Matildacriedout."Whereto?"

           "Spain,"thefathersaid."It’sabetterclimatethanthislousycountry."

           "Spain!"Matildacried."Idon’twanttogotoSpain!IloveithereandIlovemyschool!"

           "Justdoasyou’retoldandstoparguing,"thefathersnapped."I’vegotenoughtroubleswithoutmessingaboutwithyou!"

           "Butdaddy..."Matildabegan.

           "Shutup!"thefathershouted."We’releavinginthirtyminutes!I’mnotmissingthatplane!"

           "Buthowlongfor,daddy?"Matildacried."Whenarewecomingback?"

           "Wearen’t,"thefathersaid."Nowbeatit!I’mbusy!"

           Matildaturnedawayfromhimandwalkedoutthroughtheopenfront-door.Assoonasshewasontheroadshebegantorun.SheheadedstraightbacktowardsMissHoney’shouseandshereacheditinlessthanfourminutes.SheflewupthedriveandsuddenlyshesawMissHoneyinthefrontgarden,standinginthemiddleofabedofrosesdoingsomethingwithapairofclippers.