Матильда
The Hat and the Superglue
Butitwasn’tloosebythemorninganditwouldn’tslipoff.SoMrs.Wormwoodtookapairofscissorsandcutthethingoffhishead,bitbybit,firstthetopandthenthebrim.Wheretheinnerbandhadstucktothehairallaroundthesidesandback,shehadtochopthehairoffrighttotheskinsothathefinishedupwithabaldwhiteringroundhishead,likesomesortofamonk.Andinthefront,wherethebandhadstuckdirectlytothebareskin,thereremainedawholelotofsmallpatchesofbrownleatherystuffthatnoamountofwashingwouldgetoff.
AtbreakfastMatildasaidtohim,"Youmusttrytogetthosebitsoffyourforehead,daddy.Itlooksasthoughyou’vegotlittlebrowninsectscrawlingaboutalloveryou.Peoplewillthinkyou’vegotlice."
"Bequiet!"thefathersnapped."Justkeepyournastymouthshut,willyou!"
Allinallitwasamostsatisfactoryexercise.Butitwassurelytoomuchtohopethatithadtaughtthefatherapermanentlesson.
