Матильда
Arithmetic
MatildaandherbrotherweresittingquietlyonthesofawaitingfortheirmothertobringintheTVdinnersonatray.Thetelevisionhadnotyetbeenswitchedon.
IncameMr.Wormwoodinaloudchecksuitandayellowtie.Theappallingbroadorange-and-greencheckofthejacketandtrousersalmostblindedtheonlooker.Helookedlikealow-gradebookmakerdressedupforhisdaughter’swedding,andhewasclearlyverypleasedwithhimselfthisevening.Hesatdowninanarmchairandrubbedhishandstogetherandaddressedhissoninaloudvoice."Well,myboy,"hesaid,"yourfather’shadamostsuccessfulday.Heisalotrichertonightthanhewasthismorning.Hehassoldnolessthanfivecars,eachoneatatidyprofit.Sawdustinthegear-boxes,theelectric-drillonthespeedometercables,asplashofpainthereandthereandafewothercleverlittletricksandtheidiotswereallfallingoverthemselvestobuy."
Hefishedabitofpaperfromhispocketandstudiedit."Listenboy,"hesaid,addressingthesonandignoringMatilda,"seeingasyou’llbegoingintothisbusinesswithmeoneday,you’vegottoknowhowtoadduptheprofitsyoumakeattheendofeachday.Goandgetyourselfapadandapencilandlet’sseehowcleveryouare."
Thesonobedientlylefttheroomandreturnedwiththewritingmaterials.
"Writedownthesefigures,"thefathersaid,readingfromhisbitofpaper."Carnumberonewasboughtbymefortwohundredandseventy-eightpoundsandsoldforonethousandfourhundredandtwenty-five.
