Матильда
Arithmetic
"HowcouldIpossiblyseeit?"
"Don’tgivemethatrubbish!"thefathershouted."Ofcourseyoulooked!Youmusthavelooked!Nooneintheworldcouldgivetherightanswerjustlikethat,especiallyagirl!You’realittlecheat,madam,that’swhatyouare!Acheatandaliar!"
Atthatpoint,themothercameincarryingalargetrayonwhichwerethefoursuppers.ThistimeitwasfishandchipswhichMrs.Wormwoodhadpickedupinthefishandchipshoponherwayhomefrombingo.Itseemedthatbingoafternoonslefthersoexhaustedbothphysicallyandemotionallythatsheneverhadenoughenergylefttocookaneveningmeal.Soifitwasn’tTVdinnersithadtobefishandchips."Whatareyoulookingsoredinthefaceabout,Harry?"shesaidassheputthetraydownonthecoffee-table.
"Yourdaughter’sacheatandaliar,"thefathersaid,takinghisplateoffishandplacingitonhisknees."Turnthetellyonandlet’snothaveanymoretalk."
