Матильда

           "Mr.Wormwood,"shesaid,"ifyouthinksomerottenTVprogrammeismoreimportantthanyourdaughter’sfuture,thenyououghtnottobeaparent!Whydon’tyouswitchthedarnthingoffandlistentome!"

           ThatshookMr.Wormwood.Hewasnotusedtobeingspokentointhisway.Hepeeredcarefullyattheslimfrailwomanwhostoodsoresolutelyoutontheporch."Ohverywellthen,"hesnapped."Comeoninandlet’sgetitoverwith."MissHoneysteppedbrisklyinside.

           "Mrs.Wormwoodisn’tgoingtothankyouforthis,"themansaidasheledherintothesitting-roomwherealargeplatinum-blondewomanwasgazingrapturouslyattheTVscreen.

           "Whoisit?"thewomansaid,notlookinground.

           "Someschoolteacher,"Mr.Wormwoodsaid."Shesaysshe’sgottotalktousaboutMatilda."HecrossedtotheTVsetandturneddownthesoundbutleftthepictureonthescreen.

           "Don’tdothat,Harry!"Mrs.Wormwoodcriedout."WillardisjustabouttoproposetoAngelica!"

           "Youcanstillwatchitwhilewe’retalking,"Mr.Wormwoodsaid."ThisisMatilda’steacher.Shesaysshe’sgotsomesortofnewstogiveus."

           "MynameisJenniferHoney,"MissHoneysaid."Howdoyoudo,Mrs.Wormwood."

           Mrs.Wormwoodglaredatherandsaid,"What’sthetroublethen?"

           NobodyinvitedMissHoneytositdownsoshechoseachairandsatdownanyway."This",shesaid,"wasyourdaughter’sfirstdayatschool."

           "Weknowthat,"Mrs.Wormwoodsaid,rattyaboutmissingherprogramme.