Throwing the Hammer

           ThenicethingaboutMatildawasthatifyouhadmethercasuallyandtalkedtoheryouwouldhavethoughtshewasaperfectlynormalfive-and-a-half-year-oldchild.Shedisplayedalmostnooutwardsignsofherbrillianceandshenevershowedoff."Thisisaverysensibleandquietlittlegirl,"youwouldhavesaidtoyourself.Andunlessforsomereasonyouhadstartedadiscussionwithheraboutliteratureormathematics,youwouldneverhaveknowntheextentofherbrain-power.

           ItwasthereforeeasyforMatildatomakefriendswithotherchildren.Allthoseinherclasslikedher.Theyknewofcoursethatshewas"clever"becausetheyhadheardherbeingquestionedbyMissHoneyonthefirstdayofterm.Andtheyknewalsothatshewasallowedtositquietlywithabookduringlessonsandnotpayattentiontotheteacher.Butchildrenoftheiragedonotsearchdeeplyforreasons.Theyarefartoowrappedupintheirownsmallstrugglestoworryovermuchaboutwhatothersaredoingandwhy.

           AmongMatilda’snew-foundfriendswasthegirlcalledLavender.Rightfromthefirstdayoftermthetwoofthemstartedwanderingroundtogetherduringthemorning-breakandinthelunch-hour.Lavenderwasexceptionallysmallforherage,askinnylittlenymphwithdeep-browneyesandwithdarkhairthatwascutinafringeacrossherforehead.Matildalikedherbecauseshewasgutsyandadventurous.ShelikedMatildaforexactlythesamereasons.

           Beforethefirstweekoftermwasup,awesometalesabouttheHeadmistress,MissTrunchbull,begantofilterthroughtothenewcomers.