Матильда
Throwing the Hammer
MatildaandLavender,standinginacorneroftheplaygroundduringmorning-breakonthethirdday,wereapproachedbyaruggedten-year-oldwithaboilonhernose,calledHortensia."Newscum,Isuppose,"Hortensiasaidtothem,lookingdownfromhergreatheight.Shewaseatingfromanextralargebagofpotatocrispsanddiggingthestuffoutinhandfuls."Welcometoborstal,"sheadded,sprayingbitsofcrispoutofhermouthlikesnow-flakes.
Thetwotinyones,confrontedbythisgiant,keptawatchfulsilence.
"HaveyoumettheTrunchbullyet?"Hortensiaasked."We’veseenheratprayers,"Lavendersaid,"butwehaven’tmether."
"You’vegotatreatcomingtoyou,"Hortensiasaid."Shehatesverysmallchildren.Shethereforeloathesthebottomclassandeveryoneinit.Shethinksfive-year-oldsaregrubsthathaven’tyethatchedout."Inwentanotherfistfulofcrispsandwhenshespokeagain,outsprayedthecrumbs."Ifyousurviveyourfirstyearyoumayjustmanagetolivethroughtherestofyourtimehere.Butmanydon’tsurvive.Theygetcarriedoutonstretchersscreaming.I’veseenitoften."Hortensiapausedtoobservetheeffecttheseremarkswerehavingonthetwotitchyones.Notverymuch.Theyseemedprettycool.Sothelargeonedecidedtoregalethemwithfurtherinformation.
"IsupposeyouknowtheTrunchbullhasalockupcupboardinherprivatequarterscalledTheChokey?HaveyouheardaboutTheChokey?"
MatildaandLavendershooktheirheadsandcontinuedtogazeupatthegiant.
