Матильда
Throwing the Hammer
Beingverysmall,theywereinclinedtomistrustanycreaturethatwaslargerthantheywere,especiallyseniorgirls.
"TheChokey",Hortensiawenton,"isaverytallbutverynarrowcupboard.Thefloorisonlyteninchessquaresoyoucan’tsitdownorsquatinit.Youhavetostand.Andthreeofthewallsaremadeofcementwithbitsofbrokenglassstickingoutallover,soyoucan’tleanagainstthem.Youhavetostandmoreorlessatattentionallthetimewhenyougetlockedupinthere.It’sterrible."
"Can’tyouleanagainstthedoor?"Matildaasked.
"Don’tbedaft,"Hortensiasaid."Thedoor’sgotthousandsofsharpspikeynailsstickingoutofit.They’vebeenhammeredthroughfromtheoutside,probablybytheTrunchbullherself."
"Haveyoueverbeeninthere?"Lavenderasked.
"MyfirsttermIwasintheresixtimes,"Hortensiasaid."Twiceforawholedayandtheothertimesfortwohourseach.Buttwohoursisquitebadenough.It’spitchdarkandyouhavetostandupdeadstraightandifyouwobbleatallyougetspikedeitherbytheglassonthewallsorthenailsonthedoor.
"Whywereyouputin?"Matildaasked."Whathadyoudone?"
"Thefirsttime",Hortensiasaid,"IpouredhalfatinofGoldenSyrupontotheseatofthechairtheTrunchbullwasgoingtositonatprayers.Itwaswonderful.Whensheloweredherselfintothechair,therewasaloudsquelchingnoisesimilartothatmadebyahippopotamuswhenloweringitsfootintothemudonthebanksoftheLimpopoRiver.
