Матильда
Throwing the Hammer
"Ifthere’sonethingtheTrunchbullcan’tstandit’spigtails,"Hortensiasaid.
MatildaandLavendersawthegiantingreenbreechesadvancinguponagirlofabouttenwhohadapairofplaitedgoldenpigtailshangingoverhershoulders.Eachpigtailhadabluesatinbowattheendofitanditalllookedverypretty.Thegirlwearingthepigtails,AmandaThripp,stoodquitestill,watchingtheadvancinggiant,andtheexpressiononherfacewasonethatyoumightfindonthefaceofapersonwhoistrappedinasmallfieldwithanenragedbullwhichischargingflat-outtowardsher.Thegirlwasgluedtothespot,terror-struck,pop-eyed,quivering,knowingforcertainthattheDayofJudgmenthadcomeforheratlast.
MissTrunchbullhadnowreachedthevictimandstoodtoweringoverher."Iwantthosefilthypigtailsoffbeforeyoucomebacktoschooltomorrow!"shebarked."Chop’emoffandthrow’eminthedustbin,youunderstand?"Amanda,paralysedwithfright,managedtostutter,"Mym-m-mummylikesthem.Shep-p-plaitsthemformeeverymorning."
"Yourmummy’satwit!"theTrunchbullbellowed.Shepointedafingerthesizeofasalamiatthechild’sheadandshouted,"Youlooklikearatwithatailcomingoutofitshead!"
"Mym-m-mummythinksIlooklovely,MissT-T-Trunchbull,"Amandastuttered,shakinglikeablancmange.
"Idon’tgiveatinker’stootwhatyourmummythinks!"theTrunchbullyelled,andwiththatshelungedforwardandgrabbedholdofAmanda’spigtailsinherrightfistandliftedthegirlclearofftheground.
