Матильда
Throwing the Hammer
Thenshestartedswingingherroundandroundherhead,fasterandfasterandAmandawasscreamingbluemurderandtheTrunchbullwasyelling,"I’llgiveyoupigtails,youlittlerat!"
"ShadesoftheOlympics,"Hortensiamurmured."She’sgettingupspeednowjustlikeshedoeswiththehammer.Tentooneshe’sgoingtothrowher."
AndnowtheTrunchbullwasleaningbackagainsttheweightofthewhirlinggirlandpivotingexpertlyonhertoes,spinningroundandround,andsoonAmandaThrippwastravellingsofastshebecameablur,andsuddenly,withamightygrunt,theTrunchbullletgoofthepigtailsandAmandawentsailinglikearocketrightoverthewirefenceoftheplaygroundandhighupintothesky.
"Wellthrown,sir!"someoneshoutedfromacrosstheplayground,andMatilda,whowasmesmerisedbythewholecrazyaffair,sawAmandaThrippdescendinginalonggracefulparabolaontotheplaying-fieldbeyond.Shelandedonthegrassandbouncedthreetimesandfinallycametorest.Then,amazingly,shesatup.Shelookedatrifledazedandwhocouldblameher,butafteraminuteorsoshewasonherfeetagainandtotteringbacktowardstheplayground.
TheTrunchbullstoodintheplaygrounddustingoffherhands."Notbad,"shesaid,"consideringI’mnotinstricttraining.Notbadatall."Thenshestrodeaway.
"She’smad,"Hortensiasaid.
"Butdon’ttheparentscomplain?"Matildaasked.
"Wouldyours?"Hortensiaasked."Iknowminewouldn’t.Shetreatsthemothersandfathersjustthesameasthechildrenandthey’reallscaredtodeathofher
