Матильда

           AboynextdoorcalledRupertEntwistlehadtoldherthatifyouchoppedoffanewt’stail,thetailstayedaliveandgrewintoanothernewttentimesbiggerthanthefirstone.Itcouldbethesizeofanalligator.Lavenderdidn’tquitebelievethat,butshewasnotpreparedtoriskithappening.

           Eventuallyshemanagedtoslidethelidofthepencil-boxrighthomeandthenewtwashers.Then,onsecondthoughts,sheopenedthelidjustthetiniestfractionsothatthecreaturecouldbreathe.

           Thenextdayshecarriedhersecretweapontoschoolinhersatchel.Shewastinglingwithexcitement.ShewaslongingtotellMatildaaboutherplanofbattle.Infact,shewantedtotellthewholeclass.Butshefinallydecidedtotellnobody.Itwasbetterthatwaybecausethennoone,evenwhenputunderthemostseveretorture,wouldbeabletonameherastheculprit.

           Lunchtimecame.Todayitwassausagesandbakedbeans,Lavender’sfavourite,butshecouldn’teatit.

           "Areyoufeelingallright,Lavender?"MissHoneyaskedfromtheheadofthetable.

           "Ihadsuchahugebreakfast",Lavendersaid,"Ireallycouldn’teatathing."

           Immediatelyafterlunch,shedashedofftothekitchenandfoundoneoftheTrunchbull’sfamousjugs.Itwasalargebulgingthingmadeofblue-glazedpottery.Lavenderfilledithalf-fullofwaterandcarriedit,togetherwithaglass,intotheclassroomandsetitontheteacher’stable.Theclassroomwasstillempty.Quickasaflash,Lavendergotherpencil-boxfromhersatchelandslidopenthelidjustatinybit