Матильда
The Weekly Test
"Don’tbeanass,boy!There’snosuchname!"
"Lookinthephonebook,"Ericsaid."You’llseemyfatherthereunderInk."
"Verywell,then,"theTrunchbullsaid,"YoumaybeInk,youngman,butletmetellyousomething.You’renotindelible.I’llverysoonrubyououtifyoutrygettingcleverwithme.Spellwhat."
"Idon’tunderstand,"Ericsaid."Whatdoyouwantmetospell?"
"Spellwhat,youidiot!Spelltheword’what’!""W...O...T,"Ericsaid,answeringtooquickly.Therewasanastysilence.
"I’llgiveyouonemorechance,"theTrunchbullsaid,notmoving.
"Ahyes,Iknow,"Ericsaid."It’sgotanHinit.W...H...
O...T.It’seasy."
IntwolargestridestheTrunchbullwasbehindEric’sdesk,andthereshestood,apillarofdoomtoweringoverthehelplessboy.Ericglancedfearfullybackoverhisshoulderatthemonster."Iwasright,wasn’tI?"hemurmurednervously.
"Youwerewrong!"theTrunchbullbarked."Infactyoustrikemeasthesortofpoisonouslittlepockmarkthatwillalwaysbewrong!Yousitwrong!Youlookwrong!Youspeakwrong!Youarewrongallround!Iwillgiveyouonemorechancetoberight!Spell’what’!"
Erichesitated.Thenhesaidveryslowly,"It’snotW...O...T,andit’snotW...H...O...T.Ah,Iknow.ItmustbeW...H...O...T...T."
StandingbehindEric,theTrunchbullreachedoutandtookholdoftheboy’stwoears,onewitheachhand,pinchingthembetweenforefingerandthumb.
"Ow!"Ericcried.
