Letters from No One

           TheescapeoftheBrazilianboaconstrictorearnedHarryhislongest-everpunishment. Bythetimehewasallowedoutofhiscupboardagain, thesummerholidayshadstarted andDudleyhadalreadybrokenhisnewvideocamera, crashedhisremotecontrolairplane, and,firsttimeoutonhisracingbike,knockeddownoldMrs.Figg asshecrossedPrivetDriveonhercrutches. 

           Harrywasgladschoolwasover, buttherewasnoescapingDudley’sgang, whovisitedthehouseeverysingleday. Piers,Dennis,Malcolm,andGordonwereallbigandstupid, butasDudleywasthebiggestandstupidestofthelot,hewastheleader. TherestofthemwereallquitehappytojoininDudley’sfavoritesport:HarryHunting. 

           ThiswaswhyHarryspentasmuchtimeaspossibleoutofthehouse, wanderingaroundandthinkingabouttheendoftheholidays, wherehecouldseeatinyrayofhope. WhenSeptembercamehewouldbegoingofftosecondaryschool and,forthefirsttimeinhislife,hewouldn’tbewithDudley. DudleyhadbeenacceptedatUncleVernon’soldprivateschool,Smeltings. PiersPolkisswasgoingtheretoo. Harry,ontheotherhand,wasgoingtoStonewallHigh, thelocalpublicschool. Dudleythoughtthiswasveryfunny. 

           "Theystuffpeople’sheadsdownthetoiletthefirstdayatStonewall," hetoldHarry. "Wanttocomeupstairsandpractice?" 

           "No,thanks,"saidHarry. "Thepoortoilet’sneverhadanythingashorribleasyourheaddownit—itmightbesick." Thenheran,beforeDudleycouldworkoutwhathe’dsaid.