2 ЧАСТЬ “Daddy,” she said, "do you think you could buy me a book?"
sake?! We've got a lovely telly and now you come asking for a book!
"A book?” he said. “What's wrong with the telly, for heaven's
Nearly every weekday afternoon Matilda was left alone in the
house. So on the afternoon of the day when her father had refused
“Yes, but I've read the books as well. I thought some were very
poor,” Matilda said, "but others were lovely. I liked the Secret Garden
best of all. It was full of mystery. The mystery of the room behind
“What sort of a book would you like to read next?” she asked.
Matilda said, "I would like a really good one that grown-ups read.
quite know what to bring out. How, she asked herself, does one
Mrs Phelps looked along the shelves, taking her time. She didn't
You're getting spoiled, my girl!”
to buy her a book, Matilda decided to walk to the public library in
the village all by herself. When she arrived, she introduced herself
to the librarian, Mrs Phelps (felps]. She asked if she could sit for a
while and read a book. Mrs Phelps was taken aback when she saw
that such a tiny girl had arrived at the library without a parent, but
told her she was very welcome.
"Where are the children's books, please?” Matilda asked.
“They're over there on those lower shelves,” Mrs Phelps told her.
“Would you like me to help you find a nice one with lots of pictures
in it?”
“No, thank you,” Matilda said. “I'm sure I can manage.”
From then on, every afternoon, Matilda came to the library. The
walk took her only ten minutes and this allowed her two wonderful
hours in the library where she sat quietly by herself in a cosy cor-
ner devouring one book after another. When she had read all chil-
dren's books in the place, she started searching for something else.
Mrs Phelps, who had been watching her with fascination for the
past few weeks, now got up from her desk and went over to her.
"Can I help you, Matilda?" she asked.
“I'm wondering what to read next," Matilda said. “I've finished all
the children's books."
"You mean you've looked at the pictures?”
Mrs Phelps was taken aback, but she did not show it.
A famous one. I don't know any names."​

Robin MacWizard is in Obninsk with his pen-friend Misha. I usually watch the boys from a big tree in the garden. I start at 6 o'clock every morning and finish at 11 o'clock every night. At 8 o'clock the boys get up. I am sit in the tree. At 8.30 Misha's mother gives the boys a hot breakfast. I eat my cold sandwich. Misha's mother doesn't cook for me. At 9 o'clock Misha's father goes to work, but Misha's mother stays at home. She works in the evenings. She tidies up the flat and the boys go to school. In the afternoon they come home and have lunch. I sit in the tree. After lunch the mother leaves and the boys do very strange things. They walk the cat. Most boys walk dogs. They speak English and read History books. Most boys watch TV and play computers games. They don't go out with Misha's friends. Most boys go out in the evening with their friends. At 7 PM the boys have dinner with the family. And I am still in my tree. At 11 o'clock the boys are in bed and I can finally go home. I am always cold and tired.Please help me, Boss. I don't understand these boys.

Agent Cute's report
dear boss,
Robin MacWizard is in Obninsk with his pen friend Misha. I usually watch the boys from a big tree in the garden. I start at 6 o'clock every morning and finish at 11 o'clock every night. At 8 o'clock the boys get up. I sit in the tree. At 8.30 Misha mother gives the boys a hot breakfast. I eat my cold sandwich. Misha mother does not cook for me. At 9 clock Misha's father goes to work, but Misha's mother stays at home. She works in the evenings. She tidies up the flat and the boys go to school. In the afternoon they come home and have lunch. I sit in the tree. After lunch the mother leaves and the boys do very strange things. They walk the cat. Most boys walk dogs. They speak English and read History books. Most boys watch TV and play computer games. They do not go out with Misha's friends. Most boys go out in the evening with their friends. At 7 p.m. the boys have dinner with the family. And I am still in my tree. At 11 o'clock the boys are in bed and I can finally go home. I am always cold and tired. Please, help me, Boss. I don't understand these boys.

Отчет агента Кьют. Уважаемый босс,Робин МакВизард в Обнинске со своим другом по переписке Мишей. Я обычно слежу (наблюдаю) за мальчиками с большого дерева в саду. Я начинаю в 6 часов утра и заканчиваю в 11 часов каждую ночь. В 8 часов мальчики встают. Я сижу в дереве. В 8.30 Мишина мама дает ребятам горячий завтрак. Я ем холодный бутерброд. Мишина мама не готовит для меня. Мишин отец в 9 часов идет на работу, но Мишина мама остаётся дома. Она работает по вечерам. Она прибирает квартиру, а мальчики идут в школу. Вечером они приходят домой и обедают. Я сижу на дереве. После обеда мама уходит, а мальчики делают очень странные вещи. Они выгуливают кошку. Большинство мальчишек выгуливают собак. Они говорят по-английски и читают книги по истории. Большинство мальчиков смотрят телевизор и играют в компьютерные игры. Они не выходят на улицу с друзьями Миши. Большинство мальчиков ходят гулять в вечернее время со своими друзьями. В 7 часов вечера мальчики ужинают с семьей. И я до сих пор сижу на моём дереве. В 11 часов дети уже спят, и я могу, наконец, пойти домой. Я всегда замерзаю и устаю мне, Босс. Я не понимаю этих мальчиков.