First prize for the wors.., p.7
First Prize for the Worst Witch, page 7
Next, Miss Cackle began her tribute to the Year Fives, saying, amid much waffling, how much they would all be missed and wishing them luck for the future. As usual, most of the leavers were in floods of tears.
‘Why on earth do they always cry?’ whispered Mildred, ducking conveniently behind Maud’s trophy.
‘It’s weird, isn’t it?’ replied Maud. ‘The Year Fives always cry on the last day. I suppose we will too.’
‘I won’t!’ whispered Enid.
Maud put a finger to her lips, anxious not to draw attention to herself, now that the much-wanted Team Spirit trophy was in her clutches.
The ceremony dragged on. Speeches were made to the departing pupils by all the teachers, including Miss Bat, who kept forgetting what she was saying, so it took twice as long. More first prizes were awarded to the Year Fours, mainly won by Ethel, who was now sitting at the end of the row, so that she could pile up the cups and shields.
Mildred and Enid had given up hoping for a prize. The only ones in their range were non-academic ones such as First Prize for the Tidiest Room or First Prize for the Best-Trained Cat. Unfortunately, the whole school knew about Mildred’s troubles with Tabby, as well as Enid’s monkey episode, and they were both renowned for their inability to keep their belongings tidy.
Mildred had already opened the book of crosswords, keeping it out of sight on her lap. The first one had been easy; she’d finished it in ten minutes, then passed it sideways to Enid. Twenty minutes later, Enid completed the second one and passed it back, taking great care not to be seen.
At first, Mildred kept glancing up at the stage while she was trying to solve the clues, in case anyone noticed that she wasn’t paying attention, but the third crossword was much more difficult than the first. This one was full of references to books or plays containing magic objects, and Mildred became so engrossed in it that the background noises of speeches and applause faded away, until she was no longer aware of them.
She had only managed to answer three clues before she got completely stuck on Four Down: To whom did the Lady of the Lake give the Ring of Dispel? (Two words: 3,8.)
‘This is really hard,’ Mildred thought to herself, racking her brains. ‘I know! The Lady of the Lake gave Excalibur to King Arthur – that’s two words! Maybe she gave him the ring too! No, hang on – the first word has only three letters, and there are four letters in “King”. I wonder if –’
‘Stand up, Mildred Hubble!’ Miss Hardroom’s voice rang out across the rows of silent pupils.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Horrified, Mildred leapt to her feet.
‘I – er – um – I’m …’ she spluttered.
‘Surprised?’ said Miss Cackle, smiling warmly. ‘You were miles away, weren’t you, my dear?’
Confused, Mildred realized that Meredith Frost, the outgoing Head Girl, was standing between Miss Cackle and Miss Hardbroom, unpinning the Head Girl medal from the front of her robe.
‘Come along, Mildred,’ said Miss Cackle encouragingly. ‘Up you come. We’re all waiting for you!’
Mildred glanced at Maud, still half hidden behind her Team Spirit trophy, then at Enid. Her two friends looked astounded, and at the end of the next row Ethel had turned to glare at her.
‘Perhaps you didn’t hear at the back there!’ said Miss Cackle, now beckoning to Mildred with both arms. ‘Mildred Hubble, you have been chosen to take over from Meredith as next year’s Head Girl!’
Mildred looked around in shock as the whole school erupted in cheers of delight – well, almost the whole school. Ethel was also in shock, her mouth open in astonishment as she realized that she would be the first Hallow in two hundred years not to be Head Girl. Mildred couldn’t help feeling sorry for her arch-enemy as she made her way through the joyful throng and bounded up the steps to receive the medal, swept up on a wave of total happiness.
Miss Cackle put an arm around Meredith and Mildred. ‘You can’t wear it yet!’ she laughed as she saw that Mildred was attempting to attach the medal to her robe.
‘Sorry, Miss Cackle,’ gasped Mildred. ‘I got a bit carried away!’
‘Just keep it safely,’ said Miss Cackle. ‘Ready for next year.’
‘Or we could keep it for you here, Mildred,’ suggested Miss Hardbroom. ‘In case you lose it.’
‘I don’t think that will be necessary, Miss Hardbroom,’ said Miss Cackle. ‘One of the reasons why we chose Mildred as Head Girl, if you remember, is her ability to learn from her mistakes over the last four years, and to become stronger and more reliable as a result – an excellent role model for the younger girls, don’t you think?’
‘Hmmmm,’ muttered Miss Hardbroom. ‘Simmer down now, girls!’ she continued waspishly. ‘We can see that you’re all overjoyed with our choice of Head Girl, but that’s quite enough silly nonsense for now.’
Gradually, the noise died down. Meredith returned to her seat with a kindly squeeze of Mildred’s shoulder, and Mildred slipped the treasured medal into her pocket and turned to the steps.
‘Wait a moment, my dear,’ said Miss Cackle. ‘Don’t forget. You must choose your deputy – Head Girl’s privilege!’
‘May I choose anybody?’ asked Mildred.
‘Of course,’ said Miss Cackle. ‘It’s absolutely your choice.’
‘So choose wisely, Mildred,’ sniped Miss Hardbroom.
Mildred looked around the sea of pupils – Ethel buzzing with rage, and various friends looking up at her hopefully, giving little waves or pointing at themselves, mouthing, Pleease!
Mildred’s gaze came to rest on Enid, who was smiling madly, eyes like saucers, and Maud, who was craning her head above the Team Spirit trophy, pointing at Enid and nodding.
‘I’d like Enid as my deputy, Miss Cackle,’ said Mildred solemnly. ‘Would that be all right?’
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
The three friends were on the way back to their rooms, which was taking forever, as Mildred and Enid were stopped by friends every five minutes to show off their medals, and Maud had to keep putting down the heavy Team Spirit trophy to rest her arms.
‘I don’t know how I’m going to get it on the broom,’ she said. ‘I’ve got too much luggage already.’
‘Don’t worry,’ said Mildred helpfully. ‘You can tie it on. I’ve got a big laundry-bag that I could lend you – you can pack clothes round it so it won’t get scratched.’
‘That’s our new Head Girl,’ said Enid, ‘sorting out all our problems. Thanks for choosing me as your deputy, Millie. I wasn’t expecting anything at all.’
‘Isn’t it brilliant?’ Maud laughed, picking up her trophy and tottering up the corridor. ‘All three of us covered in glory! Who would have thought it?’
‘Certainly not me!’ said Miss Hardbroom’s chilly voice as she appeared, literally, in a dark doorway ahead of them. The girls stopped in their tracks. ‘Quite the little game-changer, aren’t you, Mildred Hubble? Dogs on broomsticks and a non-Hallow as Head Girl – whatever next? I only hope that you will work hard next year and live up to this challenge.’
‘Oh, I will, Miss Hardbroom,’ said Mildred sincerely. ‘I’ll do my very best to set an example to the lower school. I won’t let you down – I promise on my honour.’
Miss Hardbroom peered at them silently for a few moments, noting how petrified they all looked – even Star, now cowering behind Enid’s ankles; and she found herself wishing that the girls weren’t quite so terrified of her all the time.
‘Now, girls,’ she said suddenly, a tiny smile flickering for a brief second. ‘I forgot to say a resounding “Well done!” to all three of you!’
‘Thank you, Miss Hardbroom,’ chorused the girls, not quite sure what to do next.
‘Well, off you go then,’ said Miss Hardbroom, whose kindly mood had lasted precisely thirty seconds. ‘Oh, just one more thing, Mildred.’
Mildred froze.
‘The answer to Four Down in your crossword puzzle,’ continued Miss Hardbroom. ‘It’s “Sir Lancelot” – I thought you might like to know.’
‘Thank you, Miss Hardbroom,’ mumbled Mildred.
‘Well, you’d better collect your belongings and get down to the playground for end-of-term take-off!’ announced Miss Hardbroom. ‘Happy holidays, girls – and take care of that medal, Mildred!’ – so saying, she vanished abruptly.
The three friends waited in silence for several minutes, as she sometimes lurked, invisible, to catch them out.
‘That’s it!’ said Mildred. ‘The air’s warmed up – she’s gone! Come on, let’s get out of here –’
‘– before anything goes wrong!’ said Enid.
‘I’m sure it won’t,’ declared Maud. ‘Anyway I’m just pleased we all got what we wanted –’
‘Even me!’ announced Mildred happily. ‘Just what I wanted – First Prize for the Worst Witch!’
THE BEGINNING
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First published 2018
Copyright © Jill Murphy, 2018
The moral right of the author/illustrator has been asserted
Cover and illustrations by the author
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ISBN: 978-0-141-35517-7
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Jill Murphy, First Prize for the Worst Witch
