Mr Majeika and the Music Teacher

  ‘Let’s hope we don’t see the horrid old witch ever again,’ said Thomas.

  ‘Look who’s coming!’ said Mr Majeika.

  It was Hamish Bigmore, walking sullenly in through the school gates. ‘I’ve come to fetch my double bass,’ he said.

  ‘Star pupil!’ mocked Thomas and Pete.

  Hamish stuck his tongue out at them. ‘Don’t you laugh!’ he said. ‘She didn’t teach me everything she knew, but she did tell me one very nasty trick and I’m going to do it to you all now. I’m going to fill up your pockets with the most horrid things you can think of, toads and worms and spiders and beetles and crabs and yucky food and everything like that! Now!’ And he pointed his finger at them, just like Miss Worlock had done.

  They looked down at their pockets.

  Nothing happened. But Hamish was dancing up and down and yelling, and from his own pockets there wriggled all sorts of horrid creatures.

  ‘Something’s gone wrong!’ he screamed.

  ‘She didn’t teach me properly! I’ve done it to myself! Oh, help!’

  And the last they saw of him was a wild figure running off down the road, trying to tear off his coat and trousers as he went.

  ‘Well, well,’ said Mr Majeika. ‘Perhaps we

  should be grateful to Wilhelmina Worlock after all. She seems to know how to deal with our Hamish!’