26 September 1988
It had been only a few days since the sudden disappearance of Miss Agatha Trunchbull, the tyrannical headmistress who abused her step-niece for most of her life and children of her school Crunchem Hall physically, emotionally, and mentally in the most torturous ways breaking them. She just vanished once she had recovered from fainting in the Year 1 classroom. Not a soul had seen her the fierce monster since that fateful day when the kids in a Year 1 class saw the chalk levitating and writing a message revealing it was a spirit that had unfinished business with their headmistress, who seemed to be more frightened than ever when she saw Magnus on the board and after the spirit finished and cracked the chalk in half, she fainted. The whispers among the students and teachers filled with tales of hauntings and vengeful spirits. It was definitely a huge miracle for them knowing for a fact that the foul woman will never return.
Little do they all know that it was really the work of none other than good ol' Matilda Wormwood. She was the one who portrayed the supposed "spirit" of Dr. Magnus Honey using her telekinesis that only she and her beloved teacher were aware of. Matilda didn't want her cruel and sadistic headmistress to be left of the hook for making Miss Honey's life bare hell as well as torturing the kids and so intended on frightening the Trunchbull away forever and saw obtaining this ability as an opportunity to give the vile woman a taste of her own medicine. Nobody except her teacher knew Matilda Wormwood was the one who frightened the once gigantic holy terror out of her wits, making her flee the village.
Miss Jennifer "Jenny" Honey was the most happy as she was finally free of her aunt's grasp. In the morning, she was eating breakfast at her box in her small cosy cottage, at least for her. She put the kettle on ready for a quiet day of peace. Despite it being small and having bad conditions, Jennifer liked it and so did Matilda. As the Year 1 teacher was about to sit in her chair, she heard a soft clatter from the letterbox. Curious, she made her way to the front door, her steps very light. A white envelope lay on the mat, its creamy parchment standing out against the pine wood floor. Jennifer rarely received letters, not even ones from lost relatives of the Honey family.
She picked up the envelope, her fingers trembling slightly as she noticed the sealing wax embossed with a symbol of a prominent law firm. Was this really it? Was she finally gonna receive what was rightfully hers? She carefully opened the envelope and it had two documents in it.
Jenny's eyes scanned the letter by the lawyers and as she read it the reality of what it is began to sink in.
Dear Miss Jennifer Elizabeth Honey
We are writing to inform you that the last will and testament of your late father, Dr. Magnus Honey has been recovered and mysteriously delivered to our building.
Upon reviewing the contents of your deceased father's document, it is our duty to apprise that you are in fact the rightful owner of The Red House, the Honey family house, located on the edge of the village, as well as the entirety of your father's financial assets.
Your father's wishes were clear—his estate was never meant for Miss Agatha Trunchbull, who had occupied the house since 7 December 1970. It was always intended for you, his beloved daughter.
We await your arrival at the office to arrange a formal handover of the property and assets at your earliest convenience.
Jennifer stared at the words, her breath catching in her throat. The Red House… the grand sprawling estate that loomed at the edge of the small Buckinghamshire village in England for as long as she could remember. It had once been her happy home before her mother Mrs. Kate Honey sadly passed away in 1967 and her aunt moved in to look after her while her father worked at the hospital and became her absolute worst nightmare but the next tragedy came with her father's death in 1970 and her aunt becoming her guardian and completely broke her. She had always assumed her aunt murdered her father to gain the money and house for herself.
Tears welled up in Jenny's eyes, her vision blurring as she sat on a crate. She could hardly believe it. The Red House… and her father's money. It was hers and it had always belonged to her. Her beloved father intended on bringing everything to her.
For almost her entire life, she had lived in fear living in that house which was a dark and scary place under the owner of Agatha Trunchbull. Struggling under her aunt's cruelty believing she had nothing and no one. But now, she had received everything that his father had earned and she had rightfully received it all.
The tears continued to spill down Jen's cheeks, but they weren't tears of sorrow. They were tears of overwhelming relief. She wiped her eyes despite the watergates still flooding but she didn't mind in the deep slightest. For the first time in 18 years, she felt truly free.
As the tears began to subside, one person came to mind. She grinned at the thought, the one person who managed to make this all possible—Matilda Wormwood. That brilliant precocious little girl with telekinetic powers had saved her from a life of misery from her aunt. It was Matilda who had banished Miss Trunchbull from Crunchem Hall and this small village for the greater good, the one who had brought her late father's will to light, and who had restored the hope Jen had lost growing up.
She stood up from the crate, a fresh resolve building within her. She would respond to the law firm, but first, she needed to find a way to thank Matilda. She had to thank her—truly thank her—for absolutely everything. She knew that that little prodigy had not only freed her from the Trunchbull's grip but had also paved the way for a new life for her and the children of Crunchem Hall Primary.
Jennifer slipped on her yellow coat and headed out into the dusky evening, her steps quick and light as she made her way to the office, the air was fresher, the village was quieter and her heart had been lighter than it had been in years. She had hope for the future and a deep gratitude for the little girl who had changed her life forever.