needed an answer. "Can Fred's parrot talk as well a Fred can?" she thought. She went to find out. Fred was a small boy of six who lived just round the corner He often talked about his wonderful parrot. "My father gave it to me, he said Make it talk, Matilda said now. "You can't make it talk, said Fred. But suddenly the parrot said, 'Hello, hello, hello!' "That's wonderful!" said Matilda. "Dead man's dinner! Dead man's dinner said the bird, this time with a voice like a ghost. He's always saying that," said Fred "Can I borrow him, just for one night?" she asked. All right, said Fred. But you must promise to bring him back tomorrow. Matilda hid the parrot behind a cupboard in the dining-room of her house. That evening, while they were all having supper in the living-room in front of the TV a voice came loud and clear from the dining room. Hello, hello, hello!' it said. Harry!" cried Matilda's mother. "There's someone in the house! I heard a voice! Matilda switched off the TV, and they stopped eating. Hello, hello, hello!' came the voice again "It's robbers!' cried Matilda's mother. "They're in the dining- room. Go and catch them, Harry!' "Let's let's all go and look together, he said. The four of them walked quietly towards the door. Mr Wormwood stayed a long way behind the others Matilda pushed open the door, and they looked round the room There was nobody there. "He's here