Voice Testing Matilda

[little_worm]

It's dreadfully nice of you to choose me out of all the other children in my class. But, you see, I don't think this is actually going to work out. My mum and dad are going to miss me sooo much. Their hearts will break if I don't go home for dinner. They'll definitely notice that I'm not there, and I'd hate to have them looking for me.

Besides, if I am here, I cannot be there, can I? And if I am here and not there, how am I going to change my story?

...What do you mean, my story is already changing? Only I can do that! There are no such things as fairy godmothers.

Comments

[spitspot]

I would advise, Matilda Wormwood, to never say that if you should ever happen to meet a fairy godmother. They had a distinct disliking to being told they do not exist.

[little_worm]

Who are you?

[Matilda eyes the woman up and down. She looks vaguely familiar, but Matilda had never been one to sit down and watch television, much preferring to simply read and imagine.]

Fairy Godmothers don't exist in the real world. Just in fairy tales like 'Cinderella'. They're nice to read, sometimes, but it's not as easy to make your life different in the real world. You have to do it by yourself there.

[spitspot]

A very wise policy to follow indeed. One can only make their own luck, I always say. But just occasionally, Matilda, you will find that a helping hand can be offered, and taken if needed.

[She nods once]

I am Mary Poppins, and you should not be slouching. Stand up straight, if you please.

[little_worm]

[Matilda had been warming to Mary Poppins even before she realised who she was. For once, an adult that she talked to made perfect sense. It's quite refreshing for the little girl!]

You're Mary Poppins? I've read all about you! But I didn't think you were real! I used to quite like the tales about you when I was a little girl. I read them all together - it took me simply hours. I think I might have even missed dinner, but I never feel hungry when I read. Do you? I mean, I get so lost in what's happening, it's as if I'm in the world with the character and dinner simply doesn't exist any more.

[All the same, she stands up a little straighter.]

[spitspot]

You should never miss dinner. You are a growing girl, in need of proper nutrition. And this is a regular thing, you say? Hm. [She gives a small frown] A dose of medicine would do you some good, I believe. [And out, from her bag made of carpet, comes the infamous medicine bottle]

[little_worm]

[Matilda's eyes light up when she sees the infamous bottle. Oh, she's read about that bottle - and she knows that it's supposed to have enough magic to taste nice. She's always been quite a sensible child, taking medicine without complaint, but it'll be nice to have some that tastes quite good as well.]

I don't mind. I'm about as big as everybody else in my class. And it's not dead regular. My mum gets worried when I don't eat, you see, so she always leaves me biscuits to nibble whilst I read, and a glass of milk next to them, or even chocolate cake. So you see, I do eat.

[spitspot]

Hm. [And Mary Poppins will just look at her] I believe I do see. [She uncorks the bottle and pours some of the medicine on to a spoon, which she then holds out to Matilda] Come along, take it quickly now, spit spot. This will do you far better than chocolate cake would.

[little_worm]

[She takes the spoon eagerly, tasting her medicine carefully.]

It tastes like... like oat biscuits and orange juice on a sunny morning! It's absolutely delicious, Mary Poppins. Only - I have a question. How did you know my name? Is that part of your magic?

[spitspot]

[She carefully corks the bottle, and puts it away again in her bag] A respectable person like me, having magic? The very idea of it. Mary Poppins looks at her carefully] I know because it is my job to know. I am a nanny, Matilda, and I take care of children who need me. Do you understand?

[little_worm]

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<small.[Matilda stifles a giggle.]</small>

I knew you'd say that! I just wanted to hear you say the words! But... I think I understand. You think I need you, don't you? You know that my mum doesn't give me chocolate cake and worry about me not being at home, don't you?

[spitspot]

I do not say whether someone needs me or not, that sort of sentiment would muddle thinking. I simply think it important that everyone have someone who is concerned for their needs, at least on some level. [Because Mary Poppins would never admit to anything properly, anyway]

[little_worm]

I have people that care! I know that Miss Honey - she wants me to go into Year Six! And Mrs. Phelps lets me have as many library books as I like - she loves my stories, Mary Poppins. I think they're proo-bably as good as yours. And my mum and my da... no. That's a lie. They don't care. They don't care about me at all.

[spitspot]

I am sure your stories are indeed very fine, Matilda, if your Mrs Phelps is so keen to hear them. You must make sure to take care on your enunciation, however. It does not do to be sloppy with our words. [At the least, however, she moves closer, not too close, but a reassuring distance. She looks down at the girl, and while there isn't exactly a smile on her face, it is filled with care] I see.

[little_worm]

I know. I think, sometimes, I have such ideas, Mary Poppins. I have whole stories already in my head, all unfolding at once, and I simply have to spit out the words before they tie my tongue in knots and they all get jumbled that it comes out garbled sometimes.

[Matilda takes a small step closer. Just a tiny step. And another. And another. Until she's close enough to fling her arms tight, around Mary's middle and bury her face in her skirt.]

[spitspot]

[Mary Poppins doesn't say anything, doesn't try to pry the child off. Instead, she carefully places her hands on Matilda's shoulders, keeping the touch gentle and reassuring. Someone needed to be there for this girl, and Mary Poppins did not let a needing child go]

[lt_blade]

Probably not fairy godmothers..gods possible, but not godmothers.

One thing I've learned in this place..never say 'there's no such thing'-it will come back to bite you.

[fearbringer]

Hmmm.

Clearly nobody has explained to you how this works.

[little_worm]

Are you going to explain it to me, then? After all, how can I learn if it is not explained? And, you know, this is so different to any place that I have ever seen before.

[little_worm]

Has something like that happened to you, then? Will you tell me? I love stories.

[fearbringer]

There's a reason for that.

You're now completely at the mercy of another human being-- and one who thinks you're fictional, no less. It's possible that they'll have very little respect for your life, happiness, or desires.

[lt_blade]

It's gotten to the point where I'm inches away from taking the word 'impossible' from my vocabulary. Hasn't happened yet, but give it time.

You sure? It's..not entirely a happy one. I'm not even finished experiencing it, and there are some experiences I'd rather not repeat.

I could tell you some of it. Back home I'm what's called a 'chosen warrior' for Earthrealm. Every fifty years or so, there's a tournament called Mortal Kombat, a martial arts tournament between the best warriors of that generation, the stakes being the fate of Earthrealm against the Emperor of another realm called Outworld.

I was one of the few survivors in the last tournament.

Trust me, if I were to tell you the entire story, it'd sound like something off of a comic book, or some hokey fantasy movie.

[extraordinaryboy]

Story? [He just swoops in, and looks at her with wide eyes] Do you tell stories?