A Twist in the Tale
Teacher Text 1a Lamb to the Slaughter
Lamb to the Slaughter
by Roald Dahl company after the long hours alone in the
The room was warm and clean, the curtains house. She loved to luxuriate in the presence of
drawn, the two table lamps alight - hers and this man, and to feel - almost as a sunbather
the one by the empty chair opposite. On the feels the sun - that warm male glow that came
sideboard behind her, two tall glasses, soda out of him to her when they were alone
water, whisky. Fresh ice cubes in the Thermos together. She loved him for the way he sat
bucket. loosely in a chair, for the way he came in a
door, or moved slowly across the room with
Mary Maloney was waiting for her husband to long strides. She loved the intent, far look in his
come home from work. eyes when they rested on her, the funny shape
Now and again she would glance up at the of the mouth, and especially the way he
clock, but without anxiety, merely to please remained silent about his tiredness, sitting still
herself with the thought that each minute gone with himself until the whisky had taken some
by made it nearer the time when he would of it away.
come. There was a slow smiling air about her, ‘Tired, darling?’
and about everything she did. The drop of the ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I’m tired.’ And as he spoke, he
head as she bent over her sewing was curiously did an unusual thing. He lifted his glass and
tranquil. Her skin - for this was her sixth month drained it in one swallow although there was
with child - had acquired a wonderful still half of it, at least half of it, left. She wasn’t
translucent quality, the mouth was soft and the really watching him but she knew what he had
eyes, with their new placid look, seemed done because she heard the ice cubes falling
larger, darker than before. back against the bottom of the empty glass
when he lowered his arm. He paused a
When the clock said ten minutes to five, she moment, leaning forward in the chair, then he
began to listen and a few moments later, got up and went slowly over to fetch himself
punctually as always she heard the tyres on the another.
gravel outside, and the car door slamming, the ‘I’ll get it!’ she cried, jumping up.
footsteps passing the window, the key turning ‘Sit down,’ he said.
in the lock. She laid aside her sewing, stood
up, and went forward to kiss him as he came When he came back, she noticed that the new
in. drink was dark amber with the quantity of
‘Hullo, darling,’ she said. whisky in it.
‘Hullo,’ he answered. ‘Darling, shall I get your slippers?’
She took his coat and hung it in the closet. ‘No.’
Then she walked over and made the drinks, a She watched him as he began to sip the dark
strongish one for him, a weak one for herself; yellow drink, and she could see little oily swirls
and soon she was back again in her chair with in the liquid because it was so strong.
the sewing, and he in the other, opposite, ‘I think it’s a shame,’ she said, ‘that when a
holding the tall glass with both his hands, policeman gets to be as senior as you, they
rocking it so the ice cubes tinkled against the keep him walking about on his feet all day
side. long.’
He didn’t answer, so she bent her head again
For her, this was always a blissful time of day. and went on with her sewing; but each time he
She knew he didn’t want to speak much until lifted the drink to his lips, she heard the ice
the first drink was finished, and she, on her cubes clinking against the side of the glass.
side, was content to sit quietly, enjoying his ‘Darling,’ she said. ‘Would you like me to get
152 KS3 English Units © English & Media Centre
