Horrid Henry and the Dinner Guests

Horrid Henry and the Dinner Guests FIZZ! POP! GURGLE! BANG! Horrid Henry sat on the kitchen floor watching his new Dungeon Drink kit brew a bubbly purple potion. BELCH! CRUNCH! OOZE! SPLAT! Beside it, a Grisly Ghoul Grub box heaved and spewed some Rotten Crispies. Dad dashed into the kitchen.

“ Want a crisp?" said Henry, smirking. “ No! ” said Dad, putting on his apron. “ And I've told you before to play with those disgusting kits in your bedroom. " Why Henry's grandmother had bought him those terrible toys for Christmas he would never know. “ Henry, I want you to listen carefully, " said Dad, feverishly rolling out pastry. “ Mum's new boss and her husband are coming to dinner in an hour. I want total cooperation and perfect behaviour. " “ Yeah, yeah, ” said Henry, his eyes glued to the frothing machine.

Horrid Henry's parents didn't have guests for dinner very often. The last time they did Henry had sneaked downstairs, eaten the entire chocolate cake Dad had baked for dessert and then been sick all over the sofa. The time before that he'd put whoopee cushions on all the guests' seats, bitten Peter, and broken the banister by sliding down it. Dad started getting pots and pans down. “ What are you cooking?" said Perfect Peter, tidying up his stamps.

“ Salmon wrapped in pastry with lime and ginger, " said Dad, staring at his list. “ Yummy! ” said Perfect Peter. “ My favourite! " “ Yuck! " said Horrid Henry. “ I want pizza. What's for pudding?" “ Chocolate mousse, " said Dad. “ Can I help?" said Peter. “ Of course, " said Mum, smiling. “ You can pass round the nuts and crisps when Mr and Mrs Mossy arrive. " Nuts? Crisps? Henry's ears perked up. “ I'll help too, " said Henry. Mum looked at him. " We'll see, " she said. " I don't think Henry should pass round the nuts, ” said Peter. “ He'll only cat them himself. " “ Shut up, Peter, " snarled Henry.

“ Mum! Henry told me to shut up! ” wailed Peter. “ Henry! Stop being horrid, " muttered Dad, grating ginger and squeezing limes. While Dad rolled up salmon in pastry, Mum dashed about setting the table with the best china. “ Hey! You haven't set enough places, " said Henry. “ You've only set the table for four. " “ That's right, ” said Mum. “ Mrs Mossy, Mr Mossy, Dad and me. " “ What about me?” said Henry. “ And me?" said Peter. “ This is a grown-ups' party, " said Mum. “ You want me . . . to go . . . to bed?" Henry stuttered. " I'm not . . . cating with you?” “ No, ” said Dad.