Horrid Henry’s Swimming Lesson

Horrid Henry’s Swimming Lesson Oh no! thought Horrid Henry. He pulled the blanket tightly over his head. It was Thursday. Horrible, horrible, Thursday. The worst day of the week. Horrid Henry was certain Thursdays came more often than any other day. Thursday was his class swimming day. Henry had a nagging feeling that this Thursday was even worse than all the other awful Thursdays.

Horrid Henry liked the bus ride to the pool. Horrid Henry liked doing the dance of the seven towels in the changing room. He also liked hiding in the lockers, throwing socks in the pool, and splashing everyone.

The only thing Henry didn't like about going swimming was. . . swimming. The truth was, Horrid Henry hated water. Ugggh! Water was so. . . wet! And soggy. The chlorine stung his eyes. He never knew what horrors might be lurking in the deep end. And the pool was so cold penguins could fly in for the winter. Fortunately, Henry had a brilliant list of excuses. He'd pretend he had warts, or a tummy ache, or had lost his swimsuit. Unfortunately, the mean, nasty, horrible swimming teacher, Soggy Sid, usually made him get in the pool anyway. Then Henry would duck Dizzy Dave, or splash Weepy William, or pinch Gorgeous Gurinder, until Sid ordered him out. It was not surprising that Horrid Henry had never managed to get his five-meter badge.

Arrrgh! Now he remembered. Today was test day. The terrible day when everyone had to show how far they could swim. Aerobic Al was going for gold. Moody Margaret was going for silver. The only ones who were still trying for their five-meter badges were Lazy Linda and Horrid Henry. Five whole meters! How could anyone swim such a vast distance? If only they were tested on who could sink to the bottom of the pool the fastest, or splash the most, or spit water the farthest, then Horrid Henry would have every badge in a jiffy. But no. He had to leap into a freezing cold pool, and, if he survived that shock, somehow thrash his way across five whole meters without drowning. Well, there was no way he was going to school today.

Mom came into his room. “ I can't go to school today, Mom, ” Henry moaned. “ I feel terrible. " Mom didn't even look at him. “ Thursday-itis again, I presume, ” said Mom. “ No way! ” said Henry. “ I didn't even know it was Thursday. " “ Get up, Henry, ” said Mom. “ You're going swimming and that's that. ” Perfect Peter peeked around the door. “ It's badge day today! " he said. “ I'm going for fifty meters! ” “ That's great, Peter, ” said Mom. “ I bet you're the best swimmer in your class. " Perfect Peter smiled modestly. “ I just try my best, " he said. “ Good luck with your five-meter badge, Henry, " he added. Horrid Henry growled and attacked.