Horrid Henry's Sleepover

Horrid Henry's Sleepover Horrid Henry loved sleepovers. Midnight feasts! Pillow fights! Screaming and shouting! Rampaging till dawn! The time he ate all the ice cream at Greedy Graham's and left the freezer door open! The time he jumped on all the beds at Dizzy Dave's and broke them all. And that time at Rude Ralph’s when he--well, hmmn, perhaps better not mention that. There was just one problem. No one would ever have Horrid Henry at their house for a sleepover more than once. Whenever Henry went to sleep at a friend's house, Mum and Dad were sure to get a call at three a. m. from a demented parent screaming at them to pick up Henry immediately.

Horrid Henry couldn't understand it. Parents were so fussy. Even the parents of great kids like Rude Ralph and Greedy Graham. Who cares about a little noise? Or a broken bed? Big deal, thought Horrid Henry. It was no fun having friends sleep over at his house. There was no rampaging and feasting at Henry's. It was lights out as usual at nine o'clock, no talking, no feasting, no fun. So when New Nick, who had just joined Henry's class, invited Henry to stay the night, Horrid Henry couldn't believe his luck. New beds to bounce on. New biscuit tins to raid. New places to rampage. Bliss!

Henry packed his sleepover bag as fast as he could. Mum came in. She looked grumpy. “ Got your pyjamas?" she asked. Henry never needed pyjamas at sleepovers because he never went to bed. “ Got them, ” said Henry. Just not with him, he thought. “ Don't forget your toothbrush, " said Mum. “ I won't, ” said Horrid Henry. He never forgot his toothbrush-he just chose not to bring it. Dad came in. He looked even grumpier. “ Don't forget your comb, " said Dad. Horrid Henry looked at his bulging backpack stuffed with toys and comics. Sadly, there was no room for a comb.

" I won't, " lied Henry. " I'm warning you, Henry, " said Mum. “ I want you to be on best behaviour tonight. " “ Of course, " said Horrid Henry. " I don't want any phone calls at three a. m. from Nick's parents, " said Dad. “ If I do, this will be your last sleepover ever. I mean it. " Nag nag nag. “ All right, ” said Horrid Henry. Ding Dong. WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF! A woman opened the door. She was wearing a Viking helmet on her head and long flowing robes. Behind her stood a man in a velvet cloak holding back five enormous, snarling black dogs. “ TRA LA LA BOOM-DY AY, " boomed a dreadful, ear-splitting voice.