Horrid Henry Dines at Restaurant Le Posh

Horrid Henry Dines at Restaurant Le Posh ‘Great news, everyone, ' said Mum, beaming. ‘Aunt Ruby is taking us all out for dinner to Le Posh, the best French restaurant in town. ' ‘Oh boy, Restaurant Le Posh, ' said Perfect Peter. ‘We've never been there. ' Horrid Henry stopped scribbling all over Peter's stamp album. His heart sank. French? Restaurant? Oh no. That meant strange, horrible, yucky food. That meant no burgers, no ketchup, no pizza. That meant -

‘NOOOOOOOOOO! I don't want to go there! ' howled Henry. Who knew what revolting poison would arrive on his plate, covered in gloopy sauce with green bits floating about. Uggghh. ‘It's Mum’s birthday, ' said Dad, ‘so we're celebrating. ' ‘I only like Whopper Whoopee, ' said Henry. ‘Or Fat Frank's. I don't want to go to Le Posh. ' ‘But Henry, ' said Perfect Peter, tidying up his toys, ‘it's a chance to try new food. ' Mum beamed. ‘Quite right, Peter. It's always nice to try new things. ' ‘No it isn't, ' snarled Horrid Henry. ‘I hate trying new food when there's nothing wrong with the old. ' ‘I love it, ' said Dad. ‘I eat everything except tomatoes. ' ‘And I eat everything except squid, ' said Mum. ‘And I love all vegetables except beetroot, ' said Perfect Peter. ‘Especially spinach and sprouts. '

‘Well I don't, ' shrieked Horrid Henry. ‘Do they have pasta?' ‘Whatever they have will be delicious, ' said Mum firmly. ‘Do they have burgers? If they don't I'm not going, ' wailed Horrid Henry. Mum looked at Dad. Dad looked at Mum. Last time they'd taken Henry to a fancy restaurant he'd had a tantrum under the table. The time before he'd run screaming round the room snatching all the salt and pepper shakers and then thrown up on the people at the next table. The time before that - Mum and Dad preferred not to think about that.

‘Shall we get a babysitter?' murmured Dad. ‘Leave him home on my birthday?' murmured Mum. She allowed herself to be tempted for a moment. Then she sighed. ‘Henry, you are coming and you will be on your best behaviour, ' said, Mum. ‘Your cousin Steve will be there. You wouldn't want Steve to see you make a fuss, would you?' The hairs on the back of Henry's neck stood up. Steve! Stuck-Up Steve! Horrid Henry's arch-enemy and world's worst cousin. If there was a slimier boy than Steve slithering around then Horrid Henry would eat worms.

Last time they'd met Henry had tricked Steve into thinking there was a monster under his bed. Steve had sworn revenge. There was nothing Steve wouldn't do to get back at Henry. Boy, did Horrid Henry hate Stuck-Up Steve. Boy, did Stuck-Up Steve hate Horrid Henry. ‘I'm not coming and that's final! 'screamed Horrid Henry. ‘Henry, ' said Dad. ‘I'll make a deal with you. ' ‘What deal?’ said Henry. It was always wise to be suspicious when parents offered deals. ‘I want you to be pleasant and talk to everyone. And you will eat everything on your plate like everyone else without making a fuss. If you do, I'll give you £2. ' £2! Two whole pounds! Horrid Henry gasped. Two whole pounds just for talking and shoving a few mouthfuls of disgusting food in his we saie mouth. Normally he had to do that for free.