sneak peek at one of the laugh-out-loud stories in Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine
PERFECT PETER'S REVENGE
Perfect Peter had had enough. Why oh why did he always fall for Henry’s tricks?
Every time it happened he swore Henry would never ever trick him again. And every time he fell for it. How could he have believed that there were fairies at the bottom of the garden? Or that there was such a thing as a Fangmangler? But the time machine was the worst. The very very worst. Everyone had teased him. Even Goody-Goody Gordon asked him if he’d seen any spaceships recently.
Well, never again. His mean, horrible brother had tricked him for the very last time.
I’ll get my revenge, thought Perfect Peter, pasting the last of his animal stamps into his album. I’ll make Henry sorry for being so mean to me.
But what horrid mean nasty thing could he do? Peter had never tried to take revenge on anyone.
He asked Tidy Ted.
“Mess up his room,” said Ted.
But Henry’s room was already a mess. He asked Spotless Sam.
“Put a spaghetti stain on his shirt,” said
Sam.
But Henry’s shirts were already stained. Peter picked up a copy of his favorite magazine Best Boy. Maybe it would have some handy hints on the perfect revenge. He searched the table of contents:
Reluctantly, Peter closed Best Boy magazine. Somehow he didn’t think he’d find the answer inside. He was on his own.
I’ll tell Mom that Henry eats candy in his bedroom, thought Peter. Then Henry would get into trouble. Big big trouble.
But Henry got into trouble all the time. That wouldn’t be anything special.
I know, thought Peter, I’ll hide Mr. Kill. Henry would never admit it, but he couldn’t sleep without Mr. Kill. But so what if Henry couldn’t sleep? He’d just come and jump on Peter’s head or sneak downstairs and watch scary movies.
I have to think of something really, really horrid, thought Peter. It was hard for Peter to think horrid thoughts, but Peter was determined to try.
He would call Henry a horrid name, like Ugly Toad or Poo Poo Face. That would show him.
But if I did, Henry would hit me, thought Peter.
Wait, he could tell everyone at school that Henry wore diapers. Henry the big diaper. Henry the big smelly diaper. Henry diaper face. Henry poopy pants. Peter smiled happily. That would be the perfect revenge.
Then he stopped smiling. Sadly, no one at school would believe that Henry still wore diapers. Worse, they might think that Peter still did! Eeeek.
I’ve got it, thought Peter, I’ll put a muddy twig in Henry’s bed. Peter had read a great story about a younger brother who’d done just that to a mean older one. That would serve Henry right.
But was a muddy twig enough revenge for all of Henry’s crimes against him?
No it was not.
I give up, thought Peter, sighing. It was hopeless. He just couldn’t think of anything horrid enough.
Peter sat down on his beautifully made bed and opened Best Boy magazine.
shrieked the headline.
And then a dreadful thought tiptoed into his head. It was so dreadful, and so horrid, that Perfect Peter could not believe that he had thought it.
“No,” he gasped. “I couldn’t.” That was too evil.
But…but…wasn’t that exactly what he wanted? A horrid revenge on a horrid brother?
“Don’t do it!” begged his angel.
“Do it!” urged his devil, thrilled to get the chance to speak. “Go on, Peter! Henry deserves it.”
YES! thought Peter. He would do it. He would have revenge!
Perfect Peter sat down at the computer.
Tap tap tap.
Dear Margaret,
I love you. Will you marry me?
Peter printed out the note and carefully scrawled:
There! thought Peter proudly. That looks just like Henry’s writing. He folded the note, then sneaked into the garden, climbed over the wall, and left it on the table inside Moody Margaret’s Secret Club tent.
We cannot believe Peter would be so awful to try to trick his wonderful brother Henry. You will not believe what