Horrid Henry and the Soccer Fiend Read Online Free

in these pants!” shrieked Henry.
    “That’s why we’re going shopping,” said Mom. “And
I’ll
take him.” Last time Dad had taken Henry shopping for socks and came back instead with three Hairy Hellhound CDs and a jumbo pack of Day-Glo slime.
    “I don’t know what came over me,” Dad had said when Mom told him off.
    “But why do
I
have to go?” said Henry. “I don’t want to waste my precious time shopping.”
    “What about
my
precious time?” said Mom.
    Henry scowled. Parents didn’t have precious time. They were there to serve their children. New pants should just magically appear, like clean clothes and packed lunches.
    Mom’s face brightened. “Wait, I have an idea,” she beamed. She rushed out and came back with a large plastic bag. “Here,” she said, pulling out a pair of bright red pants, “try these on.”
    Henry looked at them suspiciously.
    “Where are they from?”
    “Aunt Ruby dropped off some of Steve’s old clothes a few weeks ago. I’m sure we’ll find something that fits you.”

    Horrid Henry stared at Mom. Had she gone gaga? Was she actually suggesting that he should wear his horrible cousin’s moldy old shirts and smelly pants? Just imagine, putting his arms into the same stinky sleeves that Stuckup Steve had slimed? Uggh!
    “NO WAY!” screamed Henry, shuddering. “I’m not wearing Steve’s smelly old clothes. I’d catch rabies.”
    “They’re practically brand new,” said Mom.
    “I don’t care,” said Henry.
    “But Henry,” said Perfect Peter. “I always wear
your
hand-me-downs.”
    “So?” snarled Henry.
    “I don’t mind wearing hand-medowns,” said Perfect Peter. “It saves so much money. You shouldn’t be so selfish, Henry.”
    “Quite right, Peter,” said Mom, smiling. “At least
one
of my sons thinks about others.”
    Horrid Henry pounced. He was a vampire sampling his supper.
    “AAIIIEEEEEE!” squealed Peter.
    “Stop that, Henry!” screamed Mom.
    “Leave your brother alone!” screamed Dad.

    Horrid Henry glared at Peter.
    “Peter is a worm, Peter is a toad,” jeered Henry.
    “Mom!” wailed Peter. “Henry said I was a worm. And a toad.”
    “Don’t be horrid, Henry,” said Dad. “Or no TV for a week. You have three choices. Wear Steve’s old clothes. Wear your old clothes. Go shopping for new ones today.”
    “Do we
have
to go today?” moaned Henry.
    “Fine,” said Mom. “We’ll go tomorrow.”
    “I don’t want to go tomorrow,” wailed Henry. “My weekend will be ruined.”
    Mom glared at Henry.
    “Then we’ll go right now this minute.”
    “NO!” screamed Horrid Henry.
    “YES!” screamed Mom.
    * * *
    Several hours later, Mom and Henry walked into Mellow Mall. Mom already looked like she’d been crossing the Sahara desert without water for days. Serves her right for bringing me here, thought Horrid Henry, scowling, as he scuffed his feet.

    “Can’t we go to Shop ’n’ Drop?” whined Henry. “Graham says they’ve got a win your weight in chocolate competition.”
    “No,” said Mom, dragging Henry into Zippy’s Department Store. “We’re here to get you some new pants and shoes. Now hurry up, we don’t have all day.”
    Horrid Henry looked around. Wow! There was lots of great stuff on display.
    “I want the Hip-Hop Robots,” said Henry.
    “No,” said Mom.
    “I want the new Waterblaster!” screeched Henry.
    “No,” said Mom.
    “I want a Creepy Crawly lunch box!”

    “NO!” said Mom, pulling him into the boys’ clothing department.
    What, thought Horrid Henry grimly, is the point of going shopping if you never buy anything?
    “I want Root-a-Toot sneakers with flashing red lights,” said Henry. He could see himself now, strolling into class, a bugle blasting and red light flashing every time his feet hit the floor. Cool! He’d love to see Miss Battle-Axe’s face when he exploded into class wearing them.
    “No,” said Mom, shuddering.
    “Oh please,” said Henry.
    “NO!” said Mom,