Horrid Henry's Underpants Read Online Free Page A

and watch lots of TV instead. Then Mom would

    bring him cold drinks, lunch on a tray, maybe even ice cream. It was always such a waste when you were too sick to enjoy being sick, thought Horrid Henry happily.
    He could hear Mom and Dad arguing upstairs.
    “I need to go to work,” said Mom.
    “I need to go to work,” said Dad.
    “I stayed home last time,” said Mom.
    “No you didn’t, I did,” said Dad.
    “Are you sure?” said Mom.
    “Yes,” said Dad.
    “Are you sure you’re sure?” said Mom.
    Horrid Henry could hardly believe his ears. Imagine arguing over who got to stay home! When he was grown-up he was going to stay home full time, testing computer games for a million dollars a week.
    He bounced into the sitting room. Then he stopped bouncing. A horrible, ugly, snotty creature was stretched out under a blanket in the comfy black chair. Horrid Henry glanced at the TV. A dreadful assortment of wobbling creatures were dancing and prancing.
    TRA LA LA LA LA,
    WE LIVE AT NELLIE’S
    WE’VE ALL GOT BIG BELLIES
    WE EAT PURPLE JELLIES
    AT NELLIE’S NURSERY (tee hee)
    Horrid Henry sat down on the sofa.
    “I want to watch
Robot Rebels
,” said Henry.
    “I’m watching
Nellie’s Nursery
,” said Peter, sniffing.
    “Stop sniffing,” said Henry.
    “I can’t help it, my nose is running,” said Peter.
    “I’m sicker than you, and
I’m
not sniffing,” said Henry.
    “I’m sicker than you,” said Peter. “Faker.”
    “Faker.”
    “Liar.”
    “Liar!”
    “MOM!” shrieked Henry and Peter.
    Mom came into the room, carrying a tray of cold drinks and two thermometers.
    “Henry’s being mean to me!” whined Peter.
    “Peter’s being mean to
me!
” whined Henry.
    “If you’re well enough to fight, you’re well enough to go to school, Henry,” said Mom, glaring at him.
    “I wasn’t fighting, Peter was,” said Henry.
    “Henry was,” said Peter, coughing.
    Henry coughed louder.
    Peter groaned.
    Henry groaned louder.
    “Uggghhhhh,” moaned Peter.
    “Uggghhhhhhhhhh,” moaned Henry. “It’s not fair. I want to watch
Robot Rebels
.”
    “I want to watch
Nellie’s Nursery
,” whimpered Peter.

    “Peter will choose what to watch because he’s the sickest,” said Mom.
    Peter, sicker than he was? As if. Well, no way was Henry’s sick day going to be ruined by his horrible brother.
    “I’m the sickest, Mom,” protested Henry. “I just don’t complain so much.”

    Mom looked tired. She popped one thermometer into Henry’s mouth and the other into Peter’s.
    “I’ll be back in five minutes to check them,” she said. “And I don’t want to hear another peep from either of you,” she added, leaving the room.
    Horrid Henry lay back weakly on the sofa with the thermometer in his mouth. He felt terrible. He touched his forehead. He was burning! His temperature must be 105!
    I bet my temperature is so high the thermometer won’t even have enough numbers, thought Henry. Just wait till Mom saw how ill he was. Then she’d be sorry she’d been so mean.
    Perfect Peter started groaning. “I’m going to be sick,” he gasped, taking the thermometer from his mouth and running from the room.
    The moment Peter left, Henry leapt up from the sofa and checked Peter’s thermometer. 101 degrees! Oh no, Peter had a temperature. Now Peter would start getting
all
the attention. Mom would make Henry fetch and carry for him. Peter might even get extra ice cream.
    Something had to be done.

    Quickly Henry plunged Peter’s thermometer into the glass of iced water.
    Beep. Beep. Horrid Henry took out his own thermometer. It read 98.6 degrees. Normal.
    Normal! His temperature was normal? That was impossible. How could his temperature be normal when he was so ill?

    If Mom saw that normal temperature she’d have him dressed for school in three seconds. Obviously there was something wrong with that stupid thermometer.
    Horrid Henry held it to the light bulb. Just to warm it up a little, he