Horrid Henry and the Soccer Fiend (10 page)

Now that’s what I call homework, thought Horrid Henry. He printed out the worksheets, popped them in the envelope with Miss Battle-Axe’s sheet of sums, sealed it, and gave it to Dad.

“Bill’s homework,” said Henry. “Miss Battle-Axe asked me to give it to you to give to Bill’s dad.”

“I’ll make sure he gets it,” said Dad, putting the envelope in his briefcase. “I’m glad to see you’re becoming friends with Bill.”

* * *

Dad looked stern.

“I’ve got some bad news for you, Henry,” said Dad the next day.

Horrid Henry froze. What was he going to get told off about now? Oh no. Had Dad found out about what he’d done at lunchtime?

“I’m afraid Bill won’t be coming back to your school,” said Dad. “His parents have removed him. Something about new math and a gravity experiment that went wrong.”

Horrid Henry’s mouth opened. No sound came out.

“Wha—?” gasped Horrid Henry.

“Gravity experiment?” said Mom. “What gravity experiment?”

“Different science group,” said Henry quickly.

“Oh,” said Mom.

“Oh,” said Dad.

A lovely warm feeling spread from Henry’s head all the way down to his toes.

“So Bill’s not coming back?”

“No,” said Dad. “I’m sorry that you’ve lost a friend.”

“I’ll live,” beamed Horrid Henry.

Special thanks to Freddy Gaminara and
Michael Garner for telling me so many
exciting ways to cheat at soccer.

Francesca Simon spent her childhood on the beach in California and then went to Yale and Oxford Universities to study medieval history and literature. She now lives in London with her family. She has written over fortyfive books and won the Children’s Book of the Year in 2008 at the Galaxy British Book Awards for
Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman
.