Perfect Peter's Pirate Party

"Perfect Peter's Pirate Party" is a short story by American children's author Francesca Simon.
==Synopsis==
Henry is furious when Peter decides to have a pirate party for his birthday. He tries to persuade Peter to change his party idea, but when he learns the treasure chest is filled with chocolate pieces of eight, he changes his tune...
== Plot ==
Henry is chewing when he hears Mum talking about needing to get Pirate Party supplies. He thinks that it's for his own Purple Hand Pirate Party, which is not until the following month. However, to Henry's horror, he learns the supplies are not for his party but for Peter's, who had been inspired to have a pirate party after Goody-Goody Gordon had one for his own birthday. Furious and jealous about it, he attacks Peter, for which Mum and Dad send him to his room.
Henry thinks of ways to try and get Peter to change his mind, so he tells him about the story of the pirate Cannibal Curse and the wicked pirate Blood Boil Bob to scare him. Peter isn't too sure if such a thing is real but he soon starts to believe Henry as it gets detailed. In the end, Mum debunks Henry's claims, but Henry still finds ways to try and make Peter believe it for real. Eventually, he finds out that the chest is filled up with chocolate pieces of eight.
The following week is Peter's Birthday Party, which is attended by Peter and his friends, and led by Dad. Henry continues to go on about the curse and Blood Boil Bob at him, and teases him at the same time. Peter's Friends then find the first two clues, which leads to the treasure map, which showcases a scroll that says to go to the park down the road.
As Dad and Peter's Friends head off, Henry goes off at first and takes off his hat and crosspatch in order to avoid being seen at a "baby" party. He finds himself in a playground until New Nick's sister Lisping Lilly notices him and tries to marry him again. Henry hides in the bush, but then roars loudly to scare her away. When Peter hears the roar and sees the rustling bushes, he believes it to be Blood Boil Bob and they all run away to Mum and Dad. Henry then finds out the bush he is hiding in is the one where the treasure chest is. When Peter and his friends reach to the chest, all they find are a few crumpled gold wrappers. When Henry returns, he thankfully says that they still have their heads after that situation.
The story ends with Henry eating up the raided pieces of eight, and decides that he should have a Cannibal Curse party rather than a Pirate Party for his birthday next month instead.
==Characters==
* Perfect Peter
* Horrid Henry
** Horrid Poisoned Arrow
* Dad
* Goody-Goody Gordon
* Tidy Ted
* Spotless Sam
* Perky Parveen
* Helpful Hari
* Mini Minnie
* Lisping Lily
* Mum (not seen)
* Tell-Tale Tim (doesn't speak)
* Rude Ralph (illustration only)
* Dizzy Dave (illustration only)
* Greedy Graham (illustration only)
* Jolly Josh (illustration only)
* New Nick (referenced)
==Behind the Scenes==
"Perfect Peter's Pirate Party" was written by Francesca Simon and features art from Tony Ross.
==Appears In==
*Horrid Henry: Bank Robber (2008)
*Horrid Henry's Dreadful Deeds (2009)
Category:Stories