Horrid Henry's New Teacher (story)

"Horrid Henry's New Teacher" is a short story by American author Francesca Simon.
== Synopsis ==
Henry is determined to send his new teacher, Mr Nerdon, running out of the front door screaming. Ralph and Henry make and agreement, that if Henry can make the teacher run screaming from the classroom by lunchtime, Ralph will give Henry his football; if not, Henry has to give Ralph his pound coin. Then Henry comes up with a cunning plan to tilt Mr Nerdon over the edge - but does it work?
== Plot ==
The story begins on the first day of term, with Dad telling Henry off for yet another bad school report. Dad compares Henry's report to Peter's and praises Peter's good report. When Peter smugly tells Henry that he'll just have to try harder, Henry pretends to be a shark sinking his teeth into a drowning sailor and bites him, to which Dad responds by threatening to punish Henry with no TV for a week.
In school, Henry grabs the seat next to Rude Ralph. Ralph brags that he's got a new football, unlike Henry, who'd kicked his through Margaret's window. Their new teacher, Mr Nerdon, the toughest, meanest, nastiest teacher in the school, arrives. When Henry makes fun of his name, Mr Nerdon sternly tells him he's heard about Henry's other teachers, and there will no nonsense in his class.
Henry has an idea, and makes a deal with Ralph that if he can send Mr Nerdon screaming from the class by the end of lunchtime, Ralph has to give Henry his new football, but if he fails, Henry has to give Ralph £1. He shoots a spitball at Mr Nerdon, who moves Henry next to Clever Clare. After Henry snaps her pencil, Mr Nerdon moves him next to various classmates, but Henry antagonises each one, causing Mr Nerdon to move him again. When Henry tries to provoke Beefy Bert, Bert responds by pushing him off his chair.
Mr Nerdon then tells the class to write poems. He first calls on Sour Susan, who reads out a poem about her dog. Next, Greedy Graham reads out a poem about his favourite desserts. Lastly, Henry reads out his poem about vomiting, hoping to disgust Mr Nerdon. It appears to be working, but Mr Nerdon stops Henry before he can get to the good part, and orders everyone outside for lunch. Rude Ralph prematurely claims victory, but Henry has a wonderful, spectacular idea. He asks Peter if he'd like to be a real member of the Purple Hand, Henry's secret club, and says in order to get in, he'll have to pass a test, which is to lay still on the ground below Henry's classroom window and give Henry his shoes.
Henry goes upstairs to his classroom with Peter's shoes and dangles them out of the open window, calling for help. When Mr Nerdon hears Henry, he runs in and sees Peter lying on the ground below. Thinking Peter has fallen to his death, Mr Nerdon is horrified and rushes downstairs and checks Peter's 'body' for any signs of life. Peter thinks it is Henry checking on him and asks if he can get up. To Mr Nerdon's embarrassment, he realises he has been tricked and thinking Peter was in on the trick, angrily sends him to the Head. He goes to deal with Henry, but faints in shock before he can do so. An ambulance arrives and Mr Nerdon is taken to hospital.
The story ends with Henry throwing his new football in the air, celebrating having successfully got rid of Mr Nerdon. Even though scary Miss Battle-Axe is to be his new teacher, Henry is not bothered, since tomorrow is another day.
==Characters==
*Horrid Henry
*Mr Nerdon
*Rude Ralph
*Perfect Peter
*Moody Margaret
*Beefy Bert
*Dad (not seen)
*Clever Clare (not seen)
*Sour Susan (not seen)
*Dizzy Dave (not seen)
*Greedy Graham (not seen)
*Weepy William (doesn't speak)
*Lazy Linda (doesn't speak)
*Mrs Oddbod (mentioned)
*Miss Marvel (referenced)
*Mrs Zip (referenced)
*Tidy Ted (referenced)
*Spotless Sam (referenced)
*Miss Battle-Axe (referenced)
==Behind the Scenes==
"Horrid Henry's New Teacher" was written by Francesca Simon with artwork supplied by Tony Ross.
==Appears In==
* Horrid Henry and the Tooth Fairy (1996)
*Horrid Henry's Big Bad Book (2004)
Category:Stories