Horrid Henry's Christmas Play (early reader)

Horrid Henry's Christmas Play is an early reader book set in the world of Horrid Henry.
== Plot==
Horrid Henry's school is putting on a school play, with the older and younger years participating. Horrid Henry wants to be Joseph, as he believes it is the most important role. Miss Battle-Axe seems to be the director of the play (which is the story of the Nativity and the birth of Jesus) and has assigned parts to everyone: Moody Margaret is playing Mary; Sour Susan and Lazy Linda are playing front and hind legs of the donkey; Fiery Fiona and Clever Clare are cows; Singing Soraya is a sheep; Jolly Josh is a shepherd; Magic Martha is an angel, and Weepy William is a blade of grass. 
Finally, it comes time for the part of Joseph to be announced. Horrid Henry, along with New Nick, Greedy Graham, Dizzy Dave, Aerobic Al, Jazzy Jim and Brainy Brian, want to be Joseph, but Miss Battle-Axe says that instead, the part of Joseph is being played by Perfect Peter, Horrid Henry's little brother. Henry is horrified until Miss Battle-Axe announced his part: the innkeeper.
Henry becomes more excited after this is said, as he believes the innkeeper must be the starring role, not Joseph. However, when Miss Battle-Axe hands him his script, he is puzzled. There is only one page, and the only writing on it says that Joseph opens the inn door, asks if there is any room, and the innkeeper says one word: "No", before closing the door. Henry is mad, as he wants two songs and many lines.
At home, Mum and Dad are excited for Peter and are saying how thrilling it is that he's the start of the show. Peter is being modest, saying all parts, even small ones - like the innkeeper or the blades of grass - are equally as important. This makes Henry mad and he pretends he is a Great White shark, and bites Peter. This results in him being told not to be horrid and being sent to his room. Inside his room, Henry schemes of ways to get the part of Joseph. He considers forcing Peter to switch roles with him, but knows Miss Battle-Axe will be much harder to convince. He then has the idea of tricking Peter to leave the show and offering to replace him, but abandons that idea when he realises that Miss Battle-Axe will most likely just replace him with one of Peter's friends. Then, Henry has the idea of making his role bigger. He thinks about shouting "No!", then comes up with many others, such as being a pirate innkeeper, a French robber innkeeper who robs Mary and Joseph, or a French robber pirate innkeeper.
Eventually, after spending lots of times in rehearsals and a chair, it's time for the show (and also just three days until Christmas). Henry waits for his moment, and then goes onto the stage. Peter and Margaret come to the inn door, and Henry opens it. Peter, acting as Joseph, asks if there is any space in the inn. Henry, who has been going through all the possible ways he can play his part, now can't remember what he is actually meant to say. When Peter asks again, Henry says yes and pulls them inside. Margaret and Peter are confused, and Henry can now remember what he was meant to say, but decides to keep playing along with his answer. Margaret and Henry have an argument, and Henry begins to sing 'Ten Green Bottles'. However, Margaret says she is about to have the baby, and Henry snaps if she can wait until after his song. Margaret tells Peter they're going to the stables, but Henry says they have a satellite TV. Miss Battle-Axe goes onto stage and interrupts him, saying his other guests need him now. Henry shouts 'Merry Christmas' as he is dragged off stage, and then Margaret's deaf aunt yells 'Bravo!'
In the audience, where Mum and Dad are watching, they ask if anyone noticed. Mrs Oddbod gives them a grim look. Afterwards in her office, Henry asks what he was supposed to do. 
== Characters ==
* Rude Ralph
* Anxious Andrew
* Jazzy Jim
* Brainy Brian
* Mum
* Dad
* Horrid Henry
* Moody Margaret 
* Perfect Peter
* Fiery Fiona
* Sour Susan
* Lazy Linda
* Weepy William
* Singing Soraya
* Jolly Josh
* Magic Martha
* New Nick
* Greedy Graham
* Dizzy Dave
* Aerobic Al
* Mrs Oddbod 
* Moody Margaret's deaf aunt
==Errors==
* After Margaret screeches she's about to have baby Jesus, and Henry snaps if she can wait, innkeeper is spelled as 'inkeeper'. 
Category:Books
Category:Early Reader Books
Category:Real World
Category:Unfinished Pages