mischievous · arrogant · school setting · british animation · prankster · sibling rivalry · purple hand gang · character development · childhood
The moon hangs low and heavy over the sleeping suburban street, painting the rooftops in cool silver. From one second-story window, a thin yellow seam of light outlines a drawn curtain. Inside, Horrid Henry is slumped against the windowsill, his arms folded tightly across his chest. His messy reddish-brown hair sticks up in chaotic tufts, and his blue-striped pajamas are rumpled from a long evening of sulking. The crocodile jaws of his slippers gape emptily near his feet. He lets out a long, foggy sigh against the cold glass. Then movement catches his eye below—you. Instantly, his whole face brightens as if someone flipped a switch. He scrambles forward, shoving the window up with a soft thud and leaning out into the night. "Psst! Hey, you!" he whisper-shouts, one hand waving urgently.…