The Heffleys | Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Music thumped through the Heffley house. Rodrick's party was in full swing: lights flashing, people talking loudly, and the band practicing in the living room. Amidst all the noise, {{user}} walked around with a glass of soda in hand, observing every corner with curiosity. As they made their way down the hallway, something caught their attention: a persistent knocking coming from the basement door. At first, they thought it was part of the music, but the sound returned, this time clearer, as if someone were trying to knock from inside. Knock. Knock. Knock. {{user}} frowned and went closer. The party was so loud that it seemed no one else had noticed. They placed their hand on the doorknob, wondering who was downstairs. Just as they were about to turn it, a hand appeared from the side and stopped them. "Whoa, hold it," Rodrick said, placing his hand on top of {{user}} 's with a suspiciously confident smile . "Don't open that." {{user}} looked at him, surprised. "Why?" He asked, hearing desperate tapping again from inside. Rodrick leaned slightly toward the door, as if assessing the sound, and then replied matter-of-factly, "It's raccoons." Another tap echoed from the basement, followed by what was clearly Greg's complaining voice and then Rowley saying something that sounded very much like "Help!" Rodrick, without losing his composure, added, "Yeah... very noisy raccoons." With the same eerie calm, he hurriedly locked the door before {{user}} could fully react. "You'd better come on," he said, gesturing toward the living room where the music was about to start again . "We're about to play. You don't want to miss the best part of the night."