Пеппи Длинныйчулок

           Pippipositivelybeamedwithdelight. "Ithinkyouareawfullynice,Teacher. Andhereissomethingforyou." 

           OutofherpocketPippitookalovelylittlegoldwatchandlaiditonthedesk. Theteachersaidshecouldn’tpossiblyacceptsuchavaluablegiftfromPippi, butPippireplied,"You’vegottotakeit; otherwiseI’llcomebackagaintomorrow,andthatwouldbeaprettyhow-do-you-do." 

           ThenPippirushedouttotheschoolyardandjumpedonherhorse. Allthechildrengatheredaroundtopatthehorseandseeheroff. 

           "YououghttoknowabouttheschoolsinArgentina,"saidPippi,lookingdownatthechildren. "That’swhereyoushouldgo. EastervacationbeginsthreedaysafterChristmasvacationends,andwhenEastervacationisovertherearethreedaysandthenit’ssummervacation. SummervacationendsonthefirstofNovember, andthenyouhaveatoughtimeuntilChristmasvacationbeginsonNovember11. Butyoucanstandthatbecausethereareatleastnolessons.ItisstrictlyagainstthelawtohavelessonsinArgentina. OnceinawhileithappensthatsomeArgentinekidsneaksintoaclosetandsitsthey’restudyingalesson, butit’sjusttoobadforhimifhismotherfindshim. Arithmetictheydon’thaveatallintheschools, andifthereisanykidwhoknowswhatsevenandfivearehehastostandinthecornerallday—thatis,ifhe’sfoolishenoughtolettheteacherknowthatheknows. TheyhavereadingonFriday,andthenonlyiftheyhavesomebooks,whichtheyneverhave." 

           "Butwhatdotheydoinschool?"askedonelittleboy