Chapter 5

           OutsideVillaVillekullasatPippi,Tommy,andAnnika. Pippisatononegatepost,Annikaontheother, andTommysatonthegate. ItwasawarmandbeautifuldaytowardtheendofAugust. Apeartreethatgrewclosetothefencestretcheditsbranchessolowdownthatthechildrencouldsitandpickthebestlittlered-goldpearswithoutanytroubleatall. Theymunchedandateandspitpearcoresoutontotheroad. 

           VillaVillekullastoodjustattheedgeofthelittletown,wherethestreetturnedintoacountryroad. ThepeopleinthelittletownlovedtogowalkingoutVillaVillekullaway,forthecountryouttherewassobeautiful. 

           Asthechildrenweresittingthereeatingpears,agirlcamewalkingalongtheroadfromtown. 

           Whenshesawthechildrenshestoppedandasked, "Haveyouseenmypapagoby?" "M-m-m,"saidPippi."Howdidhelook? Didhehaveblueeyes?" 

           "Yes,"saidthegirl. 

           "Mediumlarge,nottootallandnottooshort?" 

           "Yes,"saidthegirl. 

           "Blackhatandblackshoes?" 

           "Yes,exactly,"saidthegirleagerly. 

           "No,thatonewehaven’tseen,"saidPippidecidedly. 

           Thegirllookedcrestfallenandwentoffwithoutaword. 

           "Waitaminute,"shriekedPippiafterher. "Washebald-headed?" 

           "No,hecertainlywasnot,"saidthegirlcrossly. 

           "Luckyforhim!"saidPippiandspitoutapearcore. 

           Thegirlhurriedaway,butthenPippishouted, "Didhehavebigearsthatreachedwaydowntohisshoulders?" 

           "No,"saidthegirlandturnedandcamerunningbackinamazement.