Пеппи Длинныйчулок

           AtlastPippiclimbedupwiththecoffeepotinonehand. Shehadcreaminalittlebottleinherpocket, andsugarinalittlebox. 

           TommyandAnnikathoughtcoffeehadnevertastedsogoodbefore. Theywerenotallowedtodrinkiteveryday—onlywhentheywereataparty. Andnowtheywereataparty. Annikaspilledalittlecoffeeinherlap. Firstitwaswarmandwet,andthenitwascoldandwet. 

           Whentheyhadfinished,Pippithrewthecupsdownonthegrass. "Iwanttoseehowstrongthechinatheymakethesedaysis,"shesaid. Strangelyenough,onecupandthreesaucersheldtogether, andonlythespoutofthecoffeepotbrokeoff. 

           PresentlyPippidecidedtoclimbalittlehigher. 

           "Canyoubeatthis?"shecriedsuddenly."Thetreeishollow. 

           Thereinthetrunkwasabighole,whichtheleaveshadhiddenfromthechildren’ssight. 

           "Oh,mayIclimbupandlooktoo?"calledTommy. Buttherewasnoanswer. 

           "Pippi,whereareyou?"hecried,worried. 

           ThentheyheardPippi’svoice,notfromabovebutfromwaydownbelow. Itsoundedasifitcamefromundertheground. 

           "I’minsidethetree. Itishollowcleardowntotheground. IfIpeekoutthroughalittlecrackIcanseethecoffeepotoutsideonthegrass." 

           "Oh,howwillyougetupagain?"criedAnnika. "I’mnevercomingup,"saidPippi. "I’mgoingtostayhereuntilIretireandgetapension. Andyou’llhavetothrowmyfooddownthroughthatholeupthere.Fiveorsixtimesaday. 

           Annikabegantocry.