Chapter 7

           Acircushadcometothelittletown,andallthechildrenwerebeggingtheirmothersandfathersforpermissiontogo. OfcourseTommyandAnnikaaskedtogotoo,andtheirkindfatherimmediatelygavethemsomemoney. 

           Clutchingittightlyintheirhands,theyrushedovertoPippi’s. Shewasontheporchwithherhorse, braidinghistailintotinypigtailsandtyingeachonewithredribbon. 

           "Ithinkit’shisbirthdaytoday,"sheannounced, "sohehastobealldressedup." 

           "Pippi,"saidTommy,alloutofbreathbecausetheyhadbeenrunningsofast, "Pippi,doyouwanttogowithustothecircus?" 

           "Icangowithyoumostanywhere,"answeredPippi, "butwhetherIcangotothesurkusornotIdon’tknow, becauseIdon’tknowwhatasurkusis. Doesithurt?" 

           "Silly!saidTommy. "Ofcourseitdoesn’thurt;it’sfun. Horsesandclownsandprettyladiesthatwalkthetightrope." 

           "Butitcostsmoney,"saidAnnika,openinghersmallfist toseeiftheshinyhalf-dollar andthequarterswerestillthere. 

           "I’mrichasatroll,"saidPippi, "soIguessIcanbuyasurkusallright. Butit’llbecrowdedhereifIhavemorehorses. TheclownsandtheprettyladiesIcouldkeepinthelaundry, butit’shardertoknowwhattodowiththehorses." 

           "Oh,don’tbesosilly,"saidTommy,"youdon’tbuyacircus. Itcostsmoneytogoandlookatitsee?" 

           "Preserveus!"criedPippiandshuthereyestightly. "Itcostsmoneytolook? AndhereIgoaroundgogglingalldaylong.