Пеппи Длинныйчулок

           Tommydidn’twanttoshowthathewasfrightened,andinawayhereallydidwanttoseeaghost. Thatwouldbesomethingtotelltheboysatschool! Besides,heconsoledhimselfwiththethoughtthattheghostsprobablywouldn’tdaretohurtPippi.Hedecidedtogoalong. PoorAnnikadidn’twanttogounderanycircumstances, butthenshehappenedtothinkthatalittletinyghostmightsneakdownstairswhileshewassittingaloneinthekitchen.Thatdecidedthematter. BettertobewithPippiandTommyamongthousandsofghoststhanaloneinthekitchenwitheventhetiniestlittleghostchild. 

           Pippiwentfirst. Sheopenedthedoortotheatticstairs. Itwaspitch-darkthere. TommytookafirmgriponPippi,andAnnikatookanevenfirmergriponTommy,andsotheywentup. Thestairscreakedandsqueakedwitheverystep. Tommybegantowonderifitwouldn’thavebeenbettertostaydowninthekitchen, andAnnikadidn’tneedtowondershewassureofit. Atlasttheycametothetopofthestairsandstoodintheattic. Itwaspitch-darktheretoo,exceptwherealittlemoonbeamshoneonthefloor. Thereweresighsandmysteriousnoisesineverycomerwhenthewindblewinthroughthecracks. 

           "Hi,allyoughosts!"shriekedPippi. 

           Butiftherewasanyghosttherehecertainlydidn’tanswer. 

           "Well,Imighthaveknown,"saidPippi, "they’vegonetoacouncilmeetingoftheGhostandGoblinSociety." 

           Annikasighedwithreliefandhopedthatthemeetingwouldlastalongtime.