Карлсон, который живет на крыше
Chapter 2
"Severalthousand,"saidKarlsson."Paintthemmyselfinmysparetime.Massesoflittleroostersandbirdsandotherprettythings.I’mtheWorld’sBestRoosterPainter,"andhelandedbesideEricwithanelegant,glidingturn.
"Really!"saidEric."Couldn’tIcomeupwithyoutolookatyourhouseandyoursteamenginesandyourpictures?"
"Ofcourse,"saidKarlsson."Naturally!You’remostwelcometocome…anotherday."
"Soon,please,"beggedEric.
"Calm,becalm!"saidKarlsson."I’vegottotidyupabitfirst,butitwon’ttakelong.TheWorld’sFastestTidy-upper—guesswhothatis,"saidKarlssonwithatwinkleinhiseye.
"Perhapsit’syou,"saidEric.
"Perhaps!"shoutedKarlsson."Perhaps?Don’tdoubtitforamoment.TheWorld’sFastestTidy-upper,that’sKarlsson-on-the-Roof,andeveryoneknowsit."
EricwasonlytoowillingtobelievethatKarlssonwasthe"World’sBest"everything.Hewastheworld’sbestplaymate,too;youcouldcertainlysaythat.BridgetandChristopherwerelotsoffun,buttheywerenotexcitinglikeKarlsson-on-the-Roof.EricmadeuphismindtotellBridgetandChristopheraboutKarlssonnexttimetheywalkedhomefromschooltogether.ChristopherwasalwaystalkingabouthisdogJoffa.ErichadbeenjealousofChristopherforalongtimebecauseofthatdog.
IfhecomesoutwithstoriesabouthisoldJoffatomorrow,IshalltellhimaboutKarlsson,thoughtEric."What’sJoffanexttoKarlsson-on-the-Roof?"I’llsay.
