Карлсон, который живет на крыше
Chapter 2
Andyet—therewasnothingintheworldthatEriclongedforsomuchastohaveadogofhisown.
Karlssoninterruptedhisthoughts.
"Ifeellikehavingsomefun,"hesaid,andlookedaroundsearchingly."Haveyougotanothersteamengine?"
Ericshookhishead.Thesteamengine…hmm!Well,Karlssonwashere;MommyandDaddycouldseethathereallydidexist—andBobbyandBetty,too,iftheywerehome.
"WillyoucomealongtomeetMommyandDaddy?"askedEric.
"Delighted,"saidKarlsson."It’llbeatreatforthemtomeetsuchawiseandhandsomefellowasI!"
Karlssonstruttedbackandforthacrossthefloor,lookingverypleasedwithhimself.
"Nottoofatandnottoothin,either,"headded."AManinhisPrime.It’llbeatreatforyourMommytomeetme."
AtthisprecisemomentthefirstfaintsmellofcookingreachedEric’snosefromthekitchen,andheknewthatverysoonnowitwouldbedinnertime.EricdecidedtowaituntilafterdinnerbeforeheintroducedKarlssontoMommyandDaddy.Itisnevergoodpolicytodisturbmotherswhentheyarecooking.Besides,MommyorDaddymighttakeitintotheirheadstotalktoKarlssonaboutthesteamengineandthestainonthebookshelf.Andthatmustbeprevented.WhiletheywerehavingdinnerEriccouldprobably,inatactfulway,makehisparentsrealizehowoneshouldbehavetowardtheWorld’sBestSteamEngineer.Allheneededwasalittletime.Afterdinner—yes,thenitwouldbeallright;andhewouldtakethewholefamilytohisroom.
"Thereyouare!"hewouldsay."Here’sKarlsson-on-the-Roof."Howastonishedtheywouldbe;itwasgoingtobefunseeingtheirsurprise!
