Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           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!