Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           Hesnatchedameatballonhisway,roserapidlyuptotheceiling,andcircledroundthelight,contentedlymunchingthemeatball.

           "Delicious!Excellent!"hesaid."You’dalmostthinktheWorld’sBestMeatball-Makerhadcookedit,butit’sobvioushehasn’t,"saidKarlsson.Andhemadeasuddendivetowardtheplateandseizedanother.

           Mommywascallingfromthekitchen,"Eric,it’sdinnertime.Hurryupandwashyourhandsandcomealong!"

           "Ihavetogo,"saidEricandputtheplatedown."ButI’llsoonbeback.Promiseyou’llwaitforme!"

           "Allright,butwhatshallIdowhileyou’reaway?"saidKarlsson,landingbesideEricwithareproachfullittlethud."Imusthavesomefunwhileyou’reaway.Haven’tyoureallygotanymoresteamengines?"

           "No,"saidEric,"butyoucanborrowmyboxofbuildingblocks."

           "O.K.,"saidKarlsson.

           Ericfetchedhisboxofbuildingblocksfromthecupboardwherehekepthistoys.Itwasindeedafinekitofblocks,withvariouspartsthatcouldbescrewedtogethertomakealargenumberofdifferentthings.

           "Hereyouare,"hesaid."Youcanbuildcarsandcranesandallsortsofthings…"

           "Andyoudon’tsupposethattheWorld’sBestBuilding-Erectordoesn’tknowwhatyoucanbuildandcannotbuild?"saidKarlsson.Rapidlyhepoppedyetanothermeatballintohismouthandproceededtoinvestigatethebox.

           "Let’ssee,let’ssee,"hesaid,emptyingoutallthepiecesontothefloor.