Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           "NowdoyouunderstandwhyIwantErictobeoutoftheway?Hefrightensawayeverysinglepersonwhocomestoseeme."

           "Oh,Idon’tthinkso,"saidMommymildly.Itdistressedhertohearthechildrenquarreling.

           "Hedoes,"insistedBetty."Didn’thefrightenawayClaude,forone?Hestoodandstaredathimforalongtime,andthenhesaid,‘Idon’tthinkBettylikesearslikethat.’NowonderClaudedidn’tcomeback."

           "Calm,becalm!"saidEricinexactlythesametoneofvoiceasKarlsson’s."Calm,becalm.Iwillsitinmyroom,andI’lldoitfornothing.Idon’ttakepaymentforkeepingoutofpeople’swaywhentheydon’twanttoseeme."

           "Good!"saidBetty."Promise?Promiseyouwon’tshowupthewholeevening?"

           "O.K.,"saidEric."I’mnotsointerestedinyourboyfriendsasallthat.I’dpayanickelnottoseethem!"

           LaterthateveningEricsat,aspromised,inhisroom—withoutpayment.MommyandDaddyhadgonetothemovies,Bobbyhadvanished,andifEricopenedhisdoorhecouldhearafaintmurmurfromthesittingroom.InthereBettysat,talkingsoftlywithherRoger.Ericopenedthedoortwice,tryingtocatchwhattheyweresaying,buthecouldnothear.Thenhewenttothewindowandpeeredoutintothegatheringdarkness.HelookedupanddownthestreettoseeifBridgetandChristopherwerethere.Butheonlysawtwobigboysfighting.Thescrapwasinterestingwhileitlasted,butunfortunatelytheboyssoonstoppedandeverythingwasquietandboringagain.