Карлсон, который живет на крыше
Chapter 3
"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.
