Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           "It’seasyenoughtopulleverythingdownandthentosayit’sasmallmatter,andthat’sallthereistoit.Butthinkofpoorlittleme,buildingthattowerwithmyownhands!"

           HepushedhischubbyhandsrightunderEric’snose.Thenhesatdownagainonthestoolandlookedmoresurlythanever."Ifthisishowit’sgoingtobe,I’mgoinghome,"hesaid.

           Ericwasindespair.Hestoodthere,notknowingwhattodo.Therewassilenceforalongtime.IntheendKarlssonsaid,"Ifsomeonegavemealittlepresent,maybeI’dbehappyagain.It’snotcertain,butperhapsI’dbehappyifsomeonegavemealittlepresent."

           Ericranovertothetableandbeganquicklytorummageinthedrawer,becauseinithehadalotofnicethings.Therehekepthisstampsandhismarblesandhiscrayonsandhistinsoldiers.Itwastherethathekeptasmallflashlightwhichhewasveryfondof.

           "Wouldyoulikethis?"hesaid,holdingouttheflashlightforKarlssontosee.

           Karlssonsnatcheditfromhim.

           "ThisisjustthesortofthingIneedtomakemehappyagain,"hesaid."Itisn’tsoniceasmytower,butifyougiveittomeI’lltrytobealittlehappy,anyway."

           "I’mgivingittoyou,"saidEric.

           "Itdoesswitchon,Isuppose?"saidKarlssonsuspiciously,pressingtheknob.Yes,theflashlightlitup,andKarlsson’seyesbegantoshine,too.