Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           ThisiswhathappenedwhenKarlssonandEricfirstmet. 

           ItwasoneofthosedayswheneverythingwentwrongandwhenitwasnofunatalltobeEric. Asarule,itwasquitenicetobeEric. Hewasthedarlingandpetofthewholefamily,andtheyspoiledhimforalltheywereworth. Butthereweredayswhenthingskeptgoingwrong. ThenyouwerescoldedbyMommybecauseyouhadwornaholeinyourtrousers,andBettywouldsay, "Blowyournose,child,"andDaddywouldmakeafussbecauseyouwerelatecominghomefromschool. 

           "Whydoyouhangaroundthestreetcorners?"askedDaddy. 

           "Hangaroundthestreetcorners?"Ofcourse,Daddydidn’tknowthatErichadmetadog —anice,beautiful,friendlydog,whohadsniffedatEric andwaggedhistailandlookedasifhewouldverymuchliketobeEric’sowndog. 

           IfErichadhadanychoice,itwouldcertainlyhavebecomehisatonce. ButthedifficultywasthatDaddyandMommydidnotwantadoginthehouse. Andalsoaladyhadsuddenlyappeared,shouting, "Rickey,comehere!"andthenEricknewthatthisdogcouldneverbelongtohim. 

           "Itdoesn’tlookasifI’lleverhaveadogaslongasIlive," saidEricbitterlythatdaywheneverythingseemedtogowrong. "You,Mommy—you’vegotDaddy; andBobbyandBettyalwayssticktogether;butI—I’vegotnobody." 

           "ButdarlingEric,you’vegotusall,"saidMommy. 

           "Ihaven’t,"saidEricmorebitterlystill, feelingsuddenlythathewasquitealoneintheworld. 

           Hehadonething,though.Hehadaroomofhisown,andthatwaswherehewent.