Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           SherealizedthatitwasquiteuselesstotrytogettheseideasoutofEric’shead;soallshesaidwas,"IthinkyoushouldplayalittlemorewithBridgetandChristopherandnotthinkquitesomuchaboutKarlsson."

           "ButKarlssondoesn’tthrowgreatbigstonesatme,"saidEric,touchingthelumponhisforehead.Thenheremembered,andhesmiledsunnilyathismother."Anyway,todayI’mgoingtoseewhereKarlssonlives,"hesaid."I’dalmostforgotten."

           Hewassorrythemomenthesaidit.HowcouldhebesosillyastotellMommy?

           ButtohismotheritdidnotsoundanymoreworrisomethanotherthingshehadtoldheraboutKarlsson,andshesaidwithoutthinking,"Oh,that’llbeniceforyou!"

           ShewouldnothavefeltsohappyifshehadtakeninfullywhatEricwassayingandhadthoughtofwhereKarlssonwassupposedtolive.

           Ericrosefromthetable,and,afterthegoodsnack,suddenlyfeltverypleasedwithhisworld.Thelumponhisforeheaddidnothurtanylonger,hestillhadthedelicioustasteofthecinnamonbunsinhismouth,thesunwasshininginthroughthekitchenwindow,andMommylookedverycozywithherroundarmsandhercheckedapron.Hegaveheraquicksqueezeandsaid,"Ilikeyou,Mommy!"

           "That’snice,"saidMommy.

           "Yes…Ilikeyou’causeyou’resuchacozyMommy."

           ThenhewentintohisroomandsatdowntowaitforKarlsson.Hewasgoingtobeallowedupontheroofwithhim,sowhatdiditmatterifChristophersaidKarlssonwasnothingbutmake-believe?

           Erichadalongwait.