Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           "Idon’tthinkyou’reill,"hesaid.

           "You’reperfectlyhorrid,"saidKarlsson,stampinghisfoot."AmIneverallowedtobeilllikeotherpeople?"

           "Doyouwanttobeill?"askedEric,astonished.

           "Everyonewantstobeill,don’tthey?"saidKarlsson."Iwanttolieinbedandhavelotsandlotsoftemperature,andyoumustaskhowIfeel,andIwillsaythatI’mtheWorld’sIllest,andyoumustaskifthere’sanythingIwant,andIwillsaythatI’msoveryillIdon’twantanythingatall…exceptalotofcakes,andheapsofchocolates,andapileofsweets."

           KarlssonlookedexpectantlyatEric,whostoodtherehelpless,notknowingwherehecouldimmediatelygetholdofallthethingsthatKarlssonhadmentioned.

           "Iwantyoutobelikeamothertome,"continuedKarlsson,"andyoumusttellmethatIhavetotakesomehorridmedicine…butImusthaveapennyfortakingit.Andthenyou’llwrapawarm,woollyscarfaroundmyneck,andI’llsaythatittickles…ifyoudon’tgivemeanotherpenny."

           EricwantedtobelikeamothertoKarlsson.Andthismeantthathemustemptythemoneyboxwhichheldhissavings.Itstoodonthebookshelf,heavywithcoins.Ericfetchedaknifefromthekitchenandbegantoprodthemout.Karlssonhelpedeagerlyandshoutedwithjoyeverytimeacoincametumblingout.Thereweresomenickelsanddimes,butKarlssonlikedthepenniesbest.

           Whentheboxwasempty,Ericrandowntothesweetshopandspentnearlyallhissavingsongumdropsandchocolate.