Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           Ericfeltthathewasprobably"anyoldsackofhay"anddecidedonthespotnottotryandcopyKarlsson’sflyingantics. 

           "What’syourname?"askedKarlsson. 

           "Eric,"hereplied."EricEricson." 

           "It’squeerhowdifferentthingscanbe—I’mcalledKarlsson,"saidKarlsson."OnlyKarlsson,nothingelse.Hi-ho,Eric!" 

           "Hi-ho,Karlsson,"saidEric. 

           "Howoldareyou?"askedKarlsson. 

           "Seven,"saidEric. 

           "Good!Stayatseven,"saidKarlsson. QuicklyheswungoneofhisfatlittlelegsoverEric’swindowledgeandsteppedintotheroom. 

           "Andhowoldareyou?"askedEric,becausehethoughtKarlssonhadachildishappearanceforaman. 

           "I?"saidKarlsson."I’maManinhisPrime,that’sallIcansay." 

           Ericdidnotquiteknowwhatthismeant,tobeaManinhisPrime. HewonderedifhehimselfwasperhapsalsoaManinhisPrimewithoutknowingit, soheaskedcautiously, "Whichyearsareone’sprime?" 

           "Allofthem,"saidKarlssoninasatisfiedvoice."AtleastasfarasI’mconcerned. Iamhandsome,remarkablywise,andjustplumpenough—infactaManinhisPrime,"hesaid. 

           ThenhetookdownEric’ssteamenginefromthebookshelf. 

           "Shallwestartit?"hesuggested. 

           "Daddywon’tletme,"saidEric. "EitherDaddyorBobbymustbeherewhenIwanttoworkit." 

           "DaddyorBobbyorKarlsson-on-the-Roof,"saidKarlsson. "TheWorld’sBestSteamEngineer,that’sKarlsson-on-the-Roof. TellthattoyourDaddyforme."