Chapter 6

           ItwasnotuntilthefollowingdayatthedinnertablethattheyaskedErichowhehadmanagedtogetupontheroof.

           "Didyouclimbthroughtheskylightintheattic?"askedMommy.

           "No,IflewupwithKarlsson-on-the-Roof"saidEric.

           MommyandDaddylookedateachother.

           "No,itcan’tgoonanylonger,"saidMommy."ThatKarlsson-on-the-Roofisdrivingmecrazy."

           "Eric,thereisnoKarlsson-on-the-Roof,"saidDaddy.

           "Isn’tthere?"saidEric."Hewasthereyesterday."

           Mommyshookherhead.

           "It’sagoodthingthisterm’snearlyfinishedsothatyoucangoandstaywithyourGrannie,"shesaid."IhopeKarlsson-on-the-Roofwon’tbegoingtherewithyou,atanyrate."

           ThiswasaproblemthatErichadoverlooked.HewasgoingtoGrannie’sforthesummervacation,andhewouldnotseeKarlssonfortwomonths.Itwasn’tthathedidn’tlikeitatGrannie’s(healwayshadagoodtimethere),but,oh,howhewouldmissKarlsson!AndsupposingKarlssonwasnotlivingontheroofanymorewhenEriccamehomeagain!

           Withhiselbowsonthetableandhisheadrestingonhishands,hesatthereandtriedtoimaginewhatlifewouldbelikewithoutKarlsson.

           "Takeyourelbowsoffthetable;youshouldknowbetter,"saidBetty.

           "Mindyourownbusiness,"saidEric.

           "Takeyourelbowsoffthetable,Eric,"saidMommy."Willyouhavesomemorecauliflower?"

           "No,I’dratherbedead."

           "Eric,that’snowaytospeak,"saidDaddy."Youshouldsay,‘No,thankyou.