Карлсон, который живет на крыше
Chapter 6
’"
Whatawaytoorderahundred-thousand-million-dollarchildabout,thoughtEric,buthedidnotsayso.Insteadhesaid,"Don’tyouknowthatwhenIsay,‘I’dratherbedead,’Imean‘No,thankyou’?"
"Butthat’snotthewayagentlemanwouldspeak,"Daddysaidfirmly."Andyouwanttobeagentleman,don’tyou,Eric?"
"No,I’dratherbelikeyou,Daddy,"saidEric.
MommyandBettyandBobbylaughed;Ericcouldnotunderstandwhy,buthefeltthattheywerelaughingatDaddy,andhedidnotlikeit.
"Iwanttobelikeyou,Daddy,becauseyou’realwaysnice,"hesaid,lookingaffectionatelyathisfather.
"Thankyou,son,"saidDaddy."Now,whataboutit,don’tyouwantsomecauliflowerafterall?"
"No,I’dratherbedead,"saidEric.
"Butit’sgoodforyou,"saidMommy.
"JustwhatIthought,"saidEric."Becausethenastierthefoodtastes,thebetteritisforyou.Whydotheyhavetostuffallthevitaminsintothingsyoucan’teat?That’swhatIwanttoknow."
"Yes,isn’titqueer?"saidBobby."Isupposeyouthinktheyshouldbeputintoffeesandchewingguminstead!"
"That’sthesensiblestthingyou’vesaidforalongtime,"saidEric.
Afterdinnerhewenttohisroom.HewishedwithallhisheartthatKarlssonwouldcome.Soonhewouldbegoingaway,andhewantedtoseeasmuchofKarlssonaspossiblebeforethen.
MaybeKarlssonfeltthisunconsciouslybecausehecameflyingbyassoonasEricputhisnoseoutsidethewindow.
