Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           ’"

           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.