Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           "Haven’tyougotatemperaturetoday?"askedEric.

           "Temperature!Me?"saidKarlsson."I’veneverhadatemperatureinmylife!Itwasmake-believe."

           "Didyouimaginethatyouhadatemperature?"saidEric,surprised.

           "No,butImadeyoubelievethatIhad,"saidKarlssonwithadelightedlaugh."TheWorld’sBestTricker—guesswhothatis?"

           Karlssonwasnotstillforamoment.Allthetimehewastalkinghescamperedaroundtheroom,fingeringeverythinginquisitively,openingasmanycupboardsanddrawersashecould,andexaminingtheircontentswiththegreatestinterest.

           "No,Ihaven’tgotanytemperaturetoday,"hesaid."TodayI’mtremendouslywellandfeellikehavingsomefun."

           Ericfeltlikesomefun,too.ButfirstofallhewantedMommyandDaddyandBobbyandBettytoseeKarlsson,sothathewouldn’thavetolistentotheirnaggingaboutKarlsson’snotexisting.

           "Waitaminute,"hesaidquickly."Iwon’tbelong."

           Herushedintothesittingroom.BettyandBobbyhadjustgoneout(whichwastoobad),buthismotherandfatherweresittingthere,andEricsaideagerly,"MommyandDaddy,pleasecometomyroomrightaway?"

           HedarednotsayanythingaboutKarlsson;itwouldbebetteriftheysawhimunexpectedly.

           "Won’tyoucomeandsitwithusinstead?"saidMommy.ButErictuggedatherarm.

           "No,pleasecome!Iwanttoshowyousomething."

           Aftersomepersuasionhemanagedtogetthembothtocome,andjoyfullyheopenedthedoortohisroom.