Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           Nowatlastthey’dsee…

           Hecouldhaveweptwithdisappointment:theroomwasempty—justliketheothertimewhenhewasgoingtoshowthemKarlsson.

           "Whatdidyouwanttoshowus?"askedDaddy.

           "Nothingspecial,"mumbledEric.

           Luckily,thetelephonerangjustthen,soEricdidnothavetoexplain.Daddywenttoanswerit.AndMommyhadaspongecakeintheoventhatshehadtowatch.Ericfoundhimselfalone.Hesatdownbythewindow;hewasquiteangrywithKarlssonandmadeuphismindtotellhimoffifhecameflyingin.

           Butnoonecameflying.Insteadtheclosetdooropened,andKarlsson’scheeryfaceappeared.

           Ericwasverysurprised."Whatonearthareyoudoinginmycloset?"heasked.

           "Hatchingeggs…no!Contemplatingmysins…no!Lyingontheshelfandresting…yes,"saidKarlsson.

           Ericforgottobeangry.HecouldnothelpbutfeelhappybecauseKarlssonhadturnedupagain.

           "Thisisamarvelousclosetforplayinghide-and-seekin,"saidKarlsson."Let’sdothat!I’llliedownontheshelfagain,andyouguesswhereIam."

           BeforeErichadtimetoanswer,Karlssonhaddisappearedintothecloset,andEriccouldhearhimstrugglingtogetuptotheshelf.

           "Coo-ee,"shoutedKarlsson.

           Ericopenedtheclosetdoorwideand,withoutmuchdifficulty,foundKarlssonontheshelf.

           "Youhorridboy!"shoutedKarlsson."Youshouldhavelookedunderthebedandbehindthetableandinotherplacesfirst.I’mgoinghomeifthat’sthewayyou’regoingtoplay.