Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           ButEriclaughed;hecouldnotexplain,sohejustlaughed.

           "Cock-a-doodle-do,"camefromthecloset.

           "I’mgoingtoopenthedoorandhavealook,"saidBridget.

           Sheopeneditandpeepedin.Christopherjoinedherandhelooked,too.Atfirsttheycouldseenothingbutalotofclotheshangingthere.Butthentheyheardatitteringfromabove,andwhentheylookeduptheysawafatlittlemanontheshelf.Hewaslyingdowncomfortably,leaningononeelbow,anddanglingachubbyleg,whichswungslowlytoandfro.Hehadshining,happyblueeyes.

           BothBridgetandChristopherwerespeechless.Joffautteredagrowl.

           ButwhenBridgetfoundhertongueshesaid,"Who’sthat?"

           "OnlyalittleMake-Believe,"saidthestrangefigureontheshelf,wagglinghischubbylegmorerapidly."AsmallMake-Believetakingarest.Inshort…anInvention!"

           "Isit…isit…?"stutteredChristopher.

           "AsmallInventionislyinghere,justcrowing,that’sall,"saidthelittleman.

           "IsitKarlsson-on-the-Roof?"whisperedBridget.

           "Whatdoyouthink?"saidKarlsson."DidyouthinkitwasoldMrs.PeabodyfromNumber92who’screptinhereforanap?"

           Ericwasunabletostoplaughing,becauseBridgetandChristopherstoodtherewiththeirmouthswideopen,lookingverysilly.

           "Youhaven’tgotmuchtosaynow,haveyou?"saidEricatlast.

           Karlssonleapeddownfromtheshelf.HewentuptoBridgetandpinchedhercheekroguishly.

           "AndwhatlittleChildishInventionmightthisbe,then?"heasked.

           "We…"beganChristopher.