Chapter 7

           Nextmorningasleepy,tousledlittlefiguredressedinblue-stripedpajamascamepatteringonbarefeettoMommyinthekitchen.BettyandBobbyhadgonetoschoolandDaddytotheoffice.ButEricdidnothavetoleaveuntillater,andhewasgladofthat,becauseitwasnicehavingMommytohimselfforashorttimeinthemornings.Althoughheregardedhimselfasabigboywhowenttoschoolalready,hestilllikedtositonMommy’slapwhentherewasnoonetheretosee.Itwaseasytotalkthen;andiftheywerenotinahurry,MommyandEricwouldsingandtelleachotherstories.

           Mommywassittingbythekitchentable,readingthenewspaperanddrinkinghermorningcoffee.Withoutaword,Ericclimbedontoherlapandcurledupinherarms.Sheheldhimsilentlyuntilhehadwakedupproperly.

           LastnightMommyandDaddyhadwalkedfartherthantheyintended,andwhentheycamehome,Ericwasalreadyinbed,fastasleep.Hehadkickedoffhisbed-clothes,andwhenMommywenttotuckhiminshefoundtwouglyholesinthesheet.Itwasverydirty,too;someonehadbeendrawingonitwithcharcoal.NowonderEricwenttosleepearly,thoughtMommy.Butnowtheculpritwashereonherlap,andshewasdefinitelynotgoingtolethimescapewithoutanexplanation.

           "Now,Eric,"shesaid,"Icertainlywouldliketoknowwhomadethoseholesinyoursheet—andyou’renotgoingtotellmeitwasKarlsson-on-the-Roof."

           Ericwassilent,thinkinghard.