Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           "I’dmuchratherhaveadogthanawife,"hesaid."Mommy,couldn’tIhaveadog?"

           Mommysighed.Oh,dear!Ericwasstartingupaboutthatblesseddogagain!ItwasnearlyastroublesomeasKarlsson-on-the-Roof.

           "I’mafraidyou’llhavetohurryandgetdressed,"saidMommy,"oryou’llbelateforschool."

           "Youwouldsaythat,"saidEriccrossly."WhenItalkaboutmydog,youstarttalkingaboutschool!"

           Butitwasapleasuretogotoschooltoday,becausehehadalottotalkaboutwithBridgetandChristopher.Theywalkedhometogetherasusual,anditwasmorepleasantthanithadbeenforalongtime,thoughtEric,nowthatBridgetandChristopheralsoknewKarlsson.

           "He’ssuchfun!"saidBridget."D’youthinkhe’llcomeagaintoday?"

           "Idon’tknow,"saidEric."Heonlysayshe’scomingabout,andthatcanbeanytime."

           "Ihopehe’llcomeabouttoday,"saidChristopher."CanBridgetandIgohomewithyou?"

           "Idon’tmind,"saidEric.

           Therewassomeoneelsewhowantedtocome.Asthechildrenwerestartingtocrossthestreet,alittlewhitepoodlecamerunninguptoEric.Hesniffedathislegandyappedinafriendlyfashion.

           "Whatadearlittledog!"saidEric,blissfullyhappy."Look,he’sprobablyafraidofthetrafficandwantstocrossoverwithus."

           Ericwouldhavebeendelightedtohelphimacrossanynumberofstreets.Perhapsthepuppyknewthis,becauseitwalkedbetweenthecrossinglines,pressedclosetoEric’sleg.

           "Isn’thesweet!"saidBridget.