Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           "Comealong,littledog!"

           "No,hewantstocomewithme,"saidEric,takingafirmholdofthepuppy."Helikesme."

           "Helikesmeaswell,sopoohtoyou,"saidBridget.

           Thelittlepuppylookedasifhewouldlikeeverybodyinthewholeworld,ifonlytheylikedhim.AndEriclikedhim;oh,howhelikedhim!Hestoopedandstrokedthepuppyandmadealotoftenderlittlesoundswhichwereallmeanttosaythatthispuppywasthenicestdogever.ThepuppywaggedhistailandlookedasifhethoughtthesameofEric.Heyappedandleapedabouthappilywhenthechildrenturnedintotheirownstreet.

           Ericwasseizedwithawildhope.

           "Perhapshehasn’tgotanywheretolive!"hesaid."Perhapshedoesn’tbelongtoanyone!"

           "Ha,’coursehedoes,"saidChristopher.

           "Shutup!"saidEric,annoyed."Youdon’tknowanythingaboutit."

           Christopher,whohadJoffa—whatcouldheknowaboutbeingwithoutadog?—notasingledogatall?

           "Comealong,dog,"Ericcalled,feelingmoreandmoresurethatthepuppyhadnowheretolive.

           "Makesurehedoesn’tfollowyouhome,"saidChristopher.

           "Buthecan,"saidEric."Iwanthimtocome."

           Andthepuppyfollowed.HefollowedhimallthewaytoEric’sdoor.ThenEricpickedhimupandcarriedhimupthestairs.

           "I’mgoingtoaskMommyifIcankeephim,"saidEriceagerly.ButMommywasnotinsight;hefoundanotelyingonthekitchentablesayingthatshewasinthebasementdoingthewash,andthatEricshouldlookforherthereifhewantedanything.