Chapter 8

           Itwassummertime.Schoolwasover,andEricwouldsoonbegoingtohisGrannie’s.Butfirstaveryimportanteventwasduetotakeplace.Ericwouldbeeightyearsold.Oh,whatalongtimehehadwaitedforthisdaytocome…eversincehisseventhbirthday!Strangethatitshouldbesolongbetweenbirthdays—almostaslongasbetweenChristmases.

           OntheeveofhisbirthdayErichadalittletalkwithKarlsson.

           "I’mgoingtohaveabirthdayparty,"saidEric."BridgetandChristopherarecoming,andwecanhaveteainmyroom…"

           Ericpausedandlookedgloomy."I’dlikeverymuchtoaskyou,too,"hesaid,"but—"

           MommygotsoangryatanymentionofKarlsson-on-the-Roof.ItdidnotseemmuchuseaskinghertoletKarlssoncometohisbirthdayparty.

           ButKarlssonpouted,withhislowerlipstuckoutmorethanever.

           "I’mgoinghomeifIcan’tcome,"hesaid."Whyshouldn’tIhavesomefun?"

           "Yes,allright!Youcancome,"saidErichastily.HewouldtalktoMommy,comewhatmay.ItwasimpossibletohaveabirthdaypartywithoutKarlsson.

           "Whatwilltherebetoeat?"askedKarlsson,nowrestoredtogoodhumor.

           "Birthdaycake,ofcourse,"saidEric."Iwillhaveacakewitheightcandlesonit."

           "Oh!"saidKarlsson."Look,I’vegotanidea."

           "What?"askedEric.

           "Couldn’tyouaskyourMommyforeightbirthdaycakesandonecandleinstead?"

           EricdidnotthinkhisMommywouldagreetothat.

           "Willyougetsomenicepresents,then?"askedKarlsson.

           "Idon’tknow,"saidEric.

           Hesighed.