Карлсон, который живет на крыше
Chapter 8
Theminuteswhenhewaslyinginbed,waitingforthedoortoopenandforthefamilytotroopin—withpresentsandeverything—werealmosttooexciting.Ericfelttensewitheagerexpectation.
Butatlasttheycame.Nowtheystartedsinging"Happybirthdaytoyou."Nowthedooropened,andtheretheywere,allofthem,MommyandDaddyandBobbyandBetty.
Ericsatupinhisbed,straightasaramrod,andhiseyessparkled.
"Happybirthday,darling!"saidMommy.
Theyallwishedhimhappybirthday.Thecakewitheightcandleswasthereonatraywithsomeofthepresents—severalpresents,butperhapsnotquitesomanyasheusuallyhadonhisbirthday.ButDaddysaid,"Theremaybemorepresentslaterintheday.Theydon’tallnecessarilycomeinthemorning."
Ericwasverypleasedwithallofhispresents.Therewereaboxofpaints,atoypistol,abook,andapairofbluejeans,andhelikedeverything.Howkindtheywere—MommyandDaddyandBobbyandBetty!Noonecouldhaveakinderfamilythanhehad,hethought.
Hetookacoupleofshotswithhispistol,anditmadeafinenoise.Thewholefamilysatonhisbedandlistened.Oh,howhelovedthemall!
"Tothinkthateightyearshavegonebysincethislittleboycameintotheworld!"saidDaddy.
"Yes,"saidMommy,"howtimeflies!DoyourememberhowitpouredinStockholmthatday?"
"Mommy!IwasborninStockholm,wasn’tI?"saidEric.
"Yes,ofcourseyouwere,"saidMommy.
"ButBobbyandBetty—theywereborninMalmö?"
"Yes,theywere."
