Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           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."