Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           ButErictooknonoticeofthem.Heweptsothathiswholebodyshook.Hisbirthdaywasentirelyspoiled.Hewasdeterminedtobehappy,althoughhewasnotgoingtohaveadog;butwhentheycameandgavehimavelvetdog…Hisweepingrosetopitifulsobswhenhethoughtofit,andheburrowedhisfaceasfarintothepillowashecould.Mommy,Bobby,andBettystoodbythebed,andtheytoowereunhappy.

           "ImustcallupDaddyandaskhimtocomehomefromtheofficealittleearlier,"saidMommy.

           Ericwascrying…whatgoodwoulditdoifDaddycamehome?Everythingwassadnow,andthebirthdaywasspoiled.Nothingwouldmakeanydifference.

           AlittlelaterheheardDaddycomehome…buthecried.Hewouldneverbehappyagain.Itwouldbebettertodie,andthenBobbyandBettycouldkeeptheirvelvetdogandnever,neverforgethowhorridtheyhadbeentotheirlittlebrotherwhenhewasaliveandhadhisbirthday.

           Suddenlytheywereallstandingbyhisbed,DaddyandMommyandBobbyandBetty.Heburiedhisfaceevendeeperinthepillow.

           "Eric!There’ssomeonewaitingforyououtinthehall,"saidDaddy.

           Ericdidnotanswer.Daddyshookhimbytheshoulder.

           "There’salittlefriendofyoursinthehall;listentome!"

           "IsitBridgetorChristopher?"mutteredEriccrossly.

           "No,it’ssomebodycalledBimbo,"saidMommy.

           "Idon’tknowanyonecalledBimbo,"mumbledEric,evenmorecrossly.

           "Perhapsnot,"saidMommy."Butheverymuchwantstogettoknowyou."Asshespokeashortlittleyappingbarkwasheardfromthehall.