Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           "Promisemeonething,allofyou—youtooBobbyandBetty!Don’ttellanybodyaboutthis—notanybody!"

           "Whynot?"askedBobby.

           "Noonewouldbelieveus,"saidDaddy."Andiftheydidbelieveuswewouldn’thaveamoment’speacefortherestofourlives."

           Daddy,Mommy,Bobby,andBettypromisedeachothernottotellasinglepersonaboutthestrangeplaymateErichadfound.

           Andtheykepttheirword.NoonehaseverheardthemsomuchasmentionKarlsson.ThatiswhyKarlssoncangoonlivinginhislittlehousethatnooneknowsanythingabout,althoughitstandsonanordinaryroofofanordinaryhouseonaperfectlyordinarystreetinStockholm.Karlssoncanwalkaboutandplaytricksundisturbed,andthisisexactlywhathedoes.Becausehe’stheWorld’sBestTricker.

           Allthesandwiches,allthecakes,andthewholeofthebirthdaycakewerefinished,andBridgetandChristopherhadgonehome;Bimboslept,andEricwassayinggood-bytoKarlsson.Karlssonwassittingonthewindowledge,readytoflyoff.Thecurtainsflutteredtoandfro,theairwassoft,foritwassummertime.

           "DearKarlsson,you’llstillbelivingontheroofwhenIcomebackfromGrannie’s,won’tyou?"saidEric.

           "Calm,becalm!"saidKarlsson."Solongasmygrannieletsmego.Butyounevercantell,becauseshethinksI’mtheWorld’sBestGrandchild."

           "Areyou?"askedEric.

           "Ofcourse!Whoelse?Canyouthinkofanybodybetter?"askedKarlsson.

           Thenheturnedthebuttoninthemiddleofhistummyandtheenginebegantobuzz