Karlsson on the Roof

I think I ought to have some fun, too.”

Bridget and Christopher agreed with him.

“We could have a magic show,” said Karlsson, having soon got over his sulks. “The World’s Best Magician—guess who that is?”

Eric, Bridget, and Christopher guessed at once that it must be Karlsson.

“Then we’ll decide to have a magic show,” said Karlsson.

“All right,” said the children.

“And we’ll decide to have a toffee entrance fee.”

“All right,” said the children.

“And we’ll decide that all the toffees are to go to a deserving charity,” said Karlsson.

“Well—all right, then,” said the children doubtfully.

“And there’s only one really deserving charity and that is Karlsson-on-the-Roof,” said Karlsson.

The children looked at each other.

“Oh, I don’t know …” began Christopher.

“We’ll decide,” shouted Karlsson, “or else I’m going home.”

So it was decided that all the toffees should go to Karlsson-on-the-Roof.

Bridget and Christopher went out into the street and told all the children that there was going to be a big magic show up at Eric’s. And those who still had at least a penny of their pocket money ran off to the sweet shop to buy toffee.

Bridget stood by the door of Eric’s room to collect the toffees, which she put into a box bearing the inscription, “For a Deserving Charity.”

Christopher had arranged chairs for the audience in a row across the floor. In a corner of the room a blanket had been hung, and behind it you could hear a good deal of activity going on, and a dog yapping.

“What are we going to see?” asked a boy called Jack. “A lot of nonsense, probably, and if so I’m going to have my toffee back.”

Neither Eric, Bridget, nor Christopher thought much of Jack; he was always bragging.

Eric, who until now had been standing behind the blanket, came out. He was carrying the little puppy in his arms.

“You are about to see the World’s Best Magician and the clever dog Nicholson,” he said.

“As we were saying … the World’s Best Magician,” said a voice behind the blanket, and Karlsson stepped forward.