"* The Children of Noisy Village *" "Lisa!" "* That's me, Lisa." "I live in Bullerby village, on North Farm. *" "* And those are my brothers, Lasse and Bosse. *" "Come on!" "Hurry up, the photographer's here!" "* I don't have any sisters, but Britta and Anna are my friends. *" "* They live in Bullerby, too. *" "Hello, Grandpa." "* Today is Grandpa's birthday." "We all call him Grandpa in Bullerby. *" "~ Olle?" "Come here, Olle!" "~ Coming!" "* Olle lives on South Farm with his little sister, Kerstin. *" "* There are not a lot of children in Bullerby, but there are enough. *" "* And we have our mothers and fathers here, too, of course. *" "* And animals." "We have lots of animals in Bullerby. *" "Agda, we're going to have our photo taken." "Are we?" "I'll go and get Oskar." "* Agda is our maid, and Oskar is our farm hand. *" "They said that we can be in the photo, too!" "* That's all of us who live in Bullerby. *" "Let's go." "They're waiting for us!" "~ Get a little closer together." "~ You're not in the picture, Oskar!" "All right, everyone look at my hand." "Nobody move." "It's very important." "* And nobody moved." "Anna, Britta... * * ..." "Olle, Bosse... * * ..." "Lasse... and me, Lisa. *" "Is everybody ready?" "Let's see your happiest smile." "And ... don'tmove!" "* We took this picture on Grandpa's 80th birthday. *" "* All the children in Bullerby go to school. *" "* It's a good school, especially when it is closed for the summer!" "*" "Have a great summer, all of you!" "Hello!" "If it isn't the fine children of Bullerby." "* Our storekeeper -- he's nice." "And talks kind of funny. *" "Why do we have to walk on the road?" "Who made up that rule anyway?" "~ Oh, grownups, I imagine." "~ I'm sure you're right." "* Mummy always wonders why it takes twice as long to get home from school as it does to get there. *" "* But that's not so strange... *" "~ Are those clothes sitting on top of that fence?" "~ No, I'm a finch, can't you see, Oskar?" "I can fly." "~ If you're a finch, so are we." "~ Where's Lasse going?" "~ Come over here!" "Anyone who touches the ground is dead!" "~ Ha!" "ha!" "You're dead!" "~ No, I'm not!" "~ Now you're dead!" "* This is the shoemaker's house." "His name is Mr. Kind. *" "Shut up, dog!" "You've had more than enough to eat." "Good day, sir!" "* Mr. Kind is not very kind." "Not in the least. *" "Hello, dog." "If you were tied up like that, wouldn't you be angry all the time?" "~ Come on!" "~ Let's go!" "~ Oh, it's so dusty!" "~ Dusty?" "So what." "You'd never say, Oh, there's too much sunshine." "He's right." "Why should we like it when the birds sing or it's sunny, but not [cough]..." "* It's strange that there are things we're supposed to like, and things we're not supposed to like. *" "* So we decided to like the things we're not supposed to. *" "* Lasse calls the first night of our summer holiday the 'big fishing night'. *" "* We always go to North Pond to fish. *" "~ Got one!" "~ Hmmpf." "Some big fishing night." "This one is so tiny." "Not even the cat would want that one." "~ It's about time!" "~ Lasse and I can give you lessons in fishing." "If we have time!" "~ Hey, give me a worm!" "~ Ugggh, the sun is shining!" "[giggle]" "Ugggh, the birds are singing!" "~ Oh, another mosquito." "~ How many bites have you got?" "~ Dunno, let's see." "One, two, ... ~ Look at this one!" "~ The fish are really biting." "~ ...six, seven, eight..." "~ I've got 14 bites on my right leg, and four on my left." "~ I've got 8 bites on this leg." "~ Who wins?" "~ Oh, I don't feel like counting." "I don't want to count on our summer holiday." "Oh!" "Where are you going?" "Come back!" "Go on, pull!" "Ugh, your clothes are covered in dust." "What on earth were you doing?" "Ugh?" "I love dust!" "...died in her home in north village." "The entire community mourns her passing..." "* Britta, Anna, and I take turns reading the newspaper to Grandpa." "His eyes are so bad. *" "* We read about who has died, and who is having his 50th birthday, and about all the accidents. *" "* We even read the ads to him. *" "Mrs. Olsen will be buried in the grave next to her husband in the north village church yard..." "Where did you say that was?" "Come on, boys, it's time." "Are you coming too, girls?" "~ Coming!" "~ Hurry up!" "Climb aboard!" "~ You're too little, Kerstin!" "~ When you're older." "* We're going to Johan the miller, with our rye. *" "* Daddy doesn't mind at all when we go. *" "* Our mare is smarter than all the children in the village put together. *" "Come help me feed the chickens." "Everybody off!" "Be careful!" "Don't get too close!" "* The mill is such an exciting place." "It's beautiful, but a little scary. *" "~ Look there!" "~ Can you imagine getting caught in it?" "Pass along a sack!" "~ Up!" "~ There's supposed to be a troll living here." "His name is Nack." "~ Yeah, right!" "~ It's true." "Johan says so, and he should know better than you, Olle." "Well, Johan is a little funny in the head." "And he says that elves dance in the night, too." "~ He says a lot of things." "They're just silly stories." "~ You don't believe in elves, Olle?" "~ No." "Johan!" "Olle says your stories about Nack aren't true!" "Yes, it's as true as I'm standing here now." "I've seen and heard Nack lots of times." "~ So it's true that Nack comes to the mill?" "~ Is he a ghost?" "A spectre?" "One thing for certain, he's not human, but he can play that fiddle of his." "~ See, Olle?" "~ Anyway, I don't believe in him." "Well I do!" "Johan?" "Johan, can you show us where he sits when he plays his fiddle?" "Certainly." "Just follow me." "C'mon." "There, on that big rock, you see?" "That's where he sits all night." "His music is sad all of the time." "It's really a shame." "He'll never be allowed to go up to heaven." "~ But you will, won't you, Johan?" "~ Oh yes." "I'll get there." "~ Guess where I've decided to go this evening." " No idea." "To see Nack the troll." "You're crazy." "You really are." "Anyone want to come along?" "~ Bah, you're all scared, aren't you?" "~ No!" "~ Aw, there's no Nack." "~ Would you come with me?" "~ I don't know!" "It really doesn't matter." "I'll just go alone if you're afraid." "* All of us wanted to go, of course." "Even Olle. *" "* But I wondered what Mummy and Daddy would say if we went out in the middle of the night. *" "Lisa, wake up..." "~ Hurry, we're waiting for you." "~ I'm coming!" "~ She's coming!" "~ Where's Olle?" "Did anyone wake Olle up?" "~ No." "Come on!" "Let's go, Olle." "~ Hurry up!" "~ Wait!" "Run!" "I tripped on the stair!" "Lucky I didn't wake up Papa." "~ Oh, I'm getting scared!" "~ I told you, there's no troll." "~ We'll find out very soon." "~ I'll go and look." "~ I'll go with you." "~ Wait a second!" "We don't all have to go." "You wait here and I'll yell if I see him, okay?" "~ What if he's not there?" "~ Then I won't yell." "Just count slowly to 100 and if I don't yell, then you can come." "But be very quiet or you'll scare him away." "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11... 52... 53... 54... 55... 56... 98... 99... 100." "I've got butterflies in my stomach." "He didn't yell, huh?" "We'd better get going." "~ I'm scared!" "~ Aw, there's no Nack." "Look, there he is." "Oh, where's Lasse?" "The big bad Nack, sits on his rock, and frightens stupid children." "Not funny!" "You were all so very scared!" "I wasn't afraid." "Easy." "Sit down, Svipp." "I'm just going to the shoemaker's with Mama's shoes." "Look at what I've brought for you." "A nice bone." "Don't forget to pick up Agda's shoes!" "Don't worry, I won't." "I promised we'd bring them home." "You go ahead to the meadow..." "I'll be right there." "~ Good day. ~ Good day." "~ I've brought my mum's shoes to be fixed." "They need new soles." "She needs them before Sunday." "We'll see about that." "~ I also came to pick up Agda's shoes, please." "~ Which ones are Agda's?" "~ Those are hers up there." "~ Well, why didn't you say so in the first place?" "~ If there is another Agda with shoes here, why don't you give me those, too?" "~ Take them and get out of here!" "Thanks." "There, there, Svipp." "Good doggie!" "Hurry up, Olle!" "We're shipwrecked on a desert island!" "* The meadow behind the shoemaker's cottage is always flooded in Spring and early Summer. *" "* That's when it's really fun to play there. *" "At last!" "Land!" "~ We made it!" "~ Land!" "Take them, Lasse." "My hearty crew -- all is lost!" "Oh, we shall die on this island." "There is not a drop of water." "You're crazy, Lasse." "Look around." "The meadow is full of water." "Stupid -- this is a desert island!" "There is nothing here but salt water." "~ You know what happens when you drink salt water." "~ No, what?" "It makes you very sick." "I mean, crazy in the head!" "What are you doing, Olle?" "* Lasse said to stay away from the ocean, and that he would shoot anyone... * * who drank salt water, because he didn't want a gang of crazy kids on the island. *" "It's too late for Olle." "I've got to shoot him." "~ No!" "~ Please, please, try to follow my example." "Be brave in action!" "Be brave, me hearties!" "We can make it!" "Hey, I see a ship out there." "~ We'd better shout for help." "~ I don't think we'll be rescued for years, but we can shout all the same." "Help!" "Help!" "~ Help!" "Help!" "~ Rescue us!" "What in God's name are you doing out there?" "So you're stuck, are you?" "Bah!" "You got there on your own and you can get back on your own." "Why don't you kids just stay at home." "Next time I see you around here, do you know what will happen?" "I'll send my dog after you, so you'd better watch out if you know what's good for you." "That shoemaker really hates everybody!" "Yeah, the pigs on the farms are a lot smarter than he is." "Hey, Lasse, where are Agda's shoes?" "~ Shoot!" "I forgot them." "~ You didn't!" "~ What's wrong?" "I dropped Agda's shoes back there." "Who'll come back with me to get them?" "* Lasse said it wasn't an island anymore." "Now it was a pirate ship, with a valuable treasure on board. *" "* What he meant was Agda's shoes. *" "* Our job was to take the treasure away from the pirates, because we were pirates, too. *" "~ Fight those pirates!" "~ Take no quarter!" "Come on!" "~ I found the treasure!" "~ Hurrah!" "~ Get away from there!" "~ Oh boy, this looks like trouble." "Go on, beat it!" "~ Get away from there!" "I'm warning you!" "~ Hey, wait for me!" "Go on!" "I'll sic my dog on you!" "Come on, then, out you go." "Out." "Did you get my shoes, Lasse?" "Did you get my shoes?" "Um, not really." "You mean they're not ready yet?" "No, they are." "But..." "Well, where are they?" "What Lasse is trying to say is, some pirates are guarding your shoes." "And a very nasty shoemaker!" "* When the planted fields are ready to be thinned out, grownups are really happy that they have us children. *" "* We kids help thin out all fields in turn:" "North Farm, Middle Farm, and South Farm. *" "* It's a lot of fun when we do it together. *" "All together now!" "The faster you work, the quicker you'll finish." "Here we go." "~ We get a penny for each row, right?" "~ That's what I said." "* It was a lot of fun in the beginning, but you get tired of it very quickly. *" "* By the time we reached South Farm, I began to wish there was not another row in the whole world. *" "* But we still had to keep going until every single row was thinned out. *" "~ It's so hot, I'm dying." "Look, I'm dead!" "~ Me, too." "Oh, c'mon, up you get." "We're not done yet." "But we're sleepy -- it's so hot!" "Stop complaining." "We're all hot." "You're not going to finish if you just sit there all day." "Let's think of something neat to make the time pass." "Something that's fun!" "We could do a contest." "That would be fun." "That's a fantastic idea!" "I've got it." "To win you have to swear more than anyone else while you finish these damned rows." "~ That's dumb, Lasse." "~ Only dumb people use words like that." "~ Says who?" "~ That's what our teacher says." "Okay, I suppose we can't do that." "Olle, look here. [Speaks gibberish]" "~ Kollifink, kollifink." "~ Mojsirojsi, fillibomararat." "~ What did you say?" "~ Hah!" "Only boys can speak that language." "[Girls speak gibberish]" "* Britta said we had a language that only girls could understand. *" "* So after that, we each spoke in our own language all morning. *" "Kollifink, kollifink!" "Kollifink means a downpour, look!" "~ We'll get soaked!" "~ Let's go to the barn!" "* And that's what we did, since we almost always did what Lasse said. *" "~ Oh, we're soaked." "~ I feel like a wet dishrag." "At least we don't have to work." "Kittens!" "Oh look, Miriam has had kittens!" "~ Oh, they're so cute!" "~ They're precious!" "Which one do you want, Lasse?" "~ Let me pet them." "~ I'll take her." "* It was lucky that Miriam had three kittens." "One for each house. *" "* When Olle went back to the shoemaker, he took Kerstin with him. *" "~ Hello." "~ Hello." "I...um...came for the shoes." "You did?" "Which ones?" "Uh, Agda's shoes." "~ What about Agda's?" "~ Agda's -- the ones we left behind." "When you ran away?" "That's the last time that I'm going to pick up shoes that you throw away." "And my mother's shoes?" "I mean, if they're ready, of course." "They're not repaired yet." "~ They're not?" "Okay." "Bye, now." "~ Bye." "* Olle had to go back lots of times for his mother's shoes. *" "* And whenever he went, he brought something to eat for Svipp. *" "~ Doggie!" "~ Throw it to him, go on." "That's good." "No more growling." "He likes us." "Calm down, Svipp." "Nice dog." "He's not dangerous." "Don't be afraid." "* Svipp finally understood that Olle was kind, but there was nothing kind about Mr. Kind, the shoemaker. *" "~ Hello, Kerstin." "~ Hello." "~ Hey, I've got your shoes, Agda!" "~ At last!" "It's about time they were ready." "~ Let me see them." "Thank you, Olle." "~ Did he seem busy?" "~ Yeah, and my mother's weren't even ready." "That shoemaker drinks so much, it's a wonder that he gets any shoes repaired at all." "It's true, you know." "Lisa, dear!" "Come over here." "You've got to go shopping for me." "~ What should I buy?" "~ Now let me think." "* I had to buy such a lot." "Some yeast, a bologna sausage--the best he had... * * ...a packet of needles, sweet almonds, a packet of ginger,... * * ...a bottle of vinegar, and a tin of anchovies. *" "You'd better write it all down before you go." "I won't forget anything, Mum, don't worry." "~ Lisa, I'm going shopping now." "Want to go with me?" "~ I was just going to ask you." "What are you going to buy?" "* Anna was off to buy soap, bread, and lots of other things. *" "* And a bologna sausage -- the best in the shop, just like me... *" "And camphor liniment for Grandpa." "Anna?" "Lisa?" "Are you going shopping?" "Would you please get me a large spool of thread...and some vanilla sugar?" "~ All right!" "~ Oh, there's one more thing." "~ A bologna sausage?" "~ Why, yes." "~ You want his best, right?" "Now how did you guess that?" "I hope there's enough sausage for all of Bullerby!" "~ What else do we have to buy?" "~ Um, sausage and ... [sings] BREAD!" "ANCHOVIES!" "And camphor liniment for GRANDPA!" "~ And sausage of the best KIND!" "~ ...sausage of the best KIND!" "~ Of the very best kind!" "~ Of the very very very best kind!" "Why don't we make up a sausage song, and then we can sing it at school?" "Yeah -- good idea!" "[singing] I want to buy a sausage." "I want to buy it today!" "Sing a song, sing a song, sing a song of sausage..." "Today I want to see, the very best you have..." "Not the third best, not the second best, but the very best you have." "Let's sing it once again." "That sounds just like a school song, for sure." "Hello!" "Well, hello." "It looks like the young ladies of Bullerby are out for a stroll." "Well, now, what would you like today?" "Why don't you try some of these caramels while you try to make up your minds?" "I'm sure you'll like them." "~ Now, then?" "~ Um, a packet of sugar candy." "~ All right, just a minute." "There it is." "What else, then?" "~ Thanks." "* Anna bought everything for her Mummy and Grandpa first. *" "~ And what else?" "~ A packet of crisp bread." "~ All right." "And I want a pound of coffee." "* Then I told him what I wanted for my mummy, and for Olle's mummy. *" "Ah, and thread." "~ And what else?" "~ Did I forget about anything?" "~ That's all for now." "~ Thank you, good bye!" "~ Thank you, and come again, ladies." "~ I think I might have forgotten to buy the yeast." "~ Look and see." "It's not here." "I forgot, didn't I?" "We might as well go back." "~ Ah, now that you've got everything you can go on home." "Would you like another caramel?" "~ Yes, thanks!" "~ There, now aren't you glad you came back?" "~ Bye." "~ Bye." "[speaking 'girl language']" "Krummedrur." "Murrfjutt..." "Murfsnurf..." "Oh, Lisa!" "We forgot Grandpa's camphor liniment!" "* You guessed it -- we had to go back again. *" "* So we got the camphor liniment -- and more caramels!" "*" "Wait a minute, how about one more of these?" "~ Thanks a lot!" "~ Thank you." "~ Bye." "~ Bye." "* But when we got to the crossroad this time, I really felt sorry for poor Anna. *" "Lisa, the oatmeal." "I forgot to get it." "~ I was positive you bought it." "~ No, let's go back." "How could you have forgotten?" "I don't know." "There you are." "I'm going to have to fetch another tin of these sweets from the stock room." "They are so good, thanks." "Oh, I hope we have everything this time." "Bye!" "Look, Lisa, when we get to the crossroad, we'd better run past it." "If not, there's bound to be something else we forgot to buy." "Oh, we're very late now." "We'd better hurry home." "[singing the sausage song]" "Lisa!" "Lisa, the sausages!" "We forgot all about them!" "Well, isn't this a surprise." "Looks like the little ladies of Bullerby have forgotten something." "Just once more?" "No thanks, we've had enough caramels." "~ Then what can I do for you?" "~ Three very good sausages, the best you've got." "~ Three very good sausages..." "We were afraid you wouldn't have any left." "~ Here's the first one..." "~ I suppose we would have remembered sooner if we hadn't run." "~ Here are sausages two and three." "Got them all?" "~ Bye, thanks. ~ See you soon." "~ Hey, Johan, can we ride with you?" "~ Whoa!" "~ Why, certainly." "Up you go." "[Lisa sings the sausage song.] If you sing one more word of that song, I'll push you off!" "Coffee... anchovies... and the sausage -- the best, of course." "That's a mission well accomplished." "You remembered everything." "Hi, Svipp!" "D'you want to throw it to him?" "Go ahead." "Wait, he's got no water." "The shoemaker forgot, I guess." "~ Hello?" "~ Hello." "~ I came for the shoes." "~ You did?" "Mommy's shoes." "Are they finished yet?" "I haven't finished with them." "It will be a while before I get ..." "Ow!" "I twisted it and I can't work." "I can't do a thing." "And what about Svipp?" "What about him?" "He's all right." "Do you think I could give Svipp a little water?" "He'd go straight for your throat before you could take your first step." "How about if I gave it a try?" "C'mon, Svipp, look what I've got for you." "Water." "It's all for you." "Go ahead." "You were really thirsty." "I expect the shoemaker forgot you." "You see how gentle he is?" "Could I look after Svipp until your foot's better?" "~ Do you want to take him into Bullerby with you?" "~ Yes, sir." "~ All right." "You can take care of him for a little while." "~ Yahoo!" "Come on, boy..." "Let's go, Kerstin." "Svipp!" "~ Hey, what are you doing with Svipp?" "~ The shoemaker said I could look after him." "~ For how long?" "~ Until his foot is better." "~ That's great!" "~ Hey, Svipp!" "~ Oh, let me pet him." "~ Look at them!" "He's all clean now." "~ They're doing all right." "* Svipp was like a completely different dog. *" "* We all secretly wished the shoemaker would twist his other foot, so that Svipp could stay longer. *" "What's wrong, Olle?" "~ I've got to take Svipp back to the shoemaker tomorrow." "~ So his foot's better?" "Olle sad." "He says Svipp is a watch dog and has no business running around with me." "~ I see." "That's sad." "~ You know, he's really mean to animals, Dad." "Time for coffee." "Olle, I'll go with you to the shoemaker, as soon as we finish, all right?" "~ Can your son really take care of him?" "~ Don't worry, he will." "It's all right, then?" "Dad!" "Yippee!" "Thanks, Dad!" "Hey!" "Look, here comes Olle with Svipp!" "~ Guess what!" "He can stay!" "~ Hey, that's great." "~ Would you like to dance again?" "~ I think I would rather sit here and eat." "Oh, not bad, not bad!" "Throw it!" "Throw it!" "Hi, Grandpa!" "Here, try this on." ""He's so handsome, he's so fine." "Come and dance to the summertime...."" "Oh, it's been a long time since I've danced." "Who wants some more coffee?" "On your mark, get set... go!" "~ A little more coffee, Grandpa?" "~ I would like a little more, thank you." "~ Tonight all the girls are going to climb over nine fences." "~ What for?" "~ So they can dream about the boy they're going to marry." "~ I don't get it, Agda." "~ Well, a girl must climb over nine fences, no more or less, and pick one flower after each of them." "Then she puts them under her pillow and she will dream about her future husband." "~ That sounds silly." "You made that up." "~ No, it's true." "But if she laughs or speaks, it won't work." "You'd better give up now, Lisa." "You can't keep quiet for a minute!" "I can if I try." "* Britta, Anna, and I decided to give it a try anyway." "We climbed over nine fences although it wasn't necessary. *" "* We already knew who we were going marry: *" "* Britta will marry Lasse, Anna will take Bosse, and I'll marry Olle. *" "* That way, we can all be neighbors in Bullerby forever!" "*" "Come on!" "If you do dream tonight, Britta, I hope you don't dream of me!" "~ I'm staying single!" "~ Don't you... ~ Shhh!" "I suppose you forgot you're not supposed to say one word." "Get away!" "Don't!" "Lisa, be careful!" "Don't make a sound!" "Watch where you're going, Anna, or you'll dream of the shoemaker tonight!" "It's not fair!" "You're making us laugh and ruining everything!" "We can't help it if we giggle every time we look at you!" "We just want to cheer you girls up while you slave away picking flowers." "~ Remember, if you want a husband, you'll have to dream." "~ And if you don't dream, you'll make the three of us very happy." "A slap in the face, that's what you're going to get!" "~ Anna!" "Britta!" "~ What?" "What is it?" "~ Did you dream anything?" "~ No." "Me neither, not even a little." "~ It's the boys' fault." "~ Well, Olle's going to marry you all the same, right?" "Whether he likes it or not!" "* The time came to bring the hay in." "We all worked like mad. *" "* We had to get the hay in fast, in case it started to rain. *" "~ There!" "That's the last load for today." "~ Oh, I'm glad." "~ Olle." "This evening: did you ask if we could?" "~ But we're not supposed to...!" "~ Shhh!" "Keep it quiet." "What's going on tonight?" "~ We're sleeping up in the hayloft tonight." "~ Oh, I see." "~ We think it'll be fun." "What do you girls say?" "~ Yes, we'll sleep in our hayloft." "~ But what if we get scared, all alone in the dark?" "~ What if you run into a ghost or burglar?" "Shame on you, trying to make us all scared." "* It was a shame the boys had thought of it first, but we still decided that we'd sleep in the hayloft too. *" "* We took sandwiches in case we got hungry, and three blankets. *" "* Olle was smart." "He thought of taking Svipp with him, in case a ghost appeared. *" "Good night, my little adventurers." "Come by in the morning for some hot milk." "~ Last year they found hundreds of snakes in the hayloft." "~ I'll bet there are lots of field mice, too." "You poor scaredy cats, if you're so afraid, I wouldn't sleep in the hayloft." "Stay in your nice beds where there are no snakes or mice." "They think they're so clever, don't they?" "~ We'll show them." "~ We certainly will!" "~ Well, that was fun!" "~ Yeah." "~ It's kind of dark in here!" "~ But oh, it smells so good." "I love freshly cut hay." "It's so soft and nice." "~ I could sleep in the hayloft all summer long." "~ So could I. ~ It's so comfy!" "Shhh!" "I'm sure I heard a noise just now." "Hey, you don't think we've got a visitor?" "Oh, it's nothing." "Well, if it isn't a ghost, then it could be a snake slithering through the hay." "~ Do you think that's it?" "~ Lisa, keep still." "~ What are you doing?" "~ Eating." "~ Already?" "~ Yes, I don't feel sleepy at all, but I'm hungry." "~ I think I'll eat mine, too." "Then I guess I'll eat mine." "~ I wonder what the boys are doing?" "~ Sucking their thumbs!" "* It was such fun lying in the hayloft, eating." "I don't know why, but it tasted a lot better than usual. *" "~ Good night!" "~ Sleep well." "* It got darker and darker." "It was a bit scary, so we sung a lullaby to keep from getting more scared. *" "Boo!" "I'll bet you were scared, weren't you?" "It's dangerous to scare people." "It can make their blood freeze!" "It was only a joke, and a pretty good one, too." "It was a stupid joke." "Hey, stop that!" "You boys are being pests." "Look, a mouse!" "There!" "Sleep well, girls." "We hope that you and the mice have a good time." "And say hello to all the ghosts!" "* Then the boys went back to their own hayloft." "We thought about scaring them, but we really wanted to sleep now. *" "~ Are you awake yet?" "~ Mmmmm, I think so." "Oh, it's freezing." "I think I'm turning blue." "You're already blue, Lisa." "Do you really want to sleep here the whole summer?" "I've got to think about it." "* We didn't know what time it was, but we thought it was time to get up." "And so did the boys. *" "~ Let's go into the kitchen and warm up." "~ Svipp kept me warm all night long." "Now hurry up before we freeze to death." "Agda!" "What are you doing up so early?" "* Agda was going to milk the cows. *" "* But before she went, she gave us some warm milk and buns. *" "* I really like our buns, and of course I like Agda too. *" "Come, come, boys, there is plenty more, so please don't argue." "There you are." "Help yourselves." "* I wanted to sleep some more." "I didn't feel rested at all. *" "Come, Lisa." "Sit on my lap." "Good night, Bella." "* You know, the person who invented beds must have been really clever. *" "* You can sleep a lot better in a bed than you do in a hayloft. *" "* It rained for days, and we didn't know what to do. *" "* Britta, Anna, and I stayed in the hayloft, but it was pretty boring." "Until the boys came over. *" "Hey!" "You'll never guess what I found!" "~ It's really exciting." "Listen to what is written on this paper." "~ What is it?" "I found it behind one of the beams in our attic." "I'll bet it was up there for a hundred years." "~ Is that right, Lasse?" "~ Yes, at least." "~ Lasse " " You were real lucky to have found it hidden in the attic." "~ I suppose you're right." "What does it say?" "Listen: "The treasure consists of pearls." "All different kinds." "All of them are very valuable." ""I hid them on the island in the lake." "Search for them amid the rocks..." ""in the middle of the island."" "It's signed: "Someone who lived here in the olden days"!" "~ That's so exciting!" "But the writing looks funny." "~ That's the way they used to write in those days." ""In the middle of the lake..." That must be North Farm Lake!" "Just think, real pearls!" "We've got to find them." "We'll be rich millionaires!" "Multi-millionaires!" "Let's go out there tomorrow morning." "Yes!" "* Anna and I wanted to go straight to Grandpa and tell him, but Britta didn't want to. *" "~ Don't you see?" "This is just something the boys made up." "~ Why do you think that?" "Why would the message say, 'in the olden days', if it was written in the olden days?" "The boys are trying to trick us, and we were silly enough to believe them." "You're right." "We always believe everything they say." "That Lasse." "Every time it rains, he thinks up some dumb prank to play on us." "~ Let's not let them know that we know." "We'll go to the island tomorrow and search for the pearls." "~ Yes, good idea!" "~ What are you smiling for, Lasse?" "~ Oh, I was thinking about becoming rich." "Isn't that what you are thinking about?" "Sure!" "When we find the pearls, I think we should give them all to the girls." "~ You're so generous!" "~ It's all right with me." "~ Me too." "You can have them as a present." "You girls can start looking, while we go for a swim." "~ Remember, search for them in the middle of the island and shout when you find the tin." "~ OK." "We want to be there when you open up the tin." "How do you know the pearls are supposed to be in a tin?" "It wasn't written on the note." "Oh, it was just a guess, that's all." "How dumb does he think we are?" "~ Can we swim now?" "~ We don't have time." "We must come running as soon as they give a shout." "There!" "It's a silly hiding place, isn't it?" "~ What's in it?" "~ Let me see." ""Haha..." "Girls believe anything that anywon tells them...." ""..." "From somebody who used to live here in the oldun days."" "Aw." "What should we do now?" "We've got to think of something." "* And we did, too." "Uncle Nil's ram lived on the island during the spring." "He left little round black droppings all over. *" "* We gathered some up and put them in the tin. *" "* Then we wrote our own message on the other side of their note. *" "~ What happened?" "Didn't you find the pearls?" "~ No. ~ Did you look everywhere?" "We certainly did." "Now it's your turn to look while we go for a swim." "Come on!" "~ How could they have missed the hiding place?" "~ Girls!" "They were probably too busy chatting." "Come on!" "I suppose we have to make it easier for them." "What's inside the tin?" "Yugggh!" "Disgusting!" "~ Sheep droppings!" "Those girls!" "~ And we tried to be nice to them!" "Look!" "They wrote something on the paper." ""People from the olden days, who cannot spell and think they're smart, will surely be outsmarted if they think they can fool us girls."" "~ Oh, if only we could get our hands on them!" "~ We'd teach them a thing or two!" "Teach us how boys can be so foolish?" "Just wait till we catch you!" "* Deep in the forest, there is a lake called Rich Lake." "There are lots of crayfish in it. *" "* And every summer we'd go there to catch them. *" "* We build huts in the forest, and we sleep in them overnight." "As soon as we got there, we collected soft branches to sleep on. *" "* We have special places where we lay our traps every year. *" "And drop!" "They're all set." "Now all we have to do is wait." "~ I can hear the trolls tramping around in the forest." "~ Funny, I can't hear anything." "Ah, that's because they have such hairy feet!" "They sneak down, hiding behind the trees, and stare at us!" "~ There are no trolls!" "~ Yes, there are!" "The forest is full of them." "But they don't dare come close to the fire!" "Why don't I play a little music for them?" "That ought to scare them away." "~ Better hurry, it's almost nightfall." "~ Come on, let's try to catch some crayfish." "I've got one!" "Good for you!" "So have I!" "I've got another one!" "How many is that?" "The trolls must be gone by now." "It's time for bed, girls." "We get up at sunrise." "~ How many have we got now?" "~ Over a dozen." "~ How about inviting the girls to a crayfish party?" "~ Yeah!" "~ Only if they behave themselves." "~ Some hope!" "~ I hope we can sleep tonight." "~ Yes, even if only for a few hours." "~ Shhh!" "Did you hear that?" "~ What was that?" "~ Nice place you've got!" "Only it's not safe from the trolls." "They're so silly." "Good night." "Good night." "* Brita and Anna fell asleep long before I did. *" "* I lay awake for a long time and listened to the wind blowing in the trees. *" "* It was really a strange feeling. *" "* I couldn't tell if I was happy or sad. *" "* At four in the morning, Daddy woke us all up to go out and take in the crayfish traps. *" "Time to get up, kids." "Come on, up you get." "~ Now, let's see how many we've got, right?" "~ Is the trap heavy?" "Look!" "~ Can you reach it?" "~ Got it, Father." "It's ugly." "What are you doing?" "Hey, you're as crazy as a loon!" "Why are you throwing them back in?" "Because I feel sorry for him." "He looks so sad." "Hey, if he tells his friends that we're out here, there won't be any more crayfish to catch." "~ Really." "~ They have such sad eyes, I feel sorry for them." "~ Look at these!" "~ You did very well." "~ You didn't get that many!" "~ Yes I did!" "It's the best catch in years." "* Soon after, we were approaching Bullerby." "There was smoke coming from the chimneys. *" "* It was a good thing that they were all awake, since we were coming with all those crayfish. *" "Svipp!" "Did you miss me?" "Two hands now." "~ Hey, there!" "~ I'm home!" "I stayed up nearly all night!" "Hey, Kerstin." "Look here." "There are lots of them." "Plenty of crayfish in the lake this year." "I've never seen so many before." "I caught so many back in my time, I'm surprised there are still some left." "~ Careful it doesn't pinch." "~ That's a pretty good sized crayfish." "~ Gosh!" "They smell so good." "~ Yeah!" "~ This is a long one, isn't it?" "* We had a crayfish party with Grandpa that night. *" "* The next day, we started school again. *" "* When you've had a long summer holiday, then it's really nice to go back to school. *" "* Bosse says he is going to write to the King, and ask him to close all the schools. *" "* But I hope the King doesn't listen to him, because I like school, and my teacher, and all my friends. *" "* But really, I think even Bosse is happy to go back to school. *" "~ Anna!" "Britta!" "Let's go!" "~ We're coming!" "Don't forget to buy some camphor drops after school!" "We'll remember, Grandpa!" "I'm so excited to be going back to school." "I could hardly get to sleep last night." "~ Olle!" "~ Hi!" "~ Hi!" "~ Hello." "Come on!" "~ Have a good day!" "~ Bye!" "Let's run or we'll be late for school." "Run!"