Pippi in the South Seas by Astrid Lindgren

Author:Astrid Lindgren [Lindgren, Astrid]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2020-12-22T00:00:00+00:00

“Is it really, really true?” asked Tommy after they had calmed down and climbed inside the log box to discuss the situation. Pippi nodded.

Yes, it was really true. Tommy and Annika were allowed to go to Koratuttutt Island with Pippi. Natu-rally, almost all the ladies in the little town came to have a word with Mrs. Settergren, and said:

“Surely you’re not thinking of sending your children far away to the South Seas with Pippi Longstocking? You can’t mean it.”

But then Mrs. Settergren said: “Why wouldn’t I? The children have been ill and need a change of air, so the doctor says. And for as long as I have known Pippi she has never done anything to cause Tommy and Annika any harm. No one could take more care of them than she does.”

“But Pippi Longstocking, of all people,” said the ladies, screwing up their noses.

“Exactly,” said Mrs. Settergren. “Pippi Long-stocking may not always know the right way to behave, but she’s got a good heart.”

And so, one chilly evening in early spring, Tommy and Annika left the little, little town for the first time in their lives to travel at Pippi’s side into the big, wondrous world. There they stood at the railing, all three, as the fresh evening breeze filled the sails of the Hoppetossa. All three—well, it would be more accurate to say all five, because the horse and Mr. Nilsson were there too.

All the children’s school friends stood on the quayside, almost crying with grief and envy. Tomorrow they would be going to school as usual. They were all studying the South Seas for their geography homework. Tommy and Annika weren’t going to be doing any homework at all for quite some time. “Their health has to come before their schoolwork,” the doctor said. “And they can learn about the South Seas by being there,” Pippi said.

Tommy and Annika’s mum and dad were also there on the quayside, and the children felt a pang when they saw them dab their eyes with a hankie. But in spite of that Tommy and Annika couldn’t help feeling so very, very happy that it almost hurt.

Slowly the Hoppetossa slid away from the quayside.

“Tommy and Annika!” shouted Mrs. Settergren. “When you get to the North Sea you must wear two undershirts and . . .”

The rest of what she wanted to say was drowned out by the cries of good-bye from the people in the harbor, the wild neighing of the horse, Pippi’s joyful shouts and the powerful trumpeting from Captain Longstocking as he blew his nose.

The journey had begun. Out under the stars sailed the Hoppetossa. Floating pieces of ice danced around the bow and the wind sung in the sails.

“Oh, Pippi,” said Annika. “I feel so funny inside. I’m starting to believe I’ll be a pirate too, when I’m older.”

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