Today is Monday.
Pippi said contentedly to herself as she rang the doorbell that she should imagine she would be the most stylish person of all at that party. In the Settergrens’ living room sat three fine ladies, and with them Tommy, Annika, and their mother. A wonderful coffee table had been spread, and in the fireplace a fire was burning brightly. The ladies were talking quietly with one another, and Tommy and Annika were sitting on the sofa, looking at an album. Everything was so peaceful. Suddenly the peace was shattered. A piecing cry came from the hall, and the next minute Pippi Longstocking stood in the doorway. She had cried out so loudly and so unexpectedly that the ladies had jumped in their seats. Pippi, with measured steps, walked up to Mrs. Settergren. She stopped, cried commands like a soldier, and with both hands gripped one of Mrs. Settergren’s and shook it heartily. She shrieked and curtsied prettily. Then she smiled at Mrs. Settergren and said in her ordinary voice that she was really very shy, so if she hadn’t given herself some commands she would just stand in the hall and not dare to come in. Then she rushed up to the other ladies and kissed them on the cheek.
