Who'll Save Alfie Atkins?

Who'll Save Alfie Atkins? (Swedish: Vem räddar Alfons Åberg?) is a 1976 children's book by Gunilla Bergström.^[1] Translated by Robert Swindells, it was published in English in 1979.^[2] As an episode of the animated TV series it originally aired over SVT on 13 January 1981.^[3] The theme is friends, imaginary and real ones.

Book cover

The book cover depicts Viktor holding Alfons, while an older guy sprays down the jackets using waterguns.

Plot

Alfons Åberg sitts alone inside the flat where he lives, feeling lonely. He has just moved to a new place and doesn't know the children living there. Sometimes he's visited by his imaginary friend Mållgan. When they play together, Alfons is always allowed to be train driver when they play train, and if Alfons drops a plate, Alfons blames it on Mållgan and Mållgan doesn't get angry. Mållgan can change size becoming larger and beat up older guys within a row. He can also save three older guys in a while from a burning house. The only problem is that Mållgan isn't there when needed as when older guys chase Alfons, spraying down his jacket with waterguns.

Once day on his way home, Alfons hears someone crying when walking up the staircase tower. Alfons hurries, and doesn't notice that Mållgan thinks it's time to leave. Sitting there is a guy called Viktor. He's blooding, his trousers are broke and he tellsn that the older guys are strong and fight, not allowing Viktor to play with hem. He has dropped the key and his mother isn't at home, and he can't enter the flat.

Viktor follows Alfons into his apartment. Inside the bathroom Alfons brings a first aid kit, and places adhesive bandages on Viktor's knee. Alfons asks if they need to call the ambulance, but Viktor thinks it's better to play for a while. They build tall towers out toy blocks, when playing train Viktor is allowed to be train driver, with Alfons as passenger. Alfons then even gives Viktor his bun. When Viktor leaves they decide to play even the upcoming day.

Since that day, Alfons and Viktor are best friends but sometimes they quarrel building towers of blocks rolling them over, fight over who will be train drivier when playing train, and both want the biggest bun. But everytime the older guys appear, Alfons ends up saved by Viktor.

Time progresses and Alfons has soon forgotten Mållgan since a very long time ago. Mållgan doesn't get upset, he just disappears. Nobody knows where he disappears, but it's supposed to be to someone else who feels lonely, sad and needs a secret friend.

References

• Vem räddar Alfons Åberg?, Gunilla Bergström, Rabén & Sjögren, 1976