富爸爸,穷爸爸(英文版)-第4章

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　until　they　became　liquid；　and　with　my　mom's　pot　holders　we　were　pouring　the　lead　through　a　small　hole　in　the　top　of　the　milk　cartons。
The　milk　cartons　were　filled　with　plaster…of…Paris。　The　white　powder　everywhere　was　the　plaster　before　we　mixed　it　with　water。　In　my　haste；　I　had　knocked　the　bag　over；　and　the　entire　area　look　like　it　had　been　hit　by　a　snowstorm。　The　milk　cartons　were　the　outer　containers　for　plaster…of…Paris　molds。
My　dad　and　his　friend　watched　as　we　carefully　poured　the　molten　lead　through　a　small　hole　in　the　top　of　the　plaster…of…Paris　cube。
〃Careful；〃　my　dad　said。
I　nodded　without　looking　up。
Finally；　once　the　pouring　was　through；　I　put　the　steel　pot　down　and　smiled　at　my　dad。
〃What　are　you　boys　doing？〃　he　asked　with　a　cautious　smile。
〃We're　doing　what　you　told　me　to　do。　We're　going　to　be　rich；〃　I　said。
〃Yup；〃　said　Mike；　grinning　and　nodding　his　head。　〃We're　partners。〃
〃And　what　is　in　those　plaster　molds？〃　dad　asked。
〃Watch；〃　I　said。　〃This　should　be　a　good　batch。〃
With　a　small　hammer；　I　tapped　at　the　seal　that　divided　the　cube　in
half。　Cautiously；　I　pulled　up　the　top　half　of　the　plaster　mold　and　a　lead　nickel　fell　out。〃
〃Oh；　my　God！〃　my　dad　said。　〃You're　casting　nickels　out　of　lead。〃
〃That's　right；〃　Mike　said。　〃We　doing　as　you　told　us　to　do。　We're　making　money。〃
My　dad's　friend　turned　and　burst　into　laughter。　My　dad　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　Along　with　a　fire　and　a　box　of　spent　toothpaste　tubes；　in　front　of　him　were　two　little　boys　covered　with　white　dust　and　smiling　from　ear　to　ear。
He　asked　us　to　put　everything　down　and　sit　with　him　on　the　front　step　of　our　house。　With　a　smile；　he　gently　explained　what　the　word　〃counterfeiting〃　meant。
Our　dreams　were　dashed。　〃You　mean　this　is　illegal？〃　asked　Mike　in　a
quivering　voice。
〃Let　them　go；〃　my　dad's　friend　said。　〃They　might　be　developing　a　natural　talent。〃
My　dad　glared　at　him。
〃Yes；　it　is　illegal；〃　my　dad　said　gently。　〃But　you　boys　have　shown　great　creativity　and　original　thought。　Keep　going。　I'm　really　proud　of　you！〃
Disappointed；　Mike　and　I　sat　in　silence　for　about　twenty　minutes　before　we　began　cleaning　up　our　mess。　The　business　was　over　on　opening　day。　Sweeping　the　powder　up；　I　looked　at　Mike　and　said；　〃I　guess　Jimmy　and　his　friends　are　right。　We　are　poor。〃
My　father　was　just　leaving　as　I　said　that。　〃Boys；〃　he　said。　〃You're　only　poor　if　you　give　up。　The　most　important　thing　is　that　you　did　something。　Most　people　only　talk　and　dream　of　getting　rich。　You've　done　something。　I'm　very　proud　of　the　two　of　you。　I　will　say　it　again。
Keep　going。　Don't　quit。〃
Mike　and　I　stood　there　in　silence。　They　were　nice　words；　but　we　still　did　not　know　what　to　do。
〃So　how　e　you're　not　rich；　dad？〃　I　asked。
〃Because　I　chose　to　be　a　schoolteacher。　Schoolteachers　really　don't　think　about　being　rich。　We　just　like　to　teach。　I　wish　I　could　help　you；　but　I　really　don't　know　how　to　make　money。〃
Mike　and　I　turned　and　continued　our　clean　up。
〃I　know；〃　said　my　dad。　〃If　you　boys　want　to　learn　how　to　be　rich；　don't　ask　me。　Talk　to　your　dad；　Mike。〃
〃My　dad？〃　asked　Mike　with　a　scrunched　up　face。
〃Yeah；　your　dad；〃　repeated　my　dad　with　a　smile。　〃Your　dad　and　I　have　the　same　banker；　and　he　raves　about　your　father。　He's　told　me　several　times　that　your　father　is　brilliant　when　it　es　to　making　money。〃
〃My　dad？〃　Mike　asked　again　in　disbelief。　〃Then　how　e　we　don't　have　a　nice　car　and　a　nice　house　like　the　rich　kids　at　school？〃
〃A　nice　car　and　a　nice　house　does　not　necessarily　mean　you're　rich　or　you　know　how　to　make　money；〃　my　dad　replied。　〃Jimmy's　dad　works　for　the　sugar　plantation。　He's　not　much　different　from　me。　He　works　for　a　pany；　and　I　work　for　the　government。　The　pany　buys　the　car　for　him。　The　sugar　pany　is　in　financial　trouble；　and　Jimmy's　dad　may　soon　have　nothing。　Your　dad　is　different　Mike。　He　seems　to　be　building　an　empire；　and　I　suspect　in　a　few　years　he　will　be　a　very　rich　man。〃
With　that；　Mike　and　I　got　excited　again。　With　new　vigor；　we　began　cleaning　up　the　mess　caused　by　our　now　defunct　first　business。　As　we　were　cleaning；　we　made　plans　on　how　and　when　to　talk　to　Mike's　dad。　The　problem　was　that　Mike's　dad　worked　long　hours　and　often　did　not　e　home　until　late。　His　father　owned　warehouses；　a　construction　pany；　a　chain　of　stores；　and　three　restaurants。　It　was　the　restaurants　that　kept　him　out　late。
Mike　caught　the　bus　home　after　we　had　finished　cleaning　up。　He　was　going　to　talk　to　his　dad　when　he　got　home　that　night　and　ask　him　if　he　would　teach　us　how　to　bee　rich。　Mike　promised　to　call　as　soon　as　he　had　talked　to　his　dad；　even　if　it　was　late。
The　phone　rang　at　8：30　p。m。
〃OK；〃　I　said。　〃Next　Saturday。〃　And　put　the　phone　down。　Mike's　dad　had　agreed　to　meet　with　Mike　and　me。
At　7：30　Saturday　morning；　I　caught　the　bus　to　the　poor　side　of　town。
The　Lessons　Begin：

〃I'll　pay　you　10　cents　an　hour。　〃
Even　by　1956　pay　standards；　10　cents　an　hour　was　low。
Michael　and　I　met　with　his　dad　that　morning　at　8　o'clock。　He　was　already　busy　and　had　been　at　work　for　more　than　an　hour。　His　construction　supervisor　was　just　leaving　in　his　pickup　truck　as　I　walked　up　to　his　simple；　small　and　tidy　home。　Mike　met　me　at　the　door。
〃Dad's　on　the　phone；　and　he　said　to　wait　on　the　back　porch；〃　Mike　said　as　he　opened　the　door。
The　old　wooden　floor　creaked　as　I　steppedacross　the　threshold　of　this　aging　house。　There　was　a　cheap　mat　just　inside　the　door。　The　mat　was　there　to　hide　the　years　of　wear　from　countless　footsteps　that　the　floor　had　supported。　Although　clean；　it　needed　to　be　replaced。
I　felt　claustrophobic　as　I　entered　the　narrow　living　room；　which　was　filled　with　old　musty　overstuffed　furniture　that　today　would　be　collector's　items。　Sitting　on　the　couch　were　two　women；　a　little　older　than　my　mom。　Across　from　the　women　sat　a　man　in　workman's　clothes。　He　wore　khaki　slacks　and　a　khaki　shirt；　neatly　pressed　but　without　starch；　and　polished　work　books。　He　was　about　10　years　older　than　my　dad；　I'd　say　about　45　years　old。　They　smiled　as　Mike　and　I　walked　past　them；　heading　for　the　kitchen；　which　lead　to　the　porch　that　overlooked　the　back　yard。　I　smiled　back　shyly。
〃Who　are　those　people？〃　I　asked。
〃Oh；　they　work　for　my　dad。　The　older　man　runs　his　warehouses；　and　the　women　are　the　managers　of　the　restaurants。　And　you　saw　the　construction　supervisor；　who　is　working　on　a　road　project　about　50　miles　from　here。　His　other　supervisor；　who　is　building　a　track　of　houses；　had　already　left　before　you　got　here。〃
〃Does　this　go　on　all　the　time？〃　I　asked。
〃Not　alike；　smiling　as　he　pulled　up　a　chair　to　sit　down　next　to　me。
〃I　asked　him　if　he　would　teach　us　to　make　money；〃　Mike　said。
〃Oh；　and　what　did　he　say　to　that？〃　I　asked　with　cautious　curiosity。
〃Well；　he　had　a　funny　look　on　his　face　at　first；　and　then　he　said　he　would　make　us　an　offer。〃
〃Oh；〃　I　said；　rocking　my　chair　back　against　the　wall；　I　sat　there
perched　on　two　rear　legs　of　the　chair。
Mike　did　the　same　thing。
〃Do　you　know　what　the　offer　is？〃　I　asked。
〃No；　but　we'll　soon　find　out。〃
Suddenly；　Mike's　dad　burst　through　the　rickety　screen　door　and　onto　the　porch。　Mike　and　I　jumped　to　our　feet；　not　out　of　respect　but　because　we　were　startled。
〃Ready　boys？〃　Mike's　dad　asked　as　he　pulled　up　a　chair　to　sit　down
with　us。
We　nodded　our　heads　as　we　pulled　our　chairs　away　from　the　wall　to　sit　in　front　of　him。
He　was　a　big　man；　about　6　feet　tall　and　200　pounds。　My　dad　was　taller；　about　the　same　weight；　and　five　years　older　than　Mike's　dad。　They　sort　of　looked　alike；　though　not　of　the　same　ethnic　makeup。　Maybe　their　energy　was　similar。
〃Mike　says　you　want　to　learn　to　make　money？　Is　that　correct；　Robert？〃
I　nodded　my　head　quickly；　but　with　a　little　intimidation。　He　had　a　lot　of　power　behind　his　words　and　smile。
〃OK；　here's　my　offer。　I'll　teach　you；　but　I　won't　do　it　classroom…style。　You　work　for　me；　I'll　teach　you。　You　don't　work　for　me；　I　won't　teach　you。　I　can　teach　you　faster　if　you　work；　and　I'm　wasting　my　time　if　you　just　want　to　sit　and　listen；　like　you　do　in　school。　That's　my　offer。　Take　it　or　leave　it。〃
〃Ah。。。　may　I　ask　a　question　first？〃　I　asked。
〃No。　Take　it　or　leave　it。　I've　got　too　much　work　to　do　to　waste　my　time。　If　you　can't　make　up　you　mind　decisively；　then　you'll　never　learn　to　make　money　anyway。　Opportunities　e　and　go。　Being　able　to　know　when　to　make　quick　decisions　is　an　important　skill。　You　have　an　opportunity　that　you　asked　for。　School　is　beginning　or　it's　over　in　ten　seconds；〃　Mike's　dad　said　with　a　teasing　smile。
〃Take　it；〃　I　said。　　‘
〃Take　it；〃　said　Mike。
〃Good；〃　said　Mike's　dad。　〃Mrs。　Martin　will　be　by　in　ten　minutes。　After　I'm　through　with　her；　you　ride　with　her　to　my　superette　and　you　can　begin　working。　I'll　pay　you　10　cents　an　hour　and　you　will　work　for　three　hours　every　Saturday。〃
〃But　I　have　a　softball　game　today；〃　I　said。
Mike's　dad　lowered　his　voice　to　a　stern　tone。　〃Take　it　or　leave　it；〃　he
〃I'll　take　it；〃　I　replied；　choosing　to　work　and　learn　instead　of　playing　softball。

30　Cents　Later

By　9　a。m。　on　a　beautiful　Saturday　morning；　Mike　and　I　were　working　for　Mrs。　Martin。　She　was　a　kind　and　patient　woman。　She　always　said　that　Mike　and　I　reminded　her　of　her　two　sons　who　were　grown　and　gone。　Although　kind；　she　believed　in　hard　work　and　she　kept　us　working。　She　was　a　task　master。　We　spent　three　hours　taking　canned　goods　off　the　shelves　and；　with　a　feather　duster；　brushing　each　can　to　get　the　dust　off；　and　then　re…stacking　them　neatly。　It　was　excruciatingly　boring　work。
Mike's　dad；　whom　I　call　my　rich　dad；　owned　nine　of　these　little　superettes　with　large　parking　lots。　They　were　the　early　version　of　the　7…11　convenience　stores。　Little　neighborhood　grocery　stores　where　people　bought　items　such　as　milk；　bread；　butter　and　cigarettes。　The　problem　was；　this　was　Hawaii　before　air　conditioning；　and　the　stores　could　not　close　its　doors　because　of　the　heat。　On　two　sides　of　the　store；　the　doors　had　to　be　wide　open　to　the　road　and　parking　lot。　Every　time　a　car　drove　by　or　pulled　into　the　parking　lot；　dust　would　swirl　and　settle　in　the　store。
Hence；　we　had　a　job　for　as　long　as　there　was　no　air　conditioning。
For　three　weeks；　Mike　and　I　reported　to　Mrs。　Martin　and　worked　our　three　hours。　By　noon；　our　work　was　over；　and　she　dropped　three　little　dimes　in　each　of　our　hands。　Now；　even　at　the　age　of　9　in　the　mid…1950s；　30　cents　was　not　too　exciting。　ic　books　cost　10　cents　back　then；　so　I　usually　spent　my　money　on　ic　books　and　went　home。
By　Wednesday　of　the　fourth　week；　I　was　ready　to　quit。　I　had　agreed　to　work　only　because　I　wanted　to　learn　to　make　money　from　Mike's　dad；　and　now　I　was　a　slave　for　10　cents　an　hour。　On　top　of　that；　I　had　not　seen　Mike's　dad　since　that　first　Saturday。
〃I'm　quitting；〃　I　told　Mike　at　lunchtime。　The　school　lunch　was　miserable。　School　was　boring；　and　now　I　did　not　even　have　my　Saturdays　to　look　forward　to。　But　it　was　the　30　cents　that　really　got　to　me。
This　time　Mike　smiled。
〃What　are　you　laughing　at？〃　I　asked　with　anger　and　frustration。
〃Dad　said　this　would　happen。　He　said　to　meet　with　him　when　you　were　ready　to　quit。〃
〃What？〃　I　said　indignantly。　〃He's　been　waiting　for　me　to　get　fed　up？〃
〃Sort　of；〃　Mike　said。　〃Dad's　kind　of　different。　He　teaches　differently　from　your　dad。　Your　mom　and　dad　lecture　a　lot。　My　dad　is　quiet　and　a　man　of　few　words。　You　just　wait　till　this　Saturday。　I'll　tell　him　。you're　ready。〃
〃You　mean　I've　been　set　up？〃
〃No；　not　really；　but　maybe。　Dad　will　explain　on　Saturday。〃
Waiting　in　Line　on　Saturday

I　was　ready　to　face　him　and　I　was　prepared。　Even　my　real　dad　was　angry　with　him。　My　real　dad；　the　one　I　call　the　poor　one；　thought　that　my　rich　dad　was　violating　child　labor　laws　and　should　be　investigated。
My　educated　poor　dad　told　me　to　demand　what　I　deserve。　At　least　25　cents　an　hour。　My　poor　dad　told　me　that　if　I　did　not　get　a　raise；　I　ediately。
〃You　don't　need　that　damned　job　anyway；〃　said　my　poor　dad　with　indignity。
At　8　o'clock　Saturday　morning；　I　was　going　through　the　same　rickety　door　of　Mike's　house。
〃Take　a　seat　and　wait　in　line；〃　Mike's　dad　said　as　I　entered。　He　turned　and　disappeared　into　his　little　office　next　to　a　bedroom。
I　looked　around　the　room　and　did　not　see　Mike　anywhere。　Feeling　awkward；　I　cautiously　sat　down　next　to　the　same　two　women　who　where　there　four　weeks　earlier。　They　smiled　and　slid　across　the　couch　to　make　room　for　me。
Forty…five　minutes　went　by；　and　I　was　steaming。　The　two　women　had　met　with　him　and　left　thirty　minutes　earlier。　An　older　gentleman　was　in　there　for　twenty　minutes　and　was　also　gone。
The　house　was　empty；　and　I　sat　out　in　his　musty　dark　living　room　on　a　beautiful　sunny　Hawaiian　day；　waiting　to　talk　to　a　cheapskate　who　exploited　children。　I　could　hear　him　rustling　around　the　office；　talking　on　the　phone；　and　ignoring　me。　I　was　now　ready　to　walk　out；　but　for　some　reason　I　stayed。
Finally；　fifteen　minutes　later；　at　exactly　9　o'clock；　rich　dad　walked　out　of　his　office；　said　nothing；　and　signaled　with　his　hand　for　me　to　enter　his　dingy　office。
〃I　understand　you　want　a　raise　or　you're　going　to　quit；〃　rich　dad　said　as　he　swiveled　in　his　office　chair。
〃Well；　you're　not　keeping　your　end　of　the　bargain；〃　I　blurted　out　nearly　in　tears。　It　was　really　frightening　for　a　9…year…old　boy　to　confront　a　grownup。
〃You　said　that　you　would　teach　me　if　I　worked　for　you。　Well；　I've　worked　for　you。　I've　worked　hard。　I've　given　up　my　baseball　game