第7部分(第3/8 頁)

？〃　rich　dad　asked。

Mike　and　I　looked　at　each　other；　shrugged　our　shoulders　and　shook　our　heads　in　unison。

Avoiding　One　of　Life's　Biggest　Traps

〃Well；　you　boys　had　better　start　thinking。　You're　staring　at　one　of　life's　biggest　lessons。　If　you　learn　the　lesson；　you'll　enjoy　a　life　of　great　freedom　and　security。　If　you　don't　learn　the　lesson；　you'll　wind　up　like　Mrs。　Martin　and　most　of　the　people　playing　softball　in　this　park。　They　work　very　hard；　for　little　money；　clinging　to　the　illusion　of　job　security；　looking　forward　to　a　three…week　vacation　each　year　and　a　skimpy　pension　after　forty…five　years　of　work。　If　that　excites　you；　I'll　give　you　a　raise　to　25　cents　an　hour。〃

〃But　these　are　good　hard…working　people。　Are　you　making　fun　of　them？〃　I　demanded。

A　smile　came　over　rich　dad's　face。

〃Mrs。　Martin　is　like　a　mother　to　me。　I　would　never　be　that　cruel。　I　may　sound　cruel　because　I'm　doing　my　best　to　point　something　out　to　the　two　of　you。　I　want　to　expand　your　point　of　view　so　you　can　see　something。　Something　most　people　never　have　the　benefit　of　seeing　because　their　vision　is　too　narrow。　Most　people　never　see　the　trap　they　are　in。〃

Mike　and　I　sat　there　uncertain　of　his　message。　He　sounded　cruel；　yet　we　could　sense　he　was　desperately　wanting　us　to　know　something。

With　a　smile；　rich　dad　said；　〃Doesn't　that　25　cents　an　hour　sound　good？　Doesn't　it　make　your　heart　beat　a　little　faster。〃

I　shook　my　head　〃no；〃　but　it　really　d