第5部分(第3/8 頁)

　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；