富爸爸穷爸爸-第5部分

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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　always；　but　quite　often；〃　said　Mike；　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　was　to　quit　immediately。
〃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　games　to　work　for　you。　And　you　don't　keep　your　word。　You　haven't　taught　me　anything。　You　are　a　crook　like　everyone　in　town　thinks　you　are。　You're　greedy。　You　want　all　the　money　and　don't　take　care　of　your　employees。　You　make　me　wait　and　don't　show　me　any　respect。　I'm　only　a　little　boy；　and　I　deserve　to　be　treated　better。〃
Rich　dad　rocked　back　in　his　swivel　chair；　hands　up　to　his　chin；　somewhat　staring　at　me。　It　was　like　he　was　studying　me。
〃Not　bad；〃　he　said。　〃In　less　than　a　month；　you　sound　like　most　of　my　employees。〃
〃What？〃　I　asked。　Not　understanding　what　he　was　saying；　I　continued　with　my　grievance。　〃I　thought　you　were　going　to　keep　your　end　of　the　bargain　and　teach　me。　Instead　you　want　to　torture　me？　That's　cruel。　That's　really　cruel。〃
〃I　am　teaching　you；〃　rich　dad　said　quietly。
〃What　have　you　taught　me？　Nothing！〃　I　said　angrily。　〃You　haven't　even　talked　to　me　once　since　I　agreed　to　work　for　peanuts。　Ten　cents　an　hour。　Hah！　I　should　notify　the　government　about　you。
We　have　child　labor　laws；　you　know。　My　dad　works　for　the　government；　you　know。〃
〃Wow！〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Now　you　sound　just　like　most　of　the　people　who　used　to　work　for　me。　People　I've　either　fired　or　they've　quit。〃
〃So　what　do　you　have　to　say？〃　I　demanded；　feeling　pretty　brave　for　a　little　kid。　〃You　lied　to　me。　I've　worked　for　you；　and　you　have　not　kept　your　word。　You　haven't　taught　me　anything。〃
〃How　do　you　know　that　I've　not　taught　you　anything？〃　asked　rich　dad　calmly。
〃Well；　you've　never　talked　to　me。　I've　worked　for　three　weeks；　and　you　have　not　taught　me　anything；〃　I　said　with　a　pout。
〃Does　teaching　mean　talking　or　a　lecture？〃　rich　dad　asked。
〃Well；　yes；〃　I　replied。
〃That's　how　they　teach　you　in　school；〃　he　said　smiling。　〃But　that　is　not　how　life　teaches　you；　and　I　would　say　that　life　is　the　best　teacher　of　all。　Most　of　the　time；　life　does　not　talk　to　you。　It　just　sort　of　pushes　you　around。　Each　push　is　life　saying；　‘Wake　up。　There's　something　I　want　you　to　learn。'　〃
〃What　is　this　man　talking　about？〃　I　asked　myself　silently。　〃Life　pushing　me　around　was　life　talking　to　me？〃　Now　I　knew　I　had　to　quit　my　job。　I　was　talking　to　someone　who　needed　to　be　locked　up。
〃If　you　learn　life's　lessons；　you　will　do　well。　If　not；　life　will　just　continue　to　push　you　around。　People　do　two　things。　Some　just　let　life　push　them　around。　Others　get　angry　and　push　back。　But　they　push　back　against　their　boss；　or　their　job；　or　their　husband　or　wife。　They　do　not　know　it's　life　that's　pushing。〃
I　had　no　idea　what　he　was　talking　about。
〃Life　pushes　all　of　us　around。　Some　give　up。　Others　fight。　A　few　learn　the　lesson　and　move　on。　They　wele　life　pushing　them　around。　To　these　few　people；　it　means　they　need　and　want　to　learn　something。　They　learn　and　move　on。　Most　quit；　and　a　few　like　you　fight。〃
Rich　dad　stood　and　shut　the　creaky　old　wooden　window　that　needed　repair。　〃If　you　learn　this　lesson；　you　will　grow　into　a　wise；　wealthy　and　happy　young　man。　If　you　don't；　you　will　spend　your　life　blaming　a　job；　low　pay　or　your　boss　for　your　problems。　You'll　live　life　hoping　for　that　big　break　that　will　solve　all　your　money　problems。〃
Rich　dad　looked　over　at　me　to　see　if　I　was　still　liste