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〃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