第7部分(第2/7 頁)

t　back　to　work。〃

LESSON　#l：　The　Rich　Don't　Work　For　Money

I　didn't　tell　my　poor　dad　I　wasn't　being　paid。　He　would　not　have　understood；　and　I　did　not　want　to　try　to　explain　something　that　I　did　not　yet　understand　myself。

For　three　more　weeks；　Mike　and　I　worked　for　three　hours；　every　Saturday；　for　nothing。　The　work　didn't　bother　me；　and　the　routine　got　easier。　It　was　the　missed　baseball　games　and　not　being　able　to　afford　to　buy　a　few　ic　books　that　got　to　me。

Rich　dad　stopped　by　at　noon　on　the　third　week。　We　heard　his　truck　pull　up　in　the　parking　lot　and　sputter　when　the　engine　was　turned　off。　He　entered　the　store　and　greeted　Mrs。　Martin　with　a　hug。　After　finding　out　how　things　were　going　in　the　store；　he　reached　into　the　ice…cream　freezer；　pulled　out　two　bars；　paid　for　them；　and　signalled　to　Mike　and　me。

〃Let's　go　for　a　walk　boys。〃

We　crossed　the　street；　dodging　a　few　cars；　and　walked　across　a　large　grassy　field；　where　a　few　adults　were　playing　softball。　Sitting　down　at　a　remote　picnic　table；　he　handed　Mike　and　me　the　ice…cream　bars。

〃How's　it　going　boys？〃

〃OK；〃　Mike　said。

I　nodded　in　agreement。

〃Learn　anything　yet？〃　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　pensio