第7部分(第4/7 頁)

eam　had　melted　and　was　running　down　my　hand。　The　ice…cream　stick　was　empty；　and　under　it　was　a　sticky　mess　of　vanilla　and　chocolate　that　ants　were　enjoying。　Rich　dad　was　looking　at　two　boys　staring　back　at　him；　eyes　wide　open　and　brains　empty。　He　knew　he　was　testing　us；　and　he　knew　there　was　a　part　of　our　emotions　that　wanted　to　take　the　deal。　He　knew　that　each　human　being　has　a　weak　and　needy　part　of　their　soul　that　can　be　bought。　And　he　knew　that　each　human　being　also　had　a　part　of　their　soul　that　was　strong　and　filled　with　a　resolve　that　could　never　be　bought。　It　was　only　a　question　of　which　one　was　stronger。　He　had　tested　thousands　of　souls　in　his　life。　He　tested　souls　every　time　he　interviewed　someone　for　a　job。

〃OK；　5　an　hour。〃

Suddenly　there　was　a　silence　from　inside　me。　Something　had　changed。　The　offer　was　too　big　and　had　gotten　ridiculous。　Not　too　many　grownups　in　1956　made　more　than　5　an　hour。　The　temptation　disappeared；　and　a　calm　set　in。　Slowly　I　turned　to　my　left　to　look　at　Mike。　He　looked　back　at　me。　The　part　of　my　soul　that　was　weak　and　needy　was　silenced。　The　part　of　me　that　had　no　price　took　over。　There　was　a　calm　and　a　certainty　about　money　that　entered　my　brain　and　my　soul。　I　knew　Mike　had　gotten　to　that　point　also。

〃Good；〃　rich　dad　said　softly。　〃Most　people　have　a　price。　And　they　have　a　price　because　of　human　emotions　named　fear　and　greed。　First；　the　fear　of　being　without　money　motivates　us　to　work　hard；　and　then　once　we　get　that　paycheck；　greed　or　desire　starts　us　thinking　about　all　the　wonderful　things　money　can　buy。　The　pattern　is　then　set。〃

〃What　pattern？〃　I　asked。

〃The　pattern　of　get　up；　go　to　work；　pay　bills；　get　up；　go　to　work；　pay　bills。。。　Their　lives　are　then　run　forever　by　two　emotions；　fear　and　greed。　Off