第5部分(第2/7 頁)

　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。

〃