第4部分(第5/7 頁)

all　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。