第5部分(第4/7 頁)

and　went　home。

By　Wednesday　of　the　fourth　week；　I　was　ready　to　quit。　I　had　agreed　to　work　only　because　I　wanted　to　learn　to　make　money　from　Mike's　dad；　and　now　I　was　a　slave　for　10　cents　an　hour。　On　top　of　that；　I　had　not　seen　Mike's　dad　since　that　first　Saturday。

〃I'm　quitting；〃　I　told　Mike　at　lunchtime。　The　school　lunch　was　miserable。　School　was　boring；　and　now　I　did　not　even　have　my　Saturdays　to　look　forward　to。　But　it　was　the　30　cents　that　really　got　to　me。

This　time　Mike　smiled。

〃What　are　you　laughing　at？〃　I　asked　with　anger　and　frustration。

〃Dad　said　this　would　happen。　He　said　to　meet　with　him　when　you　were　ready　to　quit。〃

〃What？〃　I　said　indignantly。　〃He's　been　waiting　for　me　to　get　fed　up？〃

〃Sort　of；〃　Mike　said。　〃Dad's　kind　of　different。　He　teaches　differently　from　your　dad。　Your　mom　and　dad　lecture　a　lot。　My　dad　is　quiet　and　a　man　of　few　words。　You　just　wait　till　this　Saturday。　I'll　tell　him　。you're　ready。〃

〃You　mean　I've　been　set　up？〃

〃No；　not　really；　but　maybe。　Dad　will　explain　on　Saturday。〃

Waiting　in　Line　on　Saturday

I　was　ready　to　face　him　and　I　was　prepared。　Even　my　real　dad　was　angry　with　him。　My　real　dad；　the　one　I　call　the　poor　one；　thought　that　my　rich　dad　was　violating　child　labor　laws　and　should　be　investigated。

My　educated　poor　dad　told　me　to　demand　what　I　deserve。　At　least　25　cents　an　hour。　My　poor　dad　told　me　that　if　I　did　not　get　a　raise；　I　was　to　quit　immediately。

〃You　don't　need　that　damned　job　anyway；〃　said　my　poor　dad　with　indignity。

At　8　o'clock　Saturday　morning；　I　was　going　through　the　same　rickety　door　of　Mike's　house。

〃Take　a　seat　and　wait　in　line；〃　Mike's　dad　said　as　I　entered。　He　turned　and　disappeared　into　his　little　office　next　to