and then re…stacking them neatly。 It was excruciatingly boring work。
Mike's dad； whom I call my rich dad； owned nine of these little superettes with large parking lots。 They were the early version of the 7…11 convenience stores。 Little neighborhood grocery stores where people bought items such as milk； bread； butter and cigarettes。 The problem was； this was Hawaii before air conditioning； and the stores could not close its doors because of the heat。 On two sides of the store； the doors had to be wide open to the road and parking lot。 Every time a car drove by or pulled into the parking lot； dust would swirl and settle in the store。
Hence； we had a job for as long as there was no air conditioning。
For three weeks； Mike and I reported to Mrs。 Martin and worked our three hours。 By noon； our work was over； and she dropped three little dimes in each of our hands。 Now； even at the age of 9 in the mid…1950s； 30 cents was not too exciting。 ic books cost 10 cents back then； so I usually spent my money on ic books 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 th