eep thinking of a way to make money。 Finally； that afternoon； a bolt of lightning came through our heads。 It was an idea Mike had gotten from a science book he had read。 Excitedly； we shook hands； and the partnership now had a business。
For the next several weeks； Mike and I ran around our neighborhood； knocking on doors and asking our neighbors if they would save their toothpaste tubes for us。 With puzzled looks； most adults consented with a smile。 Some asked us what we were doing。 To which we replied； 〃We can't tell you。 It's a business secret。〃
My mom grew distressed as the weeks wore on。 We had selected a
site next to her washing machine as the place we would stockpile our raw materials。 In a brown cardboard box that one time held catsup bottles； our little pile of used toothpaste tubes began to grow。
Finally my mom put her foot down。 The sight of her neighbors' ； messy； crumpled used toothpaste tubes had gotten to her。 〃What are you boys doing？〃 she asked。 〃And I don't want to hear again that it's a business secret。 Do something with this mess or I'm going to throw it out。〃
Mike and I pleaded and begged； explaining that we would soon have enough and then we would begin production。 We informed her that we were waiting on a couple of neighbors to finish using up their toothpaste so we could have their tubes。 Mom granted us a one…week extension。
The date to begin production was moved up。 The pressure was on。 My first partnership was already being threatened with an eviction notice from our warehouse space by my own mom。 It became Mike's job to tell the neighbors to quickly use up their toothpaste； saying their dentist wanted them to brush more often anyway。 I began to put together the production line。
One day my dad dro
