The old wooden floor creaked as I steppedacross the threshold of this aging house。 There was a cheap mat just inside the door。 The mat was there to hide the years of wear from countless footsteps that the floor had supported。 Although clean； it needed to be replaced。
I felt claustrophobic as I entered the narrow living room； which was filled with old musty overstuffed furniture that today would be collector's items。 Sitting on the couch were two women； a little older than my mom。 Across from the women sat a man in workman's clothes。 He wore khaki slacks and a khaki shirt； neatly pressed but without starch； and polished work books。 He was about 10 years older than my dad； I'd say about 45 years old。 They smiled as Mike and I walked past them； heading for the kitchen； which lead to the porch that overlooked the back yard。 I smiled back shyly。
〃Who are those people？〃 I asked。
〃Oh； they work for my dad。 The older man runs his warehouses； and the women are the managers of the restaurants。 And you saw the construction supervisor； who is working on a road project about 50 miles from here。 His other supervisor； who is building a track of houses； had already left before you got here。〃
〃Does this go on all the time？〃 I asked。
〃Not always； but quite often；〃 said Mike； smiling as he pulled up a chair to sit down next to me。
〃I asked him if he would teach us to make money；〃 Mike said。
〃Oh； and what did he say to that？〃 I asked with cautious curiosity。
〃Well； he had a funny look on his face at first； and then he said he would make us an offer。〃
〃Oh；〃 I said； rocking my chair back against the wall； I sat there
perched on two rear legs of the chair。
Mike did the same thing。
〃Do you know what the off
