The Lessons Begin:
课程开始了（三）
"Mike says you want to learn to make money? Is that correct, Robert?"
“迈克说你们想学赚钱，对吗，罗伯特？”
I nodded my head quickly, but with a little intimidation. He had a lot of power behind his words and smile.
我快速地点点头，心里有点儿忐忑，在他的微笑和话语后面似乎隐藏着一股很强的力量。
"OK, here's my offer. I'll teach you, but I won't do it classroom-style. You work for me, I'll teach you. You don't work for me, I won't teach you. I can teach you faster if you work, and I'm wasting my time if you just want to sit and listen, like you do in school. That's my offer. Take it or leave it."
“好，这就是我的建议：由我来教你们赚钱，但我不会像在教室里教学生那样教你们，你们得为我工作，否则我就不教。因为通过工作我可以更快地教会你们，如果你们只想坐着听讲，就像在学校里那样的话，那我就是在浪费时间了。怎么样？小伙子们，这就是我的建议，你们可以接受也可以拒绝”。
"Ah... may I ask a question first?" I asked.
“嗯……我可以先问个问题吗？”我问。
"No. Take it or leave it. I've got too much work to do to waste my time. If you can't make up you mind decisively, then you'll never learn to make money anyway. Opportunities come and go. Being able to know when to make quick decisions is an important skill. You have an opportunity that you asked for. School is beginning or it's over in ten seconds," Mike's dad said with a teasing smile.
“不能，你只能告诉我是接受还是拒绝。因为我有太多的事要做，不能浪费时间。如果你不能下定决心，就永远也学不会如何赚钱。要知道，机会总是转瞬即逝，要想成功必须迅速作出决定。你看，现在你有一个你想要的机会，但这个赚钱学校可以在10秒钟内开学或者关门，那么你……。”迈克的爸爸微笑着看着我们，却并没有说下去。
"Take it," I said.
"Take it," said Mike.
“接受。”我说。
“接受。”迈克也说。
"Good," said Mike's dad. "Mrs. Martin will be by in ten minutes. After I'm through with her, you ride with her to my superette and you can begin working. I'll pay you 10 cents an hour and you will work for three hours every Saturday."
“好！”迈克的爸爸说道，“马丁夫人会在几分钟内到达。等我和她办完事后，你们跟她去我的杂货店，你们可以在那儿开始工作了。我每小时付给你们10美分，你们每周六来工作3个小时。”
"But I have a softball game today," I said.
“但我今天有一场垒球比赛！”我说。
Mike's dad lowered his voice to a stern tone. "Take it or leave it," "I'll take it," I replied, choosing to work and learn instead of playing softball.
迈克的爸爸降低声调严厉地说：“接受或者拒绝。”
“我接受。”我赶忙回答，我决定去工作和学习而不去打垒球了。