     I was feeling quite uneasy then - - and it didn't help any when I saw an article in the newspaper claiming that there were three million unemployed people in the country. That's when I saw the sign in the window of the Osaki Newspaper Dispatch: "Hiring Newspaper Boys." I was so happy I almost jumped for joy. Now I had a chance to start a new career.

     I hurried over to the entrance of the Osaki Newspaper Dispatch. When I got there, I pushed open the door and bowed very repectfully. It was three p'clock in the afternoon and the vevening newspapers had just arrived. The whole room was filled with the swishing sound of newspapers being folded - - several newspaper boys were busy folding the papers. In the midst of the flurry, I saw a man sitting calmly in a chair facing the table. He was wearing western-style clothing and his hair was smooth and glossy. He took his cigarette from his mouth and held it in his hand. Looking at me haughtily, he spoke one sentence, letting the smoke in mouth mix with his words: "What do you want?"

     "Uh... ewspaper boy... I pointed to the notice in the window. "You want to try it?" He sounded ruthless - - the weight of his voice made me feel as though I was being crushed and I could barely let a sound out of my mouth.

     "Yes... I'd like to work for you.... "
     "Well then, read these rules over. If you agree to them, you can start work immediately." He pointed to alist of rules pasted up onto the wall.      I read the first and second section - - when I got to the third section I stopped, frightened, and stared at it. The third section said that a security deposit of ten dollars was required. After I read that I couldn't read any furthur. My eyes started to get blurry.

     After a little while, the boss turned his head to look at me. "Well, what do you think? Do you agree with everything?"

     "Yes... I agree... I agree with everything. It's just that I'm four dollars short for the security deposit.... "

     As he listened to me speak, the boss looked me over from head to foot. He stared at me carefully for a while, before he said, "When I look at you I feel so sorry for you, I can't turn you away. Well then, if I hire you, you'll have to work even harder than the others. Do you understand?"

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