My First Job
I was six when I joined my father and two elder brothers at sunrise in the fields of Eufaula, Oklahoma. 1 the time I was eight I was helping Dad fix up old furniture. He gave me a cent for every nail I 2 out of old boards.
I got my first real job, at JM"s Restaurant in town, when I was 12. My main responsibilities (职责) were 3 tables and washing dishes, but sometimes I helped cook.
Every day after school I would 4 to JM"s and work until ten. Even on Saturdays, I worked from two until eleven. At that age it was difficult going to work and 5 my friends run off to swim or play. I didn"t necessarily like work, but I loved what working 6 me to have. Because of my job I was always the one buying when my friends and I went to the local bar Tastee Freez. This made me 7 .
Word that I was trustworthy and hard-working 8 around town. A local clothing store offered me credit (赊账) 9 I was only in the seventh grade. I immediately 10 a $68 sports coat and a $22 pair of shoes. I was 11 only 65 cents an hour, and I already owed the storekeeper $90! So I learned 12 the danger of easy credit. I paid it off as soon as I could.
My first job taught me self-control and responsibility, it brought me a 13 of persona] satisfaction few of my friends had experienced. As my father, 14 worked three jobs, once told me, "If you 15 sacrifice (奉献) and responsibility, there are not many things in life you can"t have." How right he was!