Growing up on a farm and my father running a General Store required me from the time I was able to see over the counter to work for free. I didn't know what the word allowance meant.

Therefore, when I was going into the 6th grade, I was so excited when my father told me he had found a job for me with our neighbors, on the Carpenter Farm, Myjob was to hand hoe weeds out ofthe soybean fields and I would be paid $1 per hour. My excitement continued to mount, when I got a brand new pair of black rubber boots, overalls, brown leather gloves, blue denim shirt, a straw hat and a large knife called a com knife.

I was picked up by the rattling red big farm truck the next morning at 5 a.m, along with the other workers, most of them much older than me. On that first morning, the fresh air seemed to awaken all my senses. There had been heavy dew making the ground and fields sparkle like diamonds. I was taken to the first bean field and all I could see in every direction was emerald green plants in rich black soil. I quickly grabbed my com knife as I was shown exactly how to hoe the weeds out of each row of beans. I was already counting the many hours I would work and all the money I "would surely make. I started down my first row, and the soybean plants came to my waist, however, there was no time to worry about anything except to keep up with the other workers who had more experience and longer legs.

The soybean's were damp with dew and before I was finished with my first row, my boots were covered with black dirt, my new overalls were wet and uncomfortable plus the air was no longer cool and crisp but very hot and muggy. Now the smell in the air was damp clothes, dirty boots and sweat. I wasn't worried because I was also getting a pay check at the end ofthe summer.

As the sun was rising in the sky, my excitement dwindled. I removed my glove for a cool drink of water from a tin bucket and dipper all of us drank from. Even though the water was cool to the throat, my eyes noticed a big white water blister on my right hand, I knew because ofthe Missouri heat and humidity we would stop by 2 p.m., so I would suffer until then. Lunch was in the two story white farm house of the Carpenters and all ofus would eat there around the big dining table. The delicious food was in abundance for all of us who were farm hands. I liked the sound of being a hired farm hand, even though I ached all over I felt very grown up. The laughter and stories around the table made me forget everything else.Following lunch and a short rest under the big oak tree we were driven back to the soybean field to continue removing the weeds from the field by hand. This routine continued for the next several weeks.

My excitement grew less and less each morning, my clothes no longer looked or smelled new, my straw hat now had a brown sweat ring around the inside of it, where it set on top ofmy head.

The blisters on my hands had now turned to calluses, and my brown leather gloves smelled of sweat. My white face and arms had turned a light brown color and all of a sudden my face was covered with freckles. I no longer felt excited, just tired and as I looked at the endless green fields of soy beans making their way out ofthe rich black soil, I could see no end in sight and thought surely, when the school bell rings I would be standing in the middle of a soybean field instead of at my wooden desk in that little 3 room school.

I smiled as I clutched the worn faded handle of my com knife, and as I looked down at it, I realized it was faded from use and was no longer shiny and new. However, there was still that joy of knowing I would get at the end of the summer's work my first pay check. I had very carefully kept track on the picture calendar in my room of every hour I worked for $1.00 per hour and had counted up all the money I was making each hour and it seemed likea fortune. I knew instead of looking at green soybeans, I soon would be looking at beautiful green money. On my new bright red Big Chief School tablet, and my bright yellow number two lead pencil I had already began making a list of all the things I would buy. Mostly new school clothes, (which my dad required) and maybe something special from the five and dime store in town. As the hot, humid summer drew to a close and turned into a beautiful Indian summer, my first job drew to a close as well.

In the years ahead, I would continue to work on the Carpenter Farm, and eat those wonderful bountiful dinners and sometimes delicious suppers. My first job turned into a job that would last me through high school until I left for College. The salary became better each year but my greatest memory is that first job where I learned to work. I also realized that I was building a foundation that I would build on for the rest ofmy life.