Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 2
How I Earned My First Crown and Dollar
2.1
The Story of the Author Kutílek
While attending high school, I had to write an essay on fate. Now, after more than
half a century, my recollection is for sure not exact, but here I at least try to keep the
atmosphere:
The famous economist Antonio Usurero, who missed the Nobel Prize by just the
thickness of a hair, wrote in one of his topics: “…. The most important affair in our
life is from how we earned the fi rst dollar in our childhood or as teenagers. This is
a sort of prediction by fairies on our future fate and destiny. It is lasting forever and
it is unavoidable.” Since we have been taught that the best brains of mankind are to
be trusted, I am going to fi nd out what will be my future profession.
I spent my best childhood vacations in a small Czech village
Hlinoviste
and the
rough English translation will be either “Loam Site” or “Loam Pit” since loam is
hlina
in Czech. My grandma was the co-owner of a pub and of a small farm there
together with my uncle, who was single at that time. During harvest my grandma
and uncle were obliged to be in the fi eld, but they had to keep the pub open for the
old men of the village who were no longer farming, but nevertheless typical of how
all farmers used to be - thirsty not only in the evenings but throughout the entire
day. After I was given the keys of the pub and its cellar, my duty was to tap beer and
cash the guests if they were leaving. Being a student in fourth grade and excellent at
adding, subtracting, and simple arithmetic, I had no problems cashing the guests. If
they paid by notes, it was an easy task for me to give their change back in smaller
notes and coins.
When my grandma came back from the fi eld, she found some of old guests still
in the pub.
With his index fi nger pointing at me, one of the group of old men at the table
reserved for regular guests said, “You have a perfect headwaiter!”
“Do you think so?,” asked my grandma with pride being felt in her voice.
“How old is he?,” asked the curious old man.
