Author’s Dedication This is a difficult book I dedicate it to all the restless children those who find it hard to change and improve You have to want to change very much and very deeply You need to strengthen your will power You need to play a useful role in life Whoever has the will power and a strong desire to serve others Life is strange and mysterious Life is like an extraordinary dream his life will be like a beautiful dream even if the path to his goal was difficult and his thoughts were restless Maybe one day I will write the ending to this book Janusz Korczak
Chapter One kaytek likes to make bets kaytek goes into stores and pretends he wants to buy something though he doesn’t have a penny And so what So nothing Don’t you believe me No I don’t Then make a bet Kaytek likes to make bets with his friends If I win you’ll pay for us to go see a movie All right it’s a bet Let’s shake on it Don’t forget a movie on Sunday But wait a minute See you’re chickening out already No I’m not I just want to know how it’s going to work Kaytek repeats I’m going to go into ten stores I’m going to pretend I want to buy something even though I haven’t a cent in my pocket You said twelve stores All right twelve They make the bet So he’ll go into each store as if to buy something It’s the final class of the day And here’s the final bell They’ve packed their schoolbags Caps on their heads So we’re off We’re off 9
kaytek the wizard Down the stairs and into the schoolyard Then through the gate And they’re in the street I’m going to stand outside the store Whatever you like Just don’t laugh in the window or they’ll guess it’s a joke The first store is a pharmacy Kaytek goes inside The pharmacist is dispensing the medicine very slowly so he won’t make a mistake Kaytek patiently waits his turn What’ll it be little guy Two exercise books please one checkered and one blank for drawing I haven’t any for drawing they all have a checkered career jokes the pharmacist Oh well sorry Kaytek bows politely A gentleman feels sorry for him and says Go to the right next door You’ll find them in there Thank you He bows again and leaves He tells his pal what happened Next to the pharmacy there’s a store selling stationery and teaching aids Kaytek goes in He looks around A cream cake please What I want a chocolate cake with cream Are you blind Can’t you see Sure I can see Kaytek stands there looking as if he can’t think what the problem is Do you go to school Yes 10
