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
janusz korczak Don’t you know where to buy cakes They haven’t taught us that yet he replies shrugging his shoulders as if he doesn’t know what to do The man loses his temper What are you waiting for Nothing And he leaves Well asks his pal He got riled up A grouchy kind of guy He’s always like that says the pal I know this store I never buy anything here whitefish You should have said I thought you’d do all right And I did He didn’t kill me did he They walk on Kaytek boldly enters a third store It’s a food store They have cheese butter sugar herring and Good day Good day Can I have some whale Whale Yes Four ounces Pickled So who sent you A friend He’s waiting outside Tell your friend he’s a rascal and you’re a dope So you don’t have any No we have not We’ll have it later When will that be When it gets warmer That’s enough now beat it And shut the door He carefully closes the door and tells his pal what happened Aren’t you afraid he’ll recognize you in the street So what They sell sea salmon Herrings are from the sea too What’s wrong with asking about whales 11
kaytek the wizard Just you wait That’s only three stores You can still lose We’ll see The fourth is a tiny little store It’s a shoemaker’s shop The shoemaker doesn’t have any work right now It’s already the dinner hour and he’s only sold a pair of laces and a can of shoe polish today He’s waiting for someone to buy something In comes Kaytek I’d like some cream cheese please Either guessing it’s a joke or because he’s angry at being dis turbed the shoemaker reaches for his belt I’ll give you cheese you clown He takes a swing This time it hasn’t quite worked Kaytek has had to make a quick escape Kaytek passes by several small stores He stops outside the barbershop and does some thinking But you keep doing the same thing says his pal There’s nothing smart about that No not if you don’t find it amusing But you go in and try thinking up something different yourself All right then What will you say in here Don’t be in such a rush Just wait a bit You’ll see Kaytek goes into the barbershop It’s nice in there clean and fragrant There are perfumes in lots of different bottles as well as colored soaps combs hair oil and powder The girl behind the cash register is reading a book What would you like young man asks the barber He’s young and chirpy Some hair oil to grow a king’s moustache please Who is it for It’s for me The girl stops reading and looks up The man opens his eyes wide 12
