I was standing outside the boss’s office holding a panel of wood (soon to be part of a kitchen counter). I had been there for 30-minutes. My back was aching. It was my first day of work. Sweet 16. After sanding the piece of wood, I asked my foreman what to do with it.

“Go upstairs, and ask the boss for a long weight.” He said.

“What do I do with this?” I asked, pointing to the smoothest piece of wood I had ever manhandled.

“Take it with you, and show him.”