When I was 4 years old.....

When I was 4 years old and not quite ready to go to prep school yet, my mom took me to her work place so as to keep an eye on me. My soon to be nanny was then still looking after my two pretty older sisters. So there I was going to “work” everyday with my mom – she with her work handbag,me with my pull strings wooden toy car. 
Mom was the supplies/purchasing officer for the then Bureau
of Forestry. A rather senior role in the government if I may say so. This also
meant I had free access to all the office supplies – oh! glorious pristine white
bond paper just waiting to be scrawled on, colored pencils/pens, texta markers
in bold lines..… sigh.. anything a girl of four years desires. After a while however,
I found the company of the whole stock room rather.. unresponsive, silent and
stoic..…. 
And so it began….. whilst my mom was preoccupied with signing
off purchase orders and the likes, – I ventured out of her department and visited
her colleagues, desk after desk, offering my exceptional services in ahemmm…
portraiture at the lowest price of .25 cents a pop. There was of course a
choice between charcoal or full on color portrait. Business was rather good as
I would make sure to come back for those who told me to come back later or
double check whether this guy or that lady were happy with my services etc…
I remember one older gentleman who was rather…how can I say
this….. challenged in the looks department (lost 3 of my pristine whites on draft
drawings on that one).., he however was completely exulted with his portrait he
gave me a tip of .75 cents on top of my usual fee!! Merde! I am truly moving up
in the world! I would of course see him later on in my years from primary
school to university and he would not fail to mention said outstanding portrait
to my complete and utter and well deserved teenage embarrassment.  
Sadly, my entry into the lucrative albeit dog eat dog world
of entrepreneurship came into a sudden and unfortunate halt when my mom chanced upon yours truly struggling through a Picasso attempt on her then Director, the top gun of the whole Bureau and I guess, her boss (iiiiick!!).  


A two week stockroom arrest ensued and thus my portraiture business was in effect closed down. But I will remember my first venture as my most happiest ever. 
Super low outgoings, very high profits indeed – nothing could beat that! I RULE!!!