I was born on a little farm in a small hilly region of the Mountain Home peninsular. Just like everywhere else on Ferenginar, it rained most of the time. Our little farm was surrounded on three borders by waterfalls, and on the fourth side by a road into town. My room was small and damp, and I would amuse myself imagining how I could murder my father. Mother left home when I was very young, to go to market. She didn't return. Life was dull on the farm. My father raised birds and fowl which were considered a delicacy on my planet, and once a week we would go off to market, through the mud. This was the only time as a Ferengi child, I ever left our farm. Once we got there, I was not allowed to leave my father's side.
At the market, there were many people who traded lots of different things. As you hew-mons probably know, Ferengi live for profit. I would hear bartering and shouting from all directions, and it was my job never to lose sight of our stocks of birds, and to either put them into small cages or wring their necks for our paying customers. I had no friends, being an outsider, and my father would not allow me to look at other stalls, or talk to anybody. He told me frequently that I did not have the lobes for business, and that I would shame our family if I entered a conversation about business. My father was cruel and heartless, although he did secretly hope I would learn business acumen by watching him.
One day, a group stopped at the next stall, to buy stem bolts. They were obviously from out of town, and talked of a man called Rom. He was working and living on something called Deep Space Nine with his brother and son. As I listened to their story, I felt amazed that someone in a far off space station was so famous that their name was mentioned in my home town. Word had it that his son was going to something called Starfleet Academy, and would in time, join Starfleet. I sneaked closer to the strangers, and became engrossed in their story.
I lost track of time, but was rudely brought back to reality when my father hit me hard behind my ear. He reprimanded me severely for allowing my business attention to wander, while he was working so hard for us to earn a living. I apologised, but for weeks after, my father gave me a hard time. I decided I wanted to be famous. I decided I would join Starfleet Academy too. I acquired one of my father's message padds, and accessed the Academy's database. There was an application form to join. But I needed a sponser.
Without hesitating, I used the name the stranger had used, Rom on Deep Space Nine. I told Starfleet I was a biology expert on birds, believing if they asked me anything about birds, I would be able to make it up. How much did Hew-mons know about Ferengi fowl? I sent the form via subspace, and forgot about it.
About a week later, I was amazed to receive a transmission from the Academy. My father was very suspicious, but I knew the game was up. I explained what I had done, and he beat me hard. However, while he was sleeping, I accessed the transmission and couldn't believe my luck! The Academy had received my application! I didn't think twice. I packed up some warm clothes, and my tooth sharpener and left the farm. I didn't care that I had not left a message for my father. I walked into town and used all the latinum I had to purchase transport to Earth. Actually, I had nowhere near enough and had to work as the transport ship's odd job man for most of the trip. I was just relieved to be leaving the farm behind. I knew for sure that the next time I returned, my father and the people of the town would be really proud of me, and that I'd be famous!
