.data
prompt:	.asciiz	"Enter an operation"
buf:	.space 10		# reserves 10 bytes
	
	.text
	.align 2
	
main:	
	li $v0, 4		# syscall 4 is print string
	la $a0, prompt
	syscall

	li $v0, 8		# syscall 8 is read string
	la $a0,buf
	li $a1,2		# reads 1 char plus the null
	syscall

	# the first character is now at address buf
	lbu $t0,0($a0)		# go get the first char

	jr $ra