HyperCard is preset to use just the Browse tool—the one that looks like a hand. When you've had some experience browsing and typing, go to the last card in the Home stack and set your User Level Preference to Painting, Authoring (to use the Button and Field tools), or Scripting (to edit scripts).
Choose tools from the Tool menu or "tear off" a tool window by dragging down and beyond the menu. Move the window on the screen by dragging its top bar. Click the close box to put the window away.
Choose patterns from the Patterns menu, and other options from the Options menu.*