The young man manning the red kettle outside the Jewel on Elgin’s
West Side was ringing a bell in each hand. For every person entering or exiting
the store, he flashed a big smile and offered a very warm “merry Christmas.”
I do not know his name, in fact had never seen him before, but
his smile seemed warm and genuine as I walked out. I had been running a couple
of errands and had stopped to pick up a bottle of water. It cost me my last
dollar and some change.
