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he rings the bell while
she sits and smiles
in her wheelchair
i drop the coins
into the kettle to
test my giving mettle
he rings the bell while
she sits and smiles
in her wheelchair
© December 2012
Renee Espriu
I normally do not give change this time of year to the Salvation Army as there are kettles and bell ringers in front of every store but on a cold rainy day a woman in a wheelchair, bundled and with a stocking cap on, caught my eye. She was in earnest about someone, anyone giving money to drop with a clanking noise at the bottom of the kettle. Everyone, including myself, hurried into the store to get out of the rain and although she was under a bit of store awning she wasn’t the least bit concerned about the weather. On the way out I broke my habit of not putting change in the kettle and this time did. She smiled and gave me a “Merry Christmas!” and what could be better than that.
reneejustturtleflight.com 