ADVERTISEMENT
Ben already had plans for his earnings. He wanted to buy me a bright red scarf, get his little sister Annie the dollhouse she had been wishing for, and save the rest for a telescope. Hearing him talk with such pride and certainty made my heart swell. He wasn’t thinking only of himself—he was thinking of the people he loved.
For the next few weeks, Ben treated the job with real responsibility. He bundled up before school, shoveled carefully, and came home with frozen hands but a big smile. Every night he recorded his earnings on a small notepad, watching his savings grow. By December 23rd, he was humming Christmas songs as he headed out to work, confident and determined.
