“I’ve tried smiling more, varying the speed of my bell-ringing, provoking eye contact, avoiding eye contact, humming carols. Nothing seems to make a difference.” Mary sipped her cocoa, the fireplace’s brilliant flames reflecting on her eyes. “Maybe if I play Christmas songs, it will soften people up.” “It’s impossible to get folks to part with their money, nowadays,” replied Mary’s husband, turning the page of his magazin...