Greer author Carol Gentry Allen’s short story “Unwrapped Gifts” is featured in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tales of Christmas.”
The book features a collection of holiday stories from contributors across the U.S. and Canada. Allen’s story was inspired by an encounter with a lady at the O’Hare International Airport in Chicago that made her realize how material things do not matter as much as the people you love.
“I was in Chicago speaking, and at the airport getting ready to go back home the plane had mechanical problems, so I had to sit and wait,” Allen said. “There was a lady sitting beside me and I was actually getting pretty sick. She had a bag in her hand and said, ‘I think you need to eat something.’ She pulled a ham sandwich out to hand it to me. She was talking about how the best gift at Christmastime was family and friends. She had lost her husband the Christmas before. (She) was a really delightful lady. It made me realize what really mattered is that I had my family.”
Allen’s story is featured alongside 100 other works in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tales of Christmas.” Proceeds from the book will support the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. For more information, visit chickensoup.com/book/tales-of-christmas.
