"If a salesman comes in and doesn't hear me whistling, he's liable to leave, thinking I'm not here." "I whistled before I said mama." And though he whistles most of the time, Red admits he isn't conscious of his musical diversions. "Half the time I couldn't tell you what the song is". Customers will ask, "What was that you were whistling when I walked in?" "I very seldom can answer." Sometimes his customers will remark how refreshing it is to find someone so happy.

"To them I say that I'm one of the few people who can whistle and cry at the same time." Nickell said, smiling broadly.

He went on. "Strangers say, "Boy, You have everything." "Yeah, I say. Everything but service" "Most of my customers wait on themselves."

Still, it's the friendly atmosphere that brings many Alderson residents to Red Nickell's general store, customers say. "He's just an all-around good person, willing to help", explained Dreama Highlander, manager of the Super General in Alderson, stopping in while on her way home after work. "He stays open after 5 P.M., so we can get our lunches for the next day. He's always nice. He's never rude, and he's always whistling when you come in."

The clever Nickell got the last word with a grin. "It's one of the few stores where you can get Easter candy during Christmas. People come in aching all over, but they go out laughing"