Charlie
Charlie is the story's protagonist and is introduced as a lonely man. Unlike other people who prepare to celebrate on Christmas day, Charlie wakes very early and leaves for work. Charlie is an elevator operator and has done that job for the last ten years. When he arrives at his workstation, the day is not busy because most people are at home enjoying Christmas.
While seated beside the elevator, Charlie laments that he is living a miserable life and Mrs. Hewing hears him. She comes to talk to him, and he opens up for the first time. Charlie tells her he lives alone because he does not have a family. Making matters worse, he has nothing despite working for ten years. Therefore, Charlie tells Mrs. Hewing that Christmas day is not different for him because it turns out to be the saddest.
Mrs. Hewing
Mrs. Hewing is a concerned lady who comes to talk to Charlie when she hears him lamenting about his difficult life. Mrs. Hewing assures him that everything shall be well.
Mrs. Gadshill
Mrs. Gadsill is the woman that Charlie yells at after getting drunk. Charlie forgets his problems for the first time and yells at Mrs. Gadshill, telling her to strap her safety belt because the elevator is about to make a loop. Mrs. Gadshill is horrified, and she falls on the floor of the elevator.
The Landlady
The landlady has three skinny children, and Charlie does not understand why a property owner cannot provide sufficiently for her children. When Charlie gets several gifts from well-wishers on Christmas day, he brings those gifts to the landlady to share them among her three children.
