The shabbily-dressed and tobacco-chewing bootblack in Monterey, CA, whose services Henry Miller always seeks, Greenwell is also a trustee of the Baptist church and an avid lecturer on the Bible. He dispenses wisdom as he shines shoes. He has four sons and a grandson, who does things his own way. The grandson opens Greenwell's eyes to the fact that everyone is unique and does things his or her own way. Threatening cannot change this and guiding young people is an art.