In a store designed specifically around unique holiday gifts, Wallace tried to flag down an employee. Wallace stood by a rack of cut-out ornaments for every state made from tree bark. Michigan’s mitten, California’s curved coast and Tennessee’s stylized line adorned the rack.
“Excuse me, can you help me?” Wallace asked an employee as he wheeled a cart of Christmas trees made out of birthstones through the area.
“What’s up?” the employee, whose nametag read Micah, asked.
“I am gathering these ornaments for all of my gifts, but I noticed you’re out of Colorado ornaments.”
Micah spun the rack and then leaned down to pick one from the last spot. “Here you go.”
Wallace looked at the ornament. “This is a Wyoming ornament.”
“How can you tell?” Micah asked.
“You just pulled it out of the Wyoming spot.”
“But Colorado and Wyoming are the same shape. They’re both squares. Who will know?”
“I’ll know,” Wallace said. “Then I’ll have to lie to my grandmother.”
Micah stared at Wallace.
“Can you just check if you have any more?” Wallace asked.
Micah sighed. “Watch my trees.”
Many minutes later, Micah returned with a box of ornaments and handed one to Wallace.
“This is Colorado?” Wallace asked.
“Yes.”
“Can I see the box?”
“No,” Micah responded, and he grabbed his cart of birthstone trees, disappearing into the crowd.