Some of life's most important lessons are learnt from listening to people.
You know this. Which is why you listen to what people say, but more importantly, to what they don't say.
That's how you got your friend a colorful Kente pattern wallet for his birthday. You had heard him mention that he needed a new one. You had seen the wallet on your way home two weeks ago and you thought he would like it, it would look good on him.
In retrospect, the wrapping was all wrong, and maybe the delivery, too. But it was the second time you were giving someone a gift in your life, and you were so worried about whether he'd like it or not.
A few weeks later when you noticed that he wasn't using the wallet, you were disappointed. He didn't like it. And you didn't blame him. You should have known better, known what was good for him.
But it would be months before you'd realize how terrible a mistake it was giving him the wallet. He would, in that flippant way declare, 'I had never gotten a gift in my life.'
Yep, your stupid wallet doesn't count.