You had no intention of going into the magic shop, but it was next to the florist and your prom date was expecting a corsage. As you looked in the window of the magic shop, you saw the TOP HAT. It was shiny black silk, and you knew it would just make your tux stand out among all the others. The bell rang as you entered the shop. From the smell and dust, you gathered they didn't have a lot of customers.
You walk over to the table, expecting a clerk or shopkeeper to come out and try to sell you a lame magic trick, but for the moment you seem to be alone. You try on the hat, it fits perfectly. You glance over at the counter, no one is there. You turn around to walk back to the main aisle with your prize and find yourself face to face with a middle aged man. He's got black pommaded hair and a waxed moustache, while dressed in contemporary clothing, his hair style is right out of the Victorian/Edwardian eras.
"Ah, an excellent selection. Would you like me to wrap it up or will you wear it?"
"Huh! Uh, wrap it up. I didn't hear you come up behind me, you gave me a start. Oh, how much is it?"
"A steal at only $50.00. You'll still have plenty left for a nice corsage," he said glibly taking the hat and flattening it into a disc and putting it in a cardboard sleeve such as commonly hold vinyl records. He taped the opening with gold foil, while you hand him the hundred dollar bill grandmother gave you for graduation.
He hands you back the fifty, and the cardboard box. Only when the door clangs shut behind you do you remember that he didn't collect the sales tax. You shrug his loss. You enter the florist shop, and get a nice $45 corsage for your prom date. Then you proceed to walk back to your car to go home.