Lucia and Punchinello looked out the window of Eli's workshop. Like other wemics, they were wooden people. But unlike the other wemics, they weren't standing in line in the village below. Look at them all, Punchinello exclaimed. I don't understand it, Lucia wondered. Why would anyone want to paint his nose green? Because everyone else is. Eli responded without looking up from his workbench. Punchinello didn't understand. What do you mean? Everyone wants to look like everyone else. Sometimes it's square hats, sometimes it's tall shoes. Why last year the big thing was yellow ears. Now it's green noses. Everyone wants a green nose. Does a green nose make them smarter? Punchinello asked. No. Does a green nose make them stronger? No. Does it make them faster? No. Then what does a green nose make them? Eli looked up and smiled. Greener. But his smile left as he looked out the window at the long line of wemics. They think they'll be happier if they look like everyone else. But I made them different on purpose. Freckles, long noses, bright eyes, dark eyes. These were my ideas. Now they all want to look the same. Not me, said Lucia. I'm happy just the way you made me. Me too, agreed Punchinello. I don't need a green nose to feel special. Then he paused and looked at the village. But I would like to see how a green nose looks up close. Want to go? Eli smiled as the two stood to leave. Just remember, I made you different on purpose, he told them. From street level, the line looked even longer and the nose is even greener. Lucia and Punchinello worked their way to the front of the crowd and watched as one wemic after another stepped into the nose coloring store and came out painted. It's the latest thing, barked a wemic on the sidewalk. Don't be the only wemic with a plain nose. Who is that? Asked Punchinello. Lucia shrugged. I don't know. Why that's Mr. Willy with it. Volunteer to wemic from behind them. Does he run the nose painting store? Asked Punchinello. More than that, the wemic explained. Painted noses were his idea. So were the square hats and the tall shoes and the yellow ears. New things are his thing. He decides what is with it. Isn't he the best? Lucia and Punchinello took a good look at this tall wemic with a deep voice, big smile, tall hat and green bow tie that matched his oh so great green nose. Both were thinking the same question. Lucia asked it, who made him the new thing picker? The wemic looked puzzled like he'd never been asked that question. Well, I don't know. He always has. Then his eyes brightened. Wait, look, here comes a new nose. Ooh, said the wemics. Ahh, admired some of the others. The just painted wemic didn't stop to speak. He just kept his nose in the air and walked past. All the green-nosed wemics did this. After all, how could your nose be seen if it wasn't in the air? Walking around high-nosed, however, was risky. Wemics walked into walls, doors, even each other. Lucia and Punchinello had to be very careful. One wemic took up the whole street. Step back, step back. He announced it was the mayor. Make way, every wemic. My wife is coming in for a touch-up. With one hand, he waved back the citizens. With the other, he guided her through the crowd. Horrible, just horrible. She cried, covering her nose with both hands. I chipped some paint when I bumped into a tree. Now the real me is showing. Horrible, just horrible. As the crowd passed, Lucia shook her head. Such a fuss over a green nose. Yeah, agreed Punchinello. You'll never catch me in the nose-coloring store. Aw, Punch, I was hoping you'd go. Punchinello recognized the voice immediately. Twiggy, he turned, looked at the wide-eyed, sweet-smiling wemic. His ears began to turn red. They always did when he saw her.