Carla didn’t know what to expect when she got a mail that her presence was requested by the town’s council. A week before, she had, upon the town’s instruction, submitted a comprehensive plan of how she intended to style the building gifted to her by her late aunt. She didn’t think there was anything wrong with her plans, especially since it was her building. But she realized, and that too quite soon, how wrong she’d been.
“REJECTED.” The Architectural Panel of Strathcorrie ruled. Carla blinked once and then twice.
“I don’t understand. Why exactly is this being rejected.”
“Seriously, Miss Matthews. We wouldn’t think someone so learned would find a problem with this ruling.”
Carla blanched at the degree of condescension. Seething, she replied. “But I do have a problem. This is my building. On what grounds is my choice of paint rejected?”
The Panel of two stuffy-looking men and a self-righteous looking woman had an identical look on their faces. They were dealing with a woman low in human intelligence. They were quite sure of it. Calmly, Olsen Steeves, head of the Strathcorrie Architectural Panel, pulled out a brochure and passed it to Carla.
“Look closely, Miss Matthews. What do you see?”
Carla looked at the brochure of different houses all in earth and nude tones. So many browns and whites and creams that her head immediately began to spin. I see houses in such tones that if I passed by mine a hundred times over, I’d never know.” She ended dryly.
“The point, Miss Matthews,” Olsen seethed, “is that we have a structure. A structure that hasn’t been tampered with for generations. Strathcorrie is known for its unity in everything. Our architecture included. We cannot ruin it because of your.....” he paused and eyed her for effect. “peculiar tastes.”
Carla felt insulted, patronised and utterly looked down on. But she couldn’t have reached the level she did if she was one to back down easily. She smiled serenely at the panel. “I do not want to take this up in court and I do respect your town immensely. Which is why I would overlook your patronising tones and humbly request that you at least see how it turns out before you give your ruling. Either way, I’d still give it my own touch. But being at loggerheads had never been my style.” She ended calmly.
The panel looked at each other. Were they willing to give it a chance and risk unsettling a legacy of uniformity? They turned to Carla then who still had a beatific smile pasted on her face. She was a scheming one, they knew. But their hands were tied.
Carla went home with smiles and promptly began buying her paint. She didn’t add that she was going to be painting it herself. She had no concrete plan for relocating to Strathcorrie but she was positive that after the townspeople saw her mural, she’d have jobs from all over.
She set to work the next day, painting with dexterity and style. Painting had been a hobby of hers for as long as could remember and she didn’t need to refer to the art in her journal. She knew this mural by heart. And so she painted. People gathered and watched. Muttering and pointing hands. But she wasn’t deterred. The end justified the means.
She worked tirelessly for three days and when she was done, the mutterings had switched to cheers and gasps of amazement and awe. Carla walked across the street from her newly painted building and looked at it with admiration on her face. Perfect, she said out loud.
“Excuse me, Miss Matthews.” Carla swivelled to see Olsen peering at her from behind his horn-rimmed spectacles.
“Yes, Mr. Steeves.” She replied sweetly.
“I was wondering,” he said, his head bent shyly. “Do you think you could paint the Town Hall too? Of course, not with such hideous colours as pink, but something....other than cream?”
Carla beamed, looking at the townspeople who had also begun to clamour for her attention. Turning back to Olsen, she replied. “When do I start?”
What I See
I see rows of houses in earth tones that stretch for miles and beautiful pink apartment that breaks that structure.
What I Feel
The beginning of something new and colourful.
Jhymi🖤
This is my entry to A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words. Do check it out!