ANOTHER STORY: A COLOUR IN THE FOG

A COLOUR IN THE FOG

PROLOGUE
Once upon a time, there was a place called Grey city. Grey city was colourless, there was no such thing as colour. Grey city only had shades of grey and black, no purple and blue. People were usually born grumpy and there wasn’t a lot of happiness and celebrations, even when a child was born.

CHAPTER 1
She Is Born
“What shade of grey or black is her hair?” The new baby’s aunt Gerlda asked over the phone. 
“Umm..” The new baby’s mom, Betty, said. 
“Light or dark?” Aunt Gerlda asked. 
“Its...well its...umm.” Betty said. 
“What type of grey or black is it, Betty?” Aunt Gerlda said now impatient.
Betty hanged up the phone and looked at her new baby. She was different.
The phone ranged again. Betty picked it up.
“Light or dark?” Aunt Gerlda said, really angry now.
“Just come over will you?” Betty said. 
“Oh, yes. I will come over.” Aunt Gerlda said and then hanged up the phone.
The new baby’s father, Scott, walked in to the room.
“Where’s Ella?” Scott asked.
“Here.” Betty said holding out her the baby, Ella.
Scott picks her up.
“Oh! You have to hold her neck to, Scott. You’re going to hurt her.” Betty said protectively. Betty takes the baby from Scott’s arms.
“And Gerlda is coming over.” Betty said.
Betty walked to her bedroom and looked in to the mirror on the wall. She stared at herself. She had long dark grey hair and light grey skin. Then she looks at her new baby, Ella. She has not black hair nor grey, she doesn’t exactly know what it is. And Ella’s skin isn’t black or grey either. Betty loves her though, even if she is different.
Scott walks in to the bedroom “Gerlda’s here.” He said, and then walks out of the room.
Betty sets the sleepy Ella in her crib and then walks out to greet her sister, Gerlda.

Aunt Gerlda shrieked “Its a terrible sight! Get it away from me!”
Betty holds the baby close to her tightening her grip when aunt Gerlda shrieked.
“I know! I can’t look at it.” Scott said.
“She’s not that bad. And by the way “it” has a name, Ella.” Betty said, now holding Ella even tighter. “And I expect a father to care more about his child.”
“You expect me to care about my child when...when she’s different.” Scott said.
“Yes.” Betty said. Then she turned and went to her room.
Betty changed Ella’s diaper and put her in pyjamas when aunt Gerlda walked in to the room.
“You should give it to the orphanage. Thats what I would do.” Aunt Gelda said.
“Her, not an it, her.” Betty said calmly “And I am not going to give my child up just because she looks different.”
“Well I would.” Aunt Gelda said.
She turned and took one more glance at Betty then walked away.

CHAPTER 2

When Ella turned two, the people found two names for Ella’s different hair, yellow or blond. They had also found a name for her unusual skin, cream. They called the yellow and blond and cream “colour.” 
If her parents bought her a light grey dress it turned into the colour pink.
“I can’t stand it!” Scott said.
“What?” Betty asked, brushing Ella’s blond hair.
“Every time we try to give her a outfit that will make her look normal to the other children it turns pink or another colour!” Scott said pointing at Ella.
“I think it makes her look beautiful.” Betty said.
“Whatever.” Scott said and then walks in to their bedroom.
There was a knock on the door and Betty answered it. Aunt Gelda was standing in front of the door holding a black wig.
“Gelda...” Betty started.
“I know what you’re going to say, but...” Gelda said.
“Gelda, I’m serious. This is the seventh wig you’ve brought us and remeber what happens to all the other wigs? They turn blond.” Betty said.
“But Betty, I’m sure its going to work this time, the company made it for me especially for this! Just let me try.” Gelda said.
“Well all right...” Betty started, but Gelda was already shoving the wig on to Ella’s head.
“Carful Gelda! Your going to hurt her.” Betty said when Gelda does a final shove and the wig is on Ella’s head. 
The wig starts to have blond streaks in it and after a minute all the black is gone and a blond wig is all that is left.
“See, Gelda?” Betty said impatient with her sister “I told you this is what was going to happen.”
“Yes, I see. I just wanted to help.” Gelda said.
“Please go, Gelda.” Betty said.
“But...” Gelda started.
“Now.” Betty said, holding open the door.
“Mama!” Ella shrieked. “Mama!”
“Yes, dear.” Betty said.
“Mama!” Ella shrieked again.
“See you later, Gelda.” Betty said pushing Gelda out of the door. “Bye.” And then Betty slams the door closed.
Ella holds up the brush “Mama!”
Betty resumed to brushing Ella’s hair “If only you weren’t so different.” Betty sighed.