It Was All Yellow Too
Tiny Memoir #9
I am five years old when I discover it is stupid to like yellow. We kindergarteners have been instructed to choose our favourite colour and paint whatever we like; I am painting a yellow submarine because my favourite song is about one. I hum the chorus and paint joyful strokes and shapes, ignoring Gareth. His mum is my mum’s friend, but I don’t like him. He’s mean when his mum’s not looking. “You like yellooooow,” he sneers now, stretching the word like it’s disgusting. One day I’ll wonder why his opinion mattered, but today, I don’t like yellow anymore.
Author of novels Wherever You Go and Wildflower, Monique Mulligan is a multi-passionate creative fascinated by the simple things in life, the extraordinary ordinary and human behaviour. After working for many years in publishing, journalism, marketing and local government, she’s currently exploring ways to be “more slow, less busy” in her daily life, while allowing her creative expression to bloom in exciting and sustainable ways.
Monique writes A Life (Extra) Ordinary on Substack.
With apologies to the author, this piece appeared later than originally scheduled because my laptop broke. Thank you for your bearing with me during the month-long publication hiatus. -Jude, Editor-in-Chief of Tiny Memoir.
The most brilliantly bizarre amongst us love yellow. So much art, so many songs. That kid was jealous of your vast imagination.
How wonderful to love yellow! I wonder if we pay too much attention to what others, especially boys and men, tell us.
That artwork is a joy, isn't it? You could lose yourself in that yellow.