“Pick a color,” Gina told Mathew as she approached him at a park picnic table, carrying a shopping bag.
“Like an obscure color?” Mathew asked.
“No,” Gina said. “One of the colors of the rainbow.”
Mathew sat still for a moment. “Well, red and blue are out because I don’t want to make a political statement, obviously. I’m an ally.”
“It’s not a thinking question,” Gina responded.
Mathew didn’t listen. “I also don’t want to appear neutral. So purple also has to be out, too. Man, why are colors so political these days?”
“Colors are not political,” Gina said.
“That leaves green, orange and yellow,” Mathew continued. “I feel like if I pick yellow it makes me seem too happy.”
“No one would mistake you for happy,” Gina responded.
“Green actually seems like a fairly good choice. The environmental people are green. However, am I that committed? Will I be seen as a fraud?”
As Mathew continued his soliloquy, Gina waved down their approaching group of friends.
“So, that would leave me with orange,” Mathew said. “But orange is a misfit color. It doesn’t rhyme with anything. It clashes with many other colors. Do I really want to be seen as an outsider?”
Finally, realizing Gina was still there, Mathew said, “I’m going to have to start over.”
The other friends approached. Gina addressed them and pulled a box out of her bag. “Hi, guys. I brought popsicles. Glad you showed up! Mathew was letting them melt, trying to pick a color.”
The friends laughed at this typical Mathew behavior.
Mathew looked at the box, “You didn’t tell me there was pink!”
“Is that what you want?” Gina asked.
“You’re actually asking about flavors, not colors,” Mathew said. “Now what does it say about me if I choose pink lemonade over grape?”