Sunshine Challenge 2020 - Prompt 4 (Green)

[greerwatson]

Green is one of my favourite colours. I remember when we moved house in the fall of 1968, my parents suggested that, as our big Christmas-cum-housewarming presents, they buy my sisters and me each head-and-feet for our beds, which had previously just had bed frames and mattresses. I always prefer to put my bed along a wall so as to maximize the space in the centre of the room; so I asked instead for a carpet, specifically a green one.

My mother, who adored shopping, took me round so many stores. We saw rag rugs and Persian rugs and Navajo rugs and all sorts of "modern" patterns. Eventually, it was all too obvious that she was getting fed up with my fussiness. (But it was MY present!)

"You said 'green'," she kept saying. "Well, this one is green!"

Finally, in one of the large department stores, a sales clerk suggested we look through some piles of "ends" of plain, solid-coloured wall-to-wall carpeting material. One by one, these were turned back at the corner to show the next one underneath. And then, suddenly, it just GLOWED. A rich, glorious emerald green.

I adored it instantly.

With horror, I heard my mother protest that it would need to be finished with a fringe, which would make it cost too much. However (gasp! relief!), it turned out to have been bound at the edges so it wouldn't fray.

I still have it.

Comments

[yarnofariadne]

That sounds amazing!

[greerwatson]

It was a long and frustrating shopping day—for both of us. Neither of us had realized that green is not a popular colour for carpeting.

[autobotscoutriella]

That rug sounds lovely!

[greerwatson]

Oh, it is! It is a big near-square of pure emerald green. As my bedroom had pale grey walls with white trim and the furniture was mid to dark brown, the rug really stood out.

[bloodydemonic]

An emerald green carpet sounds wonderful!

[greerwatson]

Thanks! It really is a gorgeous thing.

[corvidology]

That's a lovely memory and great that you still have it!

[greerwatson]

It's been very hard-wearing. Which is a very good thing, since I love it.

💚

[oldtoadwoman]

That is delightful. You knew what you wanted and weren't settling for less.

Re: 💚

[greerwatson]

To me, if a present is going to be a surprise, that's one thing. On the other hand, if I'm being given the choice, then it's my decision.

It became increasinly obvious as we went from store to store that pure green is not a popular colour for carpets. We mostly were either shown olive or a combination with other colours. I was just as frustrated as my mother, but I did know the shade I wanted!

In the family, my mother was considered an irresistible force; but incidents like this got me the reputation of being the immovable object.

[enemytosleep]

You clearly were meant to have it!

[greerwatson]

I guess so!

[silveradept]

I'm glad this story has a happy ending with a green carpet! Yay!

[greerwatson]

Yay!