Swatches

I needed an accent green for the wainscoting in the bathroom. I had picked Morning Jade and was reading in the outdoor furniture area while it mixed. I didn’t realize an hour had passed until the book’s chapter finished.

Back at the counter the taking so long made sense. A customer was crying. Becca the paint-girl was handing her tissues. A page of House & Garden was between them, its edge jagged from being torn out too quickly.

Becca caught me up. “We started with Delicate Bud and a squirt of orange 8 but that came out coral. Kashmir is a bluer pink but in the end we went with Puff in satin.”

“Which I think,” now holding the paint streak up to the picture, “is a match.” The lady had stopped crying and nodded back. I also nodded.

With that go-ahead Becca mixed two galloons. She thumbprinted the lids, knocked them down and placed the cans in the shopping cart. The lady thanked her and disappeared down the fan blade aisle.

“Her son called her old,” Becca said. “I’d get some of the wider blue tape if you’re gonna use a roller."

westie painting leftovers, originally uploaded by Candylei.

What color is your room?