Deciding what color to paint this house was a challenge; given both the colorful neighborhood I live in, its inhabitants and the fact that I am the last house on this street, and set farther back on the sidewalk, to boot. I had lots of advice, but finally settled on a yellow. Taking the painter’s advice, I bought 5 strong colors which he applied to the front of the house. We stood across the street, waiting for them to dry, while he expounded upon his theories of paint and people. Finally, the paint was dry, and Mr. Drew turned his attention to my problem.

“Now, Miss Patty, far be it from me to tell you what to do, you bein’ a grown woman, and all, but here’s what I’m thinkin’ about your situation, here. See them two yellas up top there? Now, they ain’t you, because they ain’t strong enough – this here house has to reflect on your personality, and you are definitely a lot stronger than them two colors up there. Now, if you ask me about them next two, I would say most definitely they are not you. No ma’am, not no way. Them colors would be right for some little house up in the country, you know, with trees all round it. A sweet little house. But you see that last yella, that number 5 yella at the bottom? Well Miss Patty, that yella BE ‘ S YOU ! (beez-yu) !!! Now, you sweet and all that, don’t get me wrong, but you strong, yeah, and that color there, Miss Patty, well, it be’s strong and sweet, just like you."

And that's the rest of the story.