The streets were awash with colour, though green was the main one. Children in green dresses or shirts; adults with green hats and scarves. Even the family pets were bedecked in the forty shades. Everyone and everything was making every effort to make the Emerald Isle look true to its name.
Everyone and everything except for one. Smack bang in the middle of the celebrations walked one man. A tourist? A native? A lost soul? No one was sure. Instead of blending into the sea of green, this individual was wearing yellow. Canary yellow. A yellow hat, a yellow coat, a yellow scarf with matching gloves, boots and, most odd, he was carrying a very blue umbrella that he was using like a walking cane.
He marched along with the rest of the parade, strutting his stuff, not making any attempt to blend in. At first, people tried to ignore him but, gradually, he became the centre of attention.
Look at him, they said, pointing in his direction. Some were amused, others annoyed.
He’s spoiling it for the kids.
Ignore him, he’s only looking for attention.
But, what’s he at?
What does he think he’s doing?
He should just cop on!
He should be arrested!
Someone should call the guards!
Slowly, the crowd was stirring. What seemed funny at first, now was plain annoying, irritating, distracting from the main event.
Why doesn’t someone do something?
Yea! I’ve a good mind to give him a piece of my mind.
We don’t need his sort around here!
Let’s grab him…
The crowd turned nasty. Some stepped forward, ready to remove the stranger, the distractor, the one who was grabbing all the lime light. It wouldn’t be tolerated. It couldn’t be.
Just as the first vigilante reached the yellow-clad man, there was a flash, a drum roll, a clash of cymbals. A band sets a marching pace.
With a flourish, the man in yellow opened up his large umbrella, gave it a twirl and, then, before the astonished onlookers, he held it still for all to see. Written in black letters was a message for the crowd: Yellow + Blue = Green.
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