Green Kauri Comics · Story 004

Her Own Colour

A story about approval, self-trust and standing by a choice that not everyone will like.

Story 004

When one opinion starts to sound like everyone’s.

Lucy paints her salon door coral, then starts repainting after one comment. Robyn shows her the answer she already chose.

Featuring Lucy, Robyn, Kauri and Kiwi.

Open full-size comic → (opens in a new tab)
Four-panel comic titled Her Own Colour. Lucy doubts her new coral salon door after a five-star review says it hates the pink, tests four more colours that someone always dislikes, is shown the original coral by Robyn, and finally keeps the coral door when a passer-by still calls it too pink.
A Green Kauri Story

Accessible story text

Read the story

On a breezy shopping street in New Brighton, Christchurch, Lucy has just painted the front door of her salon in her favourite colour: a warm coral pink. Kauri is helping with a small roller, and Kiwi is asleep on the drop sheet.

  1. Panel 1 — The only thing they didn’t like

    Lucy stands proudly by the freshly painted coral door. Kauri, on a small step stool, finishes the bottom of the frame. Then Lucy’s phone shows a new five-star review: “Love my hair. Hate the pink door.” She sees only the second half. Her smile freezes: “I thought the coral felt like me.”

  2. Panel 2 — Everyone has an answer

    By the afternoon, the door has become a test board of coral, teal, mustard yellow and grey. Lucy holds a paintbrush and checks a poll on her phone. The four colours are almost tied at 24–26%. Four open paint tins stand at her feet. “Someone hates every colour,” Lucy says. Kauri looks up at her: “Which one do you like?” Kiwi has moved to sleep in an empty paint tray.

  3. Panel 3 — The answer underneath

    That evening, Robyn arrives with a cake stand. She doesn’t look at the poll. Instead, she peels back a strip of masking tape by the door, revealing the original coral beneath. “You already chose,” Robyn says. Lucy stands holding a new tin labelled SAFE BEIGE: “What if they don’t like it?”

  4. Panel 4 — My door

    The next morning, the door is coral again. A small sign beside it reads Lucy’s Salon — Not everyone’s colour. Lucy tucks her phone into her apron pocket and opens the door for business. A passer-by points: “Still too pink.” Lucy smiles: “Good thing it’s my door.” Kauri packs away the clean rollers, and Kiwi sleeps on the drop sheet with a new streak of coral on his feathers.

If everyone must approve, your choice is no longer yours.
Characters
Lucy, Robyn, Kauri and Kiwi
Setting
New Brighton, Christchurch, New Zealand
Themes
Approval, self-trust, criticism and personal choice
Published

Green Kauri Comics

Discover more stories.

All comics