Short Story Idea: The Colour

Setting:

·         In a large city, enclosed by walls, that the main character, Connor, does not know the name of.

·         In the future

·         Tall buildings, no plants, everything is very dull and bland. Many back alleys.

·         Colourless, everything is black and white. HOWEVER all people are the same shade of grey, no matter what race or ethnicity

·         Mood: lifeless, boring, and dreary until The Colour comes in. Then it gets brighter and vibrant. Until Connor finds out the truth about himself, then it get dark and is full of unhappiness

Characters: 

·         Protagonist:

o  Connor:

§  African American, tall, skinny. Short black hair, dark chocolate eyes. Skinny, yet he is very strong and is quick as the wind. Agile too.

§  Poor. Just has enough money to get by

§  Likeable, people get along with him quickly and easily

§  Adventurous and curious about almost everything. A little lonely, since he doesn’t know where his parents are or whether they are dead or alive.  Unable to sit still, fidgety and cannot stay in one place for a long period of time

·         Antagonist:

o  The Colour

§  In a flask, swirling with every colour of the spectrum. The only colourful thing in the city. Stands out strongly.

§  Vibrant, gives a sense of emotion and personality, something which the city lacks.

§  Connor finds The Colour in a flask that is given by homeless man and drinks it. He is then given the ability to give colour to everything in the city.  

·         Other characters:

o  Emma: Connor’s sister

o  Homeless man who gives The Colour

Plot:

·         Initial Action:

o  Connor is out for a walk to the convenience store to get food for his sister and him.

o   He shoplifts some stuff because he doesn’t have enough money for all the food he wants to get and the police start to chase him.             

·         Rising Action:

o  Takes a different route to escape. It is through an alley he has never seen or been in before. Finds The Colour in the alley. The homeless man who lives there gives it to him.

o  Drinks it and is given the ability to give colour to everything he touches. He touches the alley and it burst into colour. Connor is astounded by this new discovery.

o  Goes around the city and gives colour to all the buildings and objects. People start to see in colour and love it.

o  Connor starts to give colour to the people themselves. Discovers that all the people are white in the city. Connor is curious as to know what colour he is.

o  Goes back to his home and gives his sister colour. She is fair skinned as well.

o  Goes back to the alley where he found the colour, and asks the homeless man how he can give himself colour. The man says that it is best for him to not give himself colour.

o  Connor pleads with him and the man gives in and says to touch his eyes. Connor touches his eyes and he is given colour. Homeless man gives him as shard of mirror. Connor looks in it and discovers he has dark skin.

·         Climax:

o  Connor discovers that he’s the only dark skinned person in the city.

o   The homeless person says that he was the only one who could see in colour and knew that he was different from the rest. He was afraid of giving him The Colour because he didn’t want to hurt him

o   Connor is very shocked

·         Falling Action

o   Everyone begins to treat him differently because of his skin colour and Connor cannot tolerate this anymore.

o   The people make fun of him, or ignore him or treat him cruelly

o   He learns that his sister is not his sister as well. She is just a homeless child who was living with him for the past years

·         Resolution

o   Connor decides to try to escape the city in search for a better future

o   Manages to climb the city walls and stands on top of them.

o   Sees that the rest of the world has colour as is excited. Only the walled city didn't have any colour for some reason.

o   However he trips and falls off the wall to his death

Theme:

·         This story is sending a message about racism, and how it affects people. It is not a good thing at all and can destroy a person.

·         How if we were colour blind or thought we were all the same colour, we wouldn’t judge each other by skin tone. We would be treated equally and nicely

·         Sometimes things that we think are good can turn against us (eg. The Colour)

·         We shouldn’t be judged by our appearance

Conflict:

· Person vs. Society: Society doesn’t like him because he is different (once he gives The Colour to himself)

· Person vs. Internal: Has a bit of trouble accepting he is different and wish things could go back to normal

· Person vs. Person (The Colour): The Colour was good at first, until it revealed the truth to Connor about his skin colour