The Pottery Class

Hugo has always wanted to try pottery, so he signs up for a six-week course at the arts centre. On the first evening, the teacher, Mrs Lowe, shows the group how to prepare the clay. “If you add too much water, the clay collapses,” she says. “If you add too little, it cracks. You learn the balance with practice.”

Hugo’s first bowl looks more like a hat. “Don’t worry,” Mrs Lowe says. “When you make the next one, you will know what to avoid.” She explains that the bowls dry slowly, and nobody can paint them until they are completely dry.

At the end of the class, Mrs Lowe puts all the bowls in the kiln. “I’ll send you a message when they are ready,” she promises. “You can collect them on Saturday if you bring your receipt. I’ll keep them here until Monday.”

The message arrives on Friday night. Hugo opens the studio door at nine on Saturday morning, and his bowl is waiting on the shelf. It is uneven and a bit heavy, but it is his own. “When I get home, I’ll put some fruit in it,” he thinks.

He decides to sign up for the next course. “If you practise every week, you improve quickly,” Mrs Lowe tells him as he pays. Hugo smiles. He already has a small notebook for his mistakes.