Sentence Clues at the Clay Studio

The Lopsided Bowl

1On Saturday morning, Keiko and her uncle Ray took a class at the clay studio. Their teacher, Mr. Abara, gave each of them a smock, a loose cloth top that keeps wet clay off your clothes. Then he plopped a lump of gray clay in front of each person.

2Keiko pressed her thumbs into the middle of her lump. The clay was cool and pliable, so it bent and stretched easily in her hands. She pinched and turned it, around and around. But when she finished, her bowl was lopsided, with one side much taller than the other.

3When Keiko set the bowl down, it wobbled, rocking from side to side on the table. She felt discouraged, as if she would never be good at making anything out of clay. Uncle Ray reassured her with a kind smile and a few gentle words: "Everyone's first bowl is a little bumpy." Keiko giggled and felt much better.

4Next, Mr. Abara placed all the bowls in the kiln, a very hot oven that bakes clay until it is hard. A week later, the class came back to paint. Keiko brushed on glaze, a coating that turns shiny and glassy when the clay is baked again.

5When Keiko saw her finished bowl, she smiled. It was a little tilted, but it was bright blue and green. She decided she liked it because it was unique; no other bowl in the whole world looked exactly like hers.