After today's pottery class I feel more in love with Bella than ever before.
I had thought she was unafraid to get messy when gardening, I now realise that was just a sneak preview of what was in store.
We set out in the morning and headed to Port Angeles Community College for our half day pottery taster class. Upon our arrival we donned aprons, though in hindsight hazmat suits would have been a more appropriate choice.
The teacher went over the basics and did a demonstration of wedging the clay and then throwing a simple, but delicate pot on the wheel.
It all looked simple enough, but appearances proved to be most deceptive once we were stationed at our wheels. Controlling the speed with the foot pedal was not the challenge for me that it was for Bella. I suspect since she is used to gunning her death trap truck, she only has two settings 'go' and 'don't go'. It is a miracle she hasn't crashed that rusty behemoth it yet.
We took turns at the wheel, I went first and was stopped short very quickly by my overconfidence. When I tried to centre the clay, too much pressure made it pancake out creating quite the mess. I tried again and managed a little better on my second attempt, though once it came to pulling up the sides of a bowl, the real difficulty began.
No matter what I did, attempt after attempt resulted in the most obscene looking phalluses. If I could have blushed, I would have been a shocking shade of crimson for the entire afternoon. A dozen abandoned floppy clay dicks later, I had finally managed to get far enough along to create a very deformed vessel, then my time was up and it was Bella's turn at the wheel.
I cheered her on from the sidelines, cooing and applauding as Bella mashed the clay about on the wheel, though she really needed no encouragement. She had the most adorable determined grimace upon her face as she slapped down the clay and started to manhandle it.
Bella was a little over exuberant with the water, meaning that much of the clay ended up forming a thick grey slop, that shattered far and wide as she gunned the motor of the wheel. Her joy was evident and she was utterly undeterred by the ever increasing pool of mud flying all about us. I hissed at our squealing classmates to quieten them, not willing to let Bella's creative flow be disrupted by their wailing.
The numbers in the room dwindled as the others gave up, or went to wash the overspray from their eyes, abandoning their projects, it mattered not to me though. I was totally captivated by the mighty goddess before me, shoulder deep in terracotta.
In preparation for class I had watched the movie Ghost and I was not disappointed by the eroticism of watching Bella take command of the wheel. I led a rousing rendition of Unchained Melody as I watched the scene unfold before me. Bella managed to make several gorgeous abstract object d'art, less phallic than my paltry offerings and altogether more avant garde. Much to my dismay, she clumped them together before taking her final attempt at the wheel, though I should not have had such reservations as the resulting piece was truly magnificent. An asymmetrical form appeared from her fingertips as if by witchcraft, most appealing to the eye and something anyone would covet for their home. As she slowed the wheel I gasped in amazement "It's SO beautiful Bella! Well done! I think you have found your calling! What is it?"
"It's a bowl you ding-dong!" She declared, grinning and cutting the masterpiece from the wheel. The teacher, who had taken shelter from the shower of clay behind the kiln, emerged from her corner and timidly asked if we were done. I said that we were and asked when we would be able to collect our finished pieces after firing. I will return with Bella after school a week on Monday to pick up our wares. I am most excited to see her finished work.
The best part of the day was that I got to pick Bella up, insisting that it was dangerous for her to attempt to walk across the now swampy floor of the studio. I would not let her risk those precious ankles! I got to grip her around the waist as I lifted her and carried her upright in front of me Over the studio threshold. It was over all too soon, but ah! What a memory!
Alice had thankfully foreseen that we would need an entire roll of trash bags to both wear and use to cover the seats of the Volvo after class. Driving was a slight challenge as my saturated shoes kept squelching and slipping on the pedals. Bella fell asleep, succumbing to creative exhaustion, drooling adorably and and snoring sonorously for the journey home.
Upon my return, Esme took one look at me and shouted 'outside!', she made me stand in the garden and used the pressure washer to hose me down, removing the worst of the dirt. It was most bracing! Carlisle had to spend some hours syringing the clay from my ear canals and nostrils. I shall be sure to plug myself up properly before any future creative endeavours with dear Bella.
Now that I can hear again, I think I shall play some piano. It has been so very long. My eyes are still a little muddy, so I shall play from memory I think.
A/N: Please leave a review! Thanks so much to my wonderful beta wh1teow1, please show some love and read Moirai, a reimagining of Twilight for the new decade!