The Community Centre smelt like when it rains after a dry spell. She loved that smell. The signs said that the pottery classes would be on the top floor. Valerie pressed the button for the elevator when someone came up behind her. This man was shorter than her which was impressive in its own right.

“Going up then?” the man gleamed.

Valerie held in the comment that they were on the ground floor.

“Yep” she pursed her lips.

They stood there in the refreshing silence.

“Are you here for the Pottery Class?” he said expectantly

“My first time” Valerie responded, keeping her eyes forward. This elevator was taking its time.

“The name is Theodore” he extended a hand “Lovely to meet you…”

“Valerie” She shook his hand

“What a lovely name”

“Isn’t it just?” This was an abnormally long handshake, she noted. A sign of desperation maybe.

She’d have to avoid him at all costs. People who give unusually long handshakes mean they’re trying to prove something to you specifically. No one shakes someone else’s hand for a long time and doesn’t notice they’re doing it.

The elevator doors parted. As did Valerie and Theodore’s hands. The ride up four floors was pleasantly quiet. As the two walked out of the elevator, they followed the signs from one side of the building to another. It led to a slightly desolated corner of the community centre. The door opened, the two entered to see a smattering of people around the room. As she stood there, all quiet like, she heard the door close behind her.

“Sorry I’m late. Shall we move on to working on last session's project?” said Theodore. He had put on an apron and was hanging his jacket on a coat rack. “Oops. And I almost forgot to introduce the new person.” He gestured to her. “This is Valeria. Please make her feel welcome.”

In awe of this man's pure to goodness idiocy, Valerie only in an absent minded way, introduced herself to the rest of the potters.

One lesson, right? She could simply leave right after and never come back. There was already too much of this kind of person in her life.

With this in mind, she put her belongings in the available cubby holes. She took an apron and sat at a pottery wheel.

Theodore came over, as enthusiastic as before “Comfortable, are we?” he chuckled

“Positively cosy” she retorted, though the hostility in her own voice surprised even herself.

“Well, you seem like you’ll do great. Most people only take one lesson and never come back. I say those people are talentless and not worthy of this place.”

Valerie’s plans changed as fast as it took for her to blink. This man was testing every fibre of her being. ‘Talentless’? Valerie could not let this man's word come true. As much as it pained her to say this,

“I’ll be here for a while, don’t worry” she chuckled

Theodores arm patted her shoulder “That’s great! I’ll personally see to it that you reach your utmost potential”

“Thank you so much” Valerie gleamed

Theodore walked to give a pep talk to someone who started on a project.

Valerie’s own pettiness was her greatest enemy right now. She couldn’t prove this man right. Especially not one that she couldn’t tolerate.

A designated member of the class passed out some clay to those who needed. Valerie stared at the shapeless lump. It was now her responsibility to turn this into the best vase she could make.

Theodore clapped his hands. He got the attention of everyone in the small classroom.

“Last few weeks, we were working on your mugs and it was great” he cupped his hands together “Fantastic, really! But now that we have finished the basics, we move onto…” he grabbed something off a shelf “Vases!”

Thank goodness, Valerie thought. She may not like Theodore but at least she’s doing what she came here to do.

The teacher continued “You’ve been handed out the clay. Just get used to the amount. Work it for a while and we’ll get into”

Valerie looked at her clay and at others. She realised that her amount was pitiful in comparison. She didn’t want to do it, but she raised her hand as if she was in school again. This captured Theodores attention.

“You don’t have to raise your hand” he chuckled “We’re not a primary school”

“It’s just that I have a small amount. Unless you want me to make a small vase”

“That’s what I want you to do in a manner of speaking” he gleamed “A really wide and short one, that is.”

“A bowl?”

“It’ll teach you what you need to do. The bowl is basic yet complicated. You’ll have it in no time”

“Great” Valerie exasperated

“I’ll come back to help you out, but I’ll just give the others some tips before they start”

As Theodore was walking away, he spun on heel “Oh, before I forget. Do you want to pay per class, or do you want to pay for a months’ worth of classes up front?”