Page 60 of The Marriage Bid
“Don’t worry,” she said in a smooth, calming voice. “We all have our firsts. I am Sage, by the way, and this class is not for making perfect vases or cups. What we do here is center ourselves while also creating something you can keep for yourself or gift to a loved one. Or throw away if you do not like it. Think of it as a meditation class if you will.” She flashed a smile and floated ahead of us and went to stand in front of the class.
A few people were present. About six total, besides Tyler and me, and they were all darted around the room. One I recognized was a famous tech billionaire, and another was afamous Academy Award-winning actress. They all waved at us as we went to take our places on the back bench in the room.
“She’s interesting,” I said as I sat down next to Tyler. “I would never have guessed someone like you would take a class run by what I can at best describe as a yoga enthusiast.”
“There’s a lot about me you don’t know.” Tyler adjusted the pottery wheel in front of me and produced tools out of a drawer below the table I hadn’t noticed before, then arranged them in front of me.
“Meditative pottery class? You’re right, I did not have that on my bingo card. So do you come here on your lunch or something?”
“This is the first time coming during the week. This place is usually full on the weekends.”
“I can see that,” I said, looking around the large room. It could easily fit thirty students if my count of pottery wheels was accurate.
He pulled out two aprons and handed me one while putting on the other.
I was skeptical. Meditation was not my thing, and neither was pottery, but five minutes into the class I was already getting the hang of it. Sage was a patient teacher; her instructions were clear and easy to follow even for a beginner. Halfway into the class, I got why Tyler enjoyed it. The goal wasn’t to make anything meaningful, but to enjoy the process and focus on it and nothing else. By the end of the class, I was a full believer. I’d never felt so relaxed while also creating something. Sage did not give us instructions on what to create, but helped us all with our various projects. I created a soap dish. Tyler was creating something that looked like a cup or a vase.
“What do you think?” I said when my plate had dried.
“It’s amazing!” The wonder in his voice made me laugh.
“It’s a tiny, little, uneven plate. Calm down.” I could see the mistakes I had made, but the imperfections did not bother me. It made them cute. Maybe it was Sage’s repetitive instruction of ‘embracing the uneven’ that made me appreciate it.
“I like it. How are you going to decorate it? Have you chosen your colors?”
I nodded and showed him the green and gold pigments. “I’m glazing it with green and drawing gold leaves on it.” I winced.
“Don’t worry. You can pull it off. Let me show you how to do it.” He took the plate and cleaned it up and then gave me sandpaper. “You hadn’t polished it.”
“See. I told you I am going to make a butt of a soap dish.”
“Embrace the uneven,” he echoed Sage’s words as he directed my hands to spots I had skipped. His fingers brushed mine, and like a schoolgirl, my body thrummed in response. He helped throughout the entire process. When it was time to draw on the leaves, the little things were difficult to do, so I ended up drawing three circles, which Tyler then covered with tape. And when it was time to dip it in glaze, I let him mix the color. After he was satisfied, he grabbed my plate with tongs and handed it to me. I dipped it into the bucket and watched in wonder as the glaze coated the little plate.
“It’s white!” I said as the glaze dried.
Sage, who was strolling by, said, “It will change if you give it time.” And continued on.
“It will change, give it time,” Tyler said, mimicking Sage’s low, smooth voice.
I giggled. “She’s going to hear you, and we will be booted out of the class,” I whispered.
Once the glaze had dried, Tyler handed me the soap dish. It was exactly the green color I wanted, and the little circles looked more like ovals. It was cute. Tyler had also finished his project. Itwas a pink cup. And when he turned it around, it had my name written on it.
“That’s so cute,” I said.
“It’s for you.” He pushed it towards me.
“Come on. Now I have to give you this ugly soap dish. It’s not fair.”
He chuckled and grabbed it. “I’ll cherish it forever.”
He had meant that in a hyperbolic way, right? Before I could dwell on it further, the class was over and we were leaving. I bid Sage and her classmates goodbye. She gave me a warm hug that someone like her liked to give.
“That was unexpectedly amazing,” I said to Tyler. “I feel so…accomplished. Isn’t that weird?”
“I told you; you’d like it.” We were now on the busy Manhattan streets with our crafts in gift bags. He put on his sunglasses, took my hand, and we went to his car. Instead of opening the front doors, he opened the back, placed the pottery on the rear seat, and closed the door.
“Got other things you want to do?” I asked, surprised.
