Beautifully Broken

Ren can't stand mistakes, so a pottery class feels like a nightmare of lopsided bowls and cracks. Then a teacher shows the art of mending broken pots with gold, and Ren has to decide what to do with the things that don't turn out perfect.

Ren Tanaka liked things to be exactly right. Pencils lined up by size. Homework with not a single eraser smudge. Sandwiches cut so the two halves matched like twins.

So when Mom signed Ren up for Saturday pottery class at the little studio on Maple Street, Ren felt a small, cold worry curl up in their stomach. Clay was messy. Clay was squishy. Clay did whatever it wanted.

'You'll love it,' Mom said, ruffling Ren's hair. 'Just give it a chance.'

Ren wasn't so sure. But the studio door had a tiny brass bell, and the bell sounded friendly, so Ren took a breath and pushed it open.