A Fine Little Sculpture

Strolling past the porch, I spotted a puddle of damp, thick clay beside the garden hose. It felt firm enough to hold a shape, not like that flimsy dirt from earlier. I gathered a solid fistful, slapped it hard against a flat garden stone to knock out the bubbles, and began kneading. No molten lava out here, so regular mud had to do. With careful prods from my heavy claws, I shaped it into a jagged, miniature volcano, carving deep ridges along its sides. It looks fierce and polite all at once. Not bad work.