A Gentle Glaze

I ambled out the front door and followed the gentle afternoon breeze down the sidewalk into an open ceramic craft workshop. On the lowest wooden drying rack, a row of newly bisque-fired clay wind chime discs hung suspended from cotton strings. Right beneath them lay a smooth, round glazed bead. I took my time, using both my flippers to roll the bead across the sanded pine plank until it gently bumped against the low rim of a shallow terracotta bowl. It produced a crisp, mellow chime that drifted softly through the dusty room. I rested my flipper on the cool ceramic bead, letting the peaceful resonance settle.