POTTERY

Minh was a pottery lover and he was very interested in his grandmother’s pottery studio. So Minh was excited when his grandmother Nana invited him into her pottery studio and told him she would teach him how to make pottery. After all, Nana didn’t give all her grandchildren such a(n) ______. Minh looked forward to putting his hands into some cold clay (陶土) and placing his bowl in the heated kiln until it hardened like stone.

“Be ______ with that,” Nana said as Minh picked up one of the bowls. The boy carefully put the bowl back on the shelf and ______ his hands inside his pockets. He was anxious to get started on the lesson Nana had promised him. And he didn’t want to risk losing that ______ by breaking any of her finished pieces of pottery.

Five hours later, Minh was disappointed and tired. His black work that looked more like a rock than a bowl, was a ______ on the first try. Then he made another try but it was ______ any better. However, he had at least worked out how to make a smooth opening in the center of the day. Meanwhile, Nana was keeping busy. A deep, narrow bowl and a wide, shallow bowl ______ on Nana’s worktable. Her practiced hands began to ______ another bowl. “I’ll never get it!” Minh said, watching her work.

Nana looked at her grandson and sighed, “Don’t worry, you’ll get it,” she encouraged him. “ The only way you won’t learn is if you give up.”