A Fatal Slip

by Melissa Glazer

  “So, what happens to the coffee shop?” Hannah asked.

  “I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about it. Why, do you want to buy it?”

  “Me?” she asked as she laughed. “I don’t think so.”

  I smiled. “Come on, I’ll be your silent partner.”

  Hannah smiled. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep. You’ve never been silent in your life.”

  “There’s always that,” I said just as I noticed someone hovering outside the shop.

  Hannah noticed my gaze. “Is something wrong?”

  “It’s Rose,” I said as I started for the door.

  Bill found my hand before I could reach it. He snapped, “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “I’m letting Rose in,” I said. “At least I am if you’ll move that hairy mitt of yours.”

  “I don’t think so,” he said. “You stay right here. I’ll go get her.”

  “Bill Emerson, you’re driving me crazy with this hovering. I love you with all my heart, but give me some space to breathe.”

  “Sorry. I was just trying to look out for you,” he said.

  I’d clearly hurt his feelings, so I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “That’s all right. I know you mean well. I forgive you.”

  Rose neared the door, and Bill—to his eternal credit—got out of my way so I could open it.

  She stood outside and said, “I don’t want to interrupt your party, but I just wanted to come by to tell you I’m glad you’re okay.”

  “Come on in and join us,” I said.

  “No, I don’t want to interrupt. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  “Does that mean you’re back?” I asked. The last time I’d seen her, she’d threatened to leave forever.

  Rose shrugged. “What can I say? This is home, for better or for worse.”

  I hugged her. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”

  After she was gone, I turned to look as if my family and friends. My sons were studying the kilns like they were part of a science project. Butch and Jenna were in deep conversation, while Sandy and Martha were studying the small animals David had been making. I had a feeling that we’d be having a Firing Squad meeting to make them soon, and I couldn’t wait.

  I’d gone through a lot to make Fire at Will my own, and there was no place in the world that I’d rather be, among everyone I cared about.

  Clay-Crafting Tips

  Using Slip to Make Sculpted Animals

  Slip is nothing more than a combination of water and the clay you’re using, and I like to use it when I’m making little sculpted animals as David does in the book. Polymer sculpting clay is well suited for this project. You don’t need a potter’s kiln for this material; you can bake it in a toaster oven or a regular oven. The sculpting clay is readily available at craft stores, comes in lots of colors, and when baked, becomes extremely hard.

  To make the frog that David makes, take enough green polymer clay—the Sculpey brand, for example—and knead it into a ball a little bigger than a quarter in diameter. Once you’ve got a ball, it’s time to add details. To make the eyes, use white clay to form two smaller balls the size of the pad of your little finger, then score the backs of each ball with crisscrossing lines that barely scrape the surfaces. Score the body as well in the location where you’re going to mount the eyes, then take a dab of water on your fingertip and rub the clay until there’s a wet sheen on the scored areas. Believe it or not, you’ve just made your own slip. Press the eyes firmly onto the body, then form up the green clay behind them until the backs of the white balls are covered and molded to the body. Using black clay, make small balls to act as the pupils, then flatten them and attach them by scoring and creating slip with water on both surfaces. There should be areas of the white exposed, with a good covering of black.

  Your frog is now starting to take shape. Roll two small pieces of the green clay into stubby cylinders, then attach them to the bottom of the frog by scoring the materials and rubbing water into the grooves until slip is formed. Press them into place and then mold them until you’re satisfied with their shape.

  Taking a small awl, you can carve two nostrils and a smile into the body, or you can make these out of clay as well. To finish your frog, roll three or four small balls of brown clay and press them onto the frog’s back to give him spots of character. Make sure everything is just how you’d like it, then bake the clay per the instructions on the box.

  With a little imagination, you can create an entire menagerie of clay frogs, snakes, squirrels, and even dogs. They’re great fun to make, and kids love to get them as gifts, as well as make them themselves.