Carys was happy, unbelievably happy. She was 26 years old and life was good. As a Ceramic artist, she was building up a strong portfolio of clients who loved her work. She had studied at the Alfred University—New York State College of Ceramics, which was generally accepted to be the finest art school for ceramics in the country. The MFA program in Ceramic Art at Alfred University has a distinguished history as a center of ceramic art innovation, research, and education.

Carys had graduated top of her class and was now held in high regard as a young and upcoming artist in this field. She discovered an affinity with ceramics when her mother took her to The Pottery cafe, and she was allowed to make her first creation. It was a moment she describes as “love at first sight.” It was one of the most vivid memories she has of her mother, who tragically died when Carys was just 10 years old. A drive-by shooting that needlessly took the life of who in her eyes was the most wonderful woman and human being that ever lived. Everything she has done since, the triumphs, the joyful occasions, and the elation that came with the achievements and awards she had accomplished over the last few years were always slightly diminished because she couldn’t share them with the one person who would have been so proud and thrilled.

She always felt cheated that her mother was taken for something that couldn’t even amount to trivial. Wrong place at the wrong time and no one ever paid a price, except her. Those regular outings to the pottery cafe were one of the few things that she had left to remember, and she cherished them.

Another “love at first sight” was Nathan Carpenter. He breezed into her life 5 years ago. She was 21 and on a self-prescribed ‘man ban.’ She had just gone through a breakup and finished a semester of full-time school and work. She had zero interest or time to date or even flirt. She met Nathan at a houseboat party that she almost didn’t attend, it’s strange how little decisions can turn out to be momentous, even crucial when at the time they feel almost meaningless and inconsequential. When he walked in, she immediately knew she wanted to be with him.

A girls’ meeting was called immediately in the bathroom, where she called dibs on him, so they knew he was spoken for. Fortunately, he reciprocated the same feelings. Her biggest regret was being unable to call her mum and tell her that she had just met her soulmate. She just wanted to confide and say

“He’s the one I’m going to marry” but she couldn’t, so she told no one.

Today Carys was working on a commission for a private client. A while ago she had printed up some bookmarks which were very simple and uniformly black with just a simple URL printed in gold. She gave them as a small gift to those who wanted to visit her blog, and this particular client visited the blog and then contacted her. Carys knew that talent alone wasn’t enough, you needed hard work, patience, and the right strategy to get discovered by prospective clients, sell your artwork, and make money as an artist. Even if you create masterpieces, they’ll probably remain locked in your spare room if you don’t develop some marketing skills as well as creative mastery. A commission was bread and butter work, and she was grateful for it, but what she really wanted was to produce enough pieces to present her own exhibition at the Plinth Gallery of Ceramic Art in Denver, Colorado. Artists have to be selected or invited by the gallery, and it is generally considered a huge honor. Nathan always said,

“Aim high, It’s very hard to fail completely if you aim high enough.” That was one of the reasons she loved him so much. He was so supportive and encouraging. He had more conviction in her abilities than she did herself.

She heard the front door open and Nathan dropping his bag in the hallway. He walked in with his disheveled curly hair and lopsided grin,

“Ciao Principessa” and he swept her up in his arms and gave her a squeeze as he kissed her.

“Ciao Brutto” she said disdainfully, but the smile disclosed her true feelings. “So where have you been and who have you been with?” she asked, trying to sound belligerent,

“Best you don’t ask. You’ll only get upset. Suffice to say DDG , a beauty that rivals Aphrodite herself” …

“DDG really? Drop Dead Gorgeous ….. Does Fish know you feel this way about him?” Nathan laughed.

“Please don’t tell him, it might ruin a perfectly good friendship”.

Nathan surveyed the ceramic pot on the table. “Wow, that looks impressive”

“It’s a commission piece. They wanted a black-on-black vase with some abstract designs, so I included some feathers and if you look closely you can see birds.” Nathan inspected the exquisite pot in front of him. It was truly beautiful, but delicate and subtle too. The shiny black surface was interlaced with matt black designs that showed clouds and feathers and yes he saw a couple of birds flying below the clouds.

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“A beautiful woman is a beautiful woman, but a beautiful woman with talent. Now that’s a lethal combination” Carys smiled

“Flattery will get you laid”

“Now there’s a promise I intend to hold you to”

Carys handed Nathan an envelope.

“This came in the post”. Nathan saw that it was addressed to Miss Carys Richards and had a New York City postmark.

“Mysterious. Can I open it?”

“Yes go ahead” He extracted the one sheet of paper and started to read it. It was from the American Ceramic and Glass Association.

“Dear Miss Richards, We are delighted to announce that you are this year’s recipient of the Winifred Shantz Award, a prize given annually to an emerging ceramic artist. Winifred Shantz proudly believes in nurturing young artists, The quality of your production and the clarity of direction expressed in your work resulted in a unanimous decision by the jurors to bestow you with the Winifred Shantz Award. On behalf of the American Ceramic and Glass Association, we congratulate you.”

Nathan punched the air “Yes, you beautiful, clever talented thing” … He grabbed her and whisked her into the air, and kissed her, “I’m so proud of you”. He scanned her face and she looked pleased, but he knew her too well and could see that she was distracted, “what is it? you’re happy right? I mean, it’s a good thing this award?” She couldn’t help smiling at his beaming face and was instantly reminded how lucky she was to have him in her life.

“Yes it’s fantastic and of course, I’m happy, It’s an honor and I can’t really believe it” She kissed him back. “I don’t mean to be sad.”

“Are you sad?. Why, what is it?” Nathan looked concerned.

“Oh, it’s nothing really” She paused, “it’s just that today is the anniversary of my Mum’s death. 15 years ago today. I try not to feel gloomy and not to dwell on it, but then this letter came and I just so wanted to call her and tell her because I know she would have been so elated, and …… well it’s just so unfair. I can’t. I can’t call her. I can’t share anything with her.” Nathan saw the tears well up in Carys’ eyes.

“I’m so sorry. I forgot. I just didn’t know, I’m sorry” He held her close to him.

“Honestly, please don’t. You don’t need to remember, it’s just me being silly and over-sensitive”

“You’re not being silly. Your Mum sounded like a wonderful lady. I’m truly sorry I never got to meet her. She must have been amazing and fabulous because her daughter is” Carys couldn’t stop the tears

“It was just so pointless, so avoidable. She walked from her work to the coffee shop, 3 minutes… that’s all it was. The police said it was a million to one random accident. She turned the corner and someone in a passing car took a shot. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. If she had stopped for just 2 seconds she would have lived. If she had turned the corner 2 seconds earlier she would have lived. Anything could have prevented it. Some tourists asking directions or the time. That was all that was needed a 2-second delay. Then the car would have passed and….” she didn’t finish and it didn’t matter because Nathan knew the story. He just held her and let her get it out. “I’d give anything to travel back to that day and stop her turning that corner”.

Dinner was Grilled Chicken and asparagus, and Nathan told her about his meeting with Fish.

“You say the mouse disappeared?”

“Yes it was there and less than 3 seconds later it had vanished” Nathan was still dumbfounded by what he had seen at the lab and wasn’t sure how to describe the events without sounding ridiculous. “Then we played the DVD from 2004, and you can clearly see the mouse run across the screen.” Carys gave it some considerable thought.

“We all know that Fish is some sort of genius savant yes?, and it’s impossible to understand or follow the things he does, especially when he uses a computer. But Nathan, it’s a trick, a very clever and ingenious trick. You fall right into his trap every time and completely accept it as the truth. Do you remember when he told you he had invented a device for reading thoughts?” Nathan looked sheepish

“Well it sounded so credible, and let’s be honest, if anyone could invent something like that it would be Fish. Plus, he doesn’t do jokes, so I just assumed he was being serious. I mean, do autistic people even have a sense of humor? Do you remember that dinner party last year when we were all telling jokes and someone asked, “what’s brown and sticky?” Do you remember what Fish said?” Carys smiled at the recollection

“He said poo. I remember it well”

“Yes, and when we tried to explain that the answer was a stick, he just couldn’t get it. He said, “but sticks aren’t necessarily sticky unless they’ve had a snail on them, or something else.” It was impossible and well, jokes just aren’t funny when you need to explain them”

“You’re right, he doesn’t have a sense of humor like us and jokes go right over his head, but he just uses humor in a different way. I think he likes to trick you” Nathan started to laugh.

“I remember when we were kids, and I was pushing him on a swing, and I think, at one point, I said, ‘Ugh, I have to stop. My arm is gonna fall off.’ And a week later, I pushed him on the swing, and he’s like, ‘Stop! Your arm is gonna fall off.’ He took it so literally,” Carys got up and walked around the table behind her man and put her arms around him

“You are so gullible. There’s a word for people like you, now what is it? …. Oh yes SUCKER” Carys chuckled “BUT you’re my sucker, and I’ve always been attracted to chumps”

“Really? … you’re saying I’m a chump?”

“Well chumpish!”

“I seem to remember we have a verbal contract that still needs to be sanctioned”

“Are you really going to make me pay?”

“Absolutely a promise is a promise, you should know that”

“Very well. I’ll get the settlement ready for you upstairs … In the bedroom” and Carys turned and walked slowly up the stairs.