Art is Chaos

Chapter 1

"Alright children," Mrs. Morrison announced, "Today we're going to be beginning our unit on ceramics!"

Bradley sighed, leaning back in his chair. "There better be painting involved in this unit," he grumbled. He'd been looking forward to the painting unit all semester, but it felt like it'd never happen.

"Speak up, dear, I can't hear you," Mrs. Morrison chirped, always perky.

"Oh, it wasn't important," Bradley assured her.

"Well then," Mrs. Morrison hummed, turning back to address the whole class, "I find that the best way to foster a love of ceramics is to make something that you love." She picked up a smiling pig figure off her desk. "This was my first ceramics project," she told them, "I've had students make plates because they liked cooking, small boxes to hold things they collected in, I even had a student make a small bowl of water on a stand for a bird bath!" She laughed. "Very creative. I'm sure you will also make nice creations."

A girl in the back row piped up, "Can I make a unicorn?"

"Depends on whether or not your partner agrees

to it," Mrs. Morrison replied with a smile.

"Partner?" the girl asked. A murmur swept through the room as the other students had mixed reactions.

Mrs. Morrison laughed. "Did I forget to mention that?" She asked. A few students shook their heads yes. "I apologize, then!" she told the class, "Yes, you will also be working with partners for this first project. Don't worry, though. There will be other projects this unit where you will have the option to work alone."

Bradley wasn't a fan of group projects, but Melissa and Mort were in this class, so it wouldn't be so bad if he got the right person with him.

She pulled a list out of a drawer in her desk. "Jessica and Daisy," Mrs. Morrison called out.

A girl in the middle row turned to the girl from before. "We will definitely make a unicorn."

"Melissa and Zack."

Bradley felt an angry ball well up within him, but with a deep breath, he pushed it away. He really did not want to get partnered up with Milo, but there was still Mort- he was very much hoping for Mort. He was one of the few people Bradley considered a friend. -And Amanda. Seeing as Amanda and Milo were smiling at each other like they were hoping to be partnered up, Bradley was pretty sure he and Mort were going to be partnered up.

"Amanda and Mort."

"Aw man," Milo and Amanda sighed in unison, while Bradley groaned.

"C'mon, it won't be that bad," Mort told Amanda.

"Be nice, you guys," Mrs. Morrison scolded them.

"It's not you Mort," Amanda promised, "I was just hoping to get Milo."

"Yeah, I was hoping to get Mort," Bradley added.

"Can we trade?" Amanda asked.

"No trading," Mrs. Morrison told them, "You'll be able to partner with whoever you want or work alone on the other two projects in this unit."

"But Mrs. Morrison-" Bradley began to argue.

"No means no, Bradley," Mrs. Morrison insisted, "I don't like to 'be mean' as some students put it, but if you continue to press the subject, I will have no choice but to give you detention."

Bradley sucked in a breath. He didn't want his permanent record marred by anymore detentions. Not after that Mr. Blunk (or was it Blunt?) guy gave him detention for being a suck up, which Bradley thought was a dumb reason to give a student detention. It wasn't supposed to work that way at all; it was supposed to get him good with the teacher. But his mind was wandering- "I understand Mrs. Morrison," he replied, hoping no one noticed that he paused long enough for it to be awkward before he said anything. Sometimes, his thoughts ran away with him.