Six Mugs Left

By noon, Tessa had sold all her mugs, cups for hot drinks. She smiled as she packed up her market table.

At home, she counted the money. Then she paid for clay, the soft earth she used to make mugs. She also paid to use an oven and for next Saturday's market table. Almost nothing was left. Four evenings of work had earned her less than the price of lunch.

She thought about working faster. But the handles needed care, and she liked painting each mug.

So she counted every cost again. This time, she included her working hours. The new price seemed high.

Next Saturday, she put out the price card, hid it behind a bowl, then moved it forward again.

"Weren't these cheaper last week?" a man asked.

"Yes," Tessa said."I counted the clay, but not the hours. I couldn't keep making them at that price."

He looked at a green mug but walked away.

Sales were slow. Before lunch, three mugs had sold. Then the man returned for the green one.

Six mugs were left at closing time. Tessa packed them carefully.

At home, she could pay the costs, buy more clay, and pay herself. She put the box by the door for next Saturday. Then she made lunch.