The predawn hours had been taken up with a visit to the warehouse to gather the supplies that would be needed that day. The old man and his apprentice were finally on their way as the sun was just starting to rise in the sky. Early morning streets of the city were still quiet as the ox pulled wagon trundled through the streets.The youger of the pair turned in his seat at the front of the wagon to look back into the bed.The lad looked to be in his late teens. While there was a small resemblence to the old man, there was also a hint of something else in the boy. Features just a little to fine to be full human and his eyes were a bit lighter than that of the old man, his grandfather. " Paw Joe, why did you have dad work on those planks" I thought they were just to be used for framing the foundation." the youngster asked. The old man was watching the road infront of them. Hands busy with the tethers to the yokes on the oxen, he mumbled around the stem of his pipe. " If the job is worth doing, it's worth doing right Joe." A wreath of cherry scented smoke hung about the old man's head. "When we pour the foundation, the cement will flow into the carving. That way when we pull the boards away the foundation will be decorated." The boy turned back in the seat to face forward again. Even at his age, he had worked with the old man long enough to know that when he set his mind to a job, it was never just a simple slap together work. " Worth doing right" He echoed the old man's words. The old man leaned to nudge the youth with his shoulder. There was a proud smile around the stem of his pipe.

Most folks would tell you that Old Joe wasn't the type to mess around once he got on the job sites. There really wasn't any time to waste as the boys would be by in a couple of hours to pour the cement. He placed the stakes in the ground for the area he wanted jug. Young Joe gave his grandfather a look, the man hadn't measured anything. "Measure if ya want to, I'm gonna start digging." the old man said with a chuckle.The youngster thought about it for a moment. Nah, he thought. Every time he measured the old man was right. The two of them set about digging. They weren't digging deep, just a few inches to make the spot level. Again, this was determined by Old Joe's eye. Together they went back and forth to the wagon to get the boards needed to set before the cement arrived. The planks of wood had already been measured and cut so it was just a matter setting them in place with stakes on the outside to keep them upright.

" Phew. It's gonna be a hot one today." Old Joe straightened, the cap he wore was pushed back so he could wipe his sleeve across his brow. Aged grey eyes squinted a glance out towards the street. Where were those boys with the cement". Young Joe didn't think to question such a thing. He found himself a bit of shade and sat down to rest.

The sight of the "Boss Lady" brought a smile to the old man's face. His hand lifted immediately to slip the cap from his head. " Aye, a nice bright one Ma'am." There was definately a hint of mirth in the youth's eyes as he watched the old man greeting the woman. It reminded him of the old stories he had told the boy about his days as a ladies man. Of course the boy knew that the old man carried a small locket with the picture of his deceased wife, the boy's grandmother, in his pocket everyday. He wasn't about to call the old man on it though.

Young Joe sat up straight from his lounging. His head dipped into a polite bow for the woman. Curved lines, deep and wide at the bottom tapered upward, met questing fingertips. Dancing flames carved all along the boards. At her question, the youth shot a worried look at his grandfather. The old man had just finished pouring the two cups full of tea. He held one out to his grandson. His voice soft to the youth's silent question "It's alright Joe, we're not in Bordertown and I don't believe Ms. Tippet here is that sort of person." The youngster paused a moment. His gaze intent upon the contents of the cup his grandfather had given him as he reached up with one hand. Fingertips swept the fall of ebon curls back to tuck behind an ear. A slightly pointed ear. "Halfie" he muttered before he lifted the cup to drain the tea with a few thirsty gulps.

Just about then there was the sound of commotion out at the street. It sounded as if two men were having a shouting match to see who knew the most obscenities. Old Joe flushed as the curse drifted back to the three on the morning breeze. "That would be the fellas, Bert and Ernie." he chuckled. Bert and Ernie were from Rhydin, they never understood why Old Joe got so amused when he would speak their names together. He bent to set down his cup. "They'll be needing someone to help them back up the wagon with the cement." He glanced at his grandson. His head giving a nod towards the woman." Go ahead, ask her." He straightened then and strolled away towards the street.

The youngster cleared his throat quickly " Ma'am, I was wondering..hoping that maybe you would let me build you a bin for whatever you use to fire the kiln?" It all came out in a rush as he stood up and looked directly at the woman.

There was the usual blush that could be expected when the woman said he was handsome. That was most likely the reason that when the potter looked back at him,Young Joe was standing a little straighter, his chest puffed out a little more. "Well" he said as he stepped over into the bordered area. His hand swept towards one area. " This is where we are building the kiln itself." He stepped over a few feet more. "I was thinking right in here" The youth paced off an area about five feet long that would put the bin within a few steps of the soon to be kiln."That way you'll still have an area for the table over there" another area pointed out. Oddly enough, all of this was within the bordered area. It might seem as if Old Joe had taken some liberties in the planning beyond what was discussed.Young Joe looked back to the area he had indicated would be good for the bin. " Paw didn't say anything about special needs. I was thinking about five feet long, three and a half wide and high." He looked back to the potter again. His eyes narrowed slightly as he figured out what would be needed." I won't charge you for labor, this is a favor to me. I need an apprentice project. But I'm pretty sure I could get the bricks and stuff for about 5 gold."

The shouting out front had ceased. A few well placed threats by Old Joe of taking his business elsewhere had gotten the fellas to stop their usual squabbling. He then helped the pair with guiding the wagon back to the work site. Oxen drawn, like Joe's wagon, this wagon held a very large cask in the back. The type one would find in a winery, almost as tall as a man and round enough to fit three or four grown men inside. After they had pulled the wagon close enough. Bert and Ernie went around to the back and started pulling a couple of wheel barrows and steel rakes from the back. Old Joe walked back to the potter and his apprentice. " Soon as you two finished talking business, we can get this thing started." It must have been the potter's anticipation that was contagious. The old man held a smile as he looked between the two, waiting for an answer.

Bert and Ernie might seem the odd pair. Bert was tall and lanky while Ernie was on the shorter side and what he referred to as 'pleasantly plump'. Both were quick with a tip of the hat to the Boss Lady as she passed them by to head back indoors. At this point the pair swooped down on Old Joe like a pair of vultures on roadkill. "You didn't say the Boss Lady was a looker Joe" Bert exclaimed while Ernie gave Old Joe the 'wink wink and nudge nudge routine'. Old Joe gave them both a scathing look. "Look you two, first of all, that's a nice lady and she don't need you lot gawking at her like a pair of old wolves staring at a lost lamb. Secondly, as I've always said, nice scenery at a job site makes the work even more pleasant." He laughed with the pair. Young Joe came over about that time. The question of what they were all chuckling about plain on his face. The older of the Joes just gave the younger a wink before he announced " Time to get to work."

Being the apprentice, Young Joe was elected as the mixer. This entailed climbing into the back of the wagon. The top of the large cask had been modified with a spot for a long handle to slip through. Bert and Ernie had stolen the idea from a story Old Joe had once told them about these things in the place he had come from originally that were called cement mixers. The story had really been about how when The Lands had returned, magic leaked into the world and started perverting technology. The story had ended with the cement mixer somehow eating the operator. But Bert and Ernie had no liking of engines and such. Instead they came up with this contraption. Inside the cask were paddles attached to a central pole that turned when someone would push the handle around. By situating the paddles at different angles it would keep the cement mixed. The pair swore that was the reason their cement set up so well. A large tap like fixture near the bottom of the cask allowed the cement to pour out into a half pipe channel that was used to fill the wheelbarrows.

Young Joe had to strain a bit to get the thing moving at first but after a few circles were made it seemed to get easier. Ernie took up one of the metal rakes and stepped into the foundation area. Bert and Old Joe manned the wheelbarrows. They took turns loading the barrows with wet cement and then rolled it over to dump inside the board boundries. Using his rake, Ernie spread and pushed the cement to fill the area. He took care to make sure the cement was packed well against the boards so that the carvings would be filled properly. The trio of older men talked as they worked, chit chat about some dart match that was coming up between their lodge and another. Young Joe kept quiet. His mind was busy reviewing the steps he would use to build his project as he walked round and around the large barrel.

Every few feet that was poured, Old Joe and Bert would stop to level the cement. A two by four piece of wood with one of them one each side dragged over the top of the wet cement did the job well. After a couple of hours of steady work the four workers stood in a line just outside of the foundation area surveying the work. Ernie had just finished the last part off. He had used a straw broom to sweep lightly over the top of the cement. This would give the surface a bit of texture when it was dried. Which meant the base of the kiln and the bin would have a stronger attachment to the slab and the surface wouldn't be too slick for walking on when it was wet from rain. Old Joe had lit his pipe again. A light plume of smoke followed him as he walked the perimeter with a critical eye on cement. He gave a nod of approval when he finished his circle. " Well worth the price fellas." he said as he tossed a bag of coins to Bert and then another to Ernie. " Thank ya boys."

Bert and Ernie were quick to relieve the potter of her tray and pitcher. The pair was all nods and smiles. The younger of the Joes was still staring at the spot that would be his project. Maybe it could be a bit more level. He knelt down and crouched to get eye level with the wet slab to make sure. Old Joe pulled the stem of the pipe from his lips and gave a nod to the potter. " The fellas know their craft." Mirth in his eyes and voice as he nodded to the pair who seemed to be squabbling over the pitcher at the moment. He leaned down towards the woman, his voice soft now."Even if they fight like an old married couple."He straightened then and tried to assume a business like demeanor for a moment. The twinkle of mirth still in grey eyes ruined the attmept." Now, it is my duty to warn you. It will take all night for the cement to dry properly. Until that time don't let anyone touch the cement.Otherwise you'll be stuck with the marks when it's fully dried." There was a wink following the statement."If you get my meaning Miss Piper." His thumb pressed into the bowl of the pipe, habit of sorts before he slipped it into his pocket. " I'll leave you to your visions." It was easy to see that the potter's excitement would most likely already be envisioning the finished kiln.

Young Joe had decided that the area was indeed level. He had risen and moved over towards Bert and Ernie. The squabble diffused by his suggestion that Ernie cut up the bread while Bert poured.It seemed to do the trick and seemed the best chance he had of getting a cup of the tea before the pair might spill it all in their fighting. He had already guzzled one mug full and was on his second when Old Joe joined them. The lad had been holding a full mug besides his own for the old man and it was given over. The men made short work of the food. Bert and Ernie were both in a hurry to lighten their pockets a bit at the lodge before they returned home to their wives. Young Joe was eager to get going as well. There was brick to claim, though he had known which brick he would use as soon as the woman had said yes, and supplies to get. Ernie had a slice of bread with a slab of cheese in his hand, something for the road he had said, when the pair offered a tip of their hats and goodbyes on the way to their wagon.

Old Joe enjoyed a few more slices of fruit as the youngster unhitched the oxen. The wagon held the brick for the kiln and it would be staying here. "You have a good evening Mi..uhm ..Piper." The younger Joe called out as he led the oxen out towards the street. Old Joe took a few moments more to fill and light his pipe again. He wore a pleasant smile as he looked at the potter. " Bout this time tommorow it will be almost finished. You have a good night." A tip of his hat before he turned away and followed the path back to the street. He was looking forward to the finish as well. Part of it would be satisfaction of a job well done, but mostly it was the light in peoples eyes when they saw what he had built for them.

Young Joe had gotten up early. He was quick to dress for the day because there was a couple of things he wanted to do before he and his grandfather went to work. It was still dark when he stepped out of the back door of the cottage. He had grabbed a latern from the kitchen on his way out and paused to turn up the wick for more light. He crossed the yard to the supply shed and yanked open the door. He was struck suddenly by a strange stench. Lifting the latern so he could see inside he was quite surprised to see what looked like a boy curled up asleep on the sacks of mortar mix. Judging by the odor coming off the boy and the tatters Joe could see in the sleeping boy's clothes, he figured the street urchin must have crawled in there sometime last night. He closed the door carefully so as not to wake the sleeper and glanced back at the cottage for a moment as he thought for a moment. He nodded then and headed back to the cottage.

A few minutes later Joe came back out from the cottage. He had an old pair of jeans and workshirt draped over one shoulder, a towel over the other, the lantern in one hand and some bread in the other. He crossed over towards the shed again and set the lantern down before her opened the door. The boy was still sleeping when he opened the door and stepped inside the small shed. " Oy" he said as he gave the boy a nudge with his foot. The boy bolted awake and scrambled back against the shed wall peering at Joe through a tangle of greasy blonde hair. The boy raised his fists as if he was ready to fight though he looked more like he would try to bolt at his first chance. "Easy there." Joe murmured in a gentle voice. He lifted his hand to show the boy the couple slices of bread and slowly crouched down. " I brought you something to eat." He very slowly set the bread down on the bag of mortar mix and sat back on his heels. The urchin eyed him warily for a moment but the scent from the fresh bread was already dissolving the boy's fright. Young Joe lifted his thumb to his mouth to lick off a bit of the butter and jam he had slathered on the bread. " I hope you like blackberry." He stayed quiet then till the boy reached timidly for the food. Once grubby fingers touched the bread the urchin grabbed it quick and brought the first slice to his mouth to be devoured.Young Joe moved back to the shed door to give the boy a chance to run if he wanted to run. " Look, I brought you some clothes. They're old and might be a bit big on ya, but they're better than the ones ya got now." He tossed the jeans and shirt over by the boy. " I'm afraid you can't stay in here though. Now, if your of a mind to make a couple of coins I could use some help today." He shrugged some when the boy flashed a wary glance at him. " Just some carrying and fetching mostly, hard work, but honest." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cake of soap which he held up. " Only thing is you stink to high heaven. There's a barrel around back of the shed of rainwater and a bucket. If ya wanna work, wash up and change. If not, clear out." Young Joe wasn't sure if the boy would take him up on it or not as he set the towel and soap down. He guessed he would find out soon as he crossed the yard and went back in the cottage.

When the younger of the Joes stepped back into the cottage he found his grandfather standing at the sink sipping his morning coffee and staring out the window. The old man didn't look over to the younger as he spoke. " Found another stray, have you?" The youngster nodded his head as he sat down to make a breakfast of bread and jam for himself. " Just gave him some food and old clothes. He'll probably high tail it out of there any second." That was all Young Joe said, busy now eating his breakfast. The old man nodded slowly as he watched the urchin boy emerge from the shed. The boy had the clothes in one hand and soap and towel in the other. Giving a cautious look around, he moved off around to the back of the shed. "Probably." Old Joe finally said and smiled into the cup as he finished his coffee.

It was a trio this early morning that turned a wagon onto the potters property. When they reached the back they pulled this wagon along side the other. "Come on Devin" the younger Joe told the urchin boy. The two of them went over to the wagon that had been left overnight and began to unload the bricks. Young Joe showed Devin where to start stacking them and warned him to be careful and not knock them about too much. He left the boy then to grab one of the brooms and went to sweep the slab clean of fallen leaves and such. He was the first to see the decorations some mischievious person had drawn. He called his grandfather over. The pair of them walked around the slab looking at them until they finally ended up at the drawing of themselves." Who is that handsome fellow?" Old Joe pointed at the picture. The younger smiled and rolled his eyes at the old man. "Looks like me." the younger quipped. " No, I meant the dashing fellow with the pipe." They both laughed as they turned away to get ready to work. Young Joe and the boy Devin, the urchin had given his name to them on the way to the job site, went back to unloading bricks and stacking them in neat piles around where the kiln would be built. Old Joe busied himself with mixing up some mortar. When the mortar was properly mixed Old Joe moved over to where the first brick was to be placed. Brick and trowel in his hands and a grin on his face, he turned and called out towards the potters place."Good Morn Miss Piper. Would you care to lay the first brick?"

Young Joe flashed a grin at the potter at her greeting. Anticipation was infectious. The urchin boy looked to the younger Joe first before he bobbed his head in reply to her. "That is Devin." the elder offered as introduction. His voice lowered a touch then. "My grandson picked up a stray." A bit of a wink with those last words. Old joints creaked a bit of protest as the man knelt down. Trowel picked up a bit of mortar and plopped it on the slab. It was automatic after so many years, the way his wrist turned to spread the mortar out. A flick of the tool given to leave a straight edge on the side that would be facing out. "Just match the edge along there Miss Potter. Then give it a tap along the top with the handle end of this trowel and away we go." The old man grinned up at her and offered the tool. Young Joe and Devin stopped their work to watch the first brick layed.

The younger of the Joes looked to the elder as the potter took off for the studio door. His smile had turned to a sly grin when the two gazes met. They both broke out into laughter as the sound of a distant joyful whoop came drifting out across the yard. Young Joe started whistling a merry melody as they fell to work. The Joes both worked on laying the brick floor.The bricks Old Joe had chosen for the job were about twice the size of a normal house brick and were a sandy yellow color.

Old Joe told the younger to go and start his apprentice project after they had laid the second layer for the floor of the kiln. The old mason started the walls. Since he was using a difficult design, a modified monk bond, he wanted to have a few rows, courses, done before he let his grandson join him. It would be easier for the youngster to follow the pattern.

Devin followed the younger Joe over to the space designated for the bin. The apprentice mason stood there a moment. He glanced down at the old round tin he had pulled from his back pocket. Being an apprentice, his grandfather had taught him how to use a chalk line and level. But, he had never seen his grandfather measure anything, lay a chalk line or use a level when he worked. The youngster wanted to prove his growing skills with this project. The old mason caught a glimpse of Young Joe standing there. Grey eyes spying the tin in his hand. "You know, I used that very chalk line on my first apprentice project. Of course that tin had been shiny and knew back then." The tension in the apprentices shoulders eased at those words. With Devin's help he measured off and snapped down the red chalk lines on the slab and started to build.

Old Joe went into telling the boys about the first brick laying project he had done. It had been a garden wall. Mason and apprentice steady at their work as the old man spun his tale. Devin fetching the bricks and reloading the mortar boards as needed. The words of Old Joe's story took up a kind of cadence that followed the slush sounds of mortar being spread and tapping of bricks as they were placed. A kind of symphony to the old mason. His story was punctuated with laughter from the youngsters. Even Devin laughed when the old man got to the part where he had gone back to the wall that night and tore down a section of it that he hadn't thought was good enough.And how he had to lay the bricks by the light of a flickering lantern while the large dog of the owners of the garden stood on the other side trying to lick his face.

It was clear that at least one thing had been passed down from grandfather to grandson. A good work ethic. The younger of the Joes focused completely on his work. He held a certain grace despite his lanky youthful appearance. Each move, whether it was as simple as reaching for another brick or the motion of his arm to spread the mortar, seemed a choreographed step. The bricks he was using were the standard size, though they were more the color of wet sand than those being used for the kiln. He was using a basic double garden wall bond pattern. He paused now and then to check the lines. To make sure it was level. He even dismantled one course after looking at it, just not satisfied till he laid it down again.

The last row on the back of the bin was only one brick thick. Instead of bricks for the inner course, Young Joe had laid a two by four of cypress. This would be used to anchor the lid when the bin was finished. The rest of the top course were single bricks, but laid so that the header of the bricks would act as an end border. Devin had been standing there, dutifully handing bricks to the apprentice. He had remained quiet, wondering why this Joe had been so intent for these bricks to be the top layer. To the urchin boy the bricks looked pitted and that was the side that was being left to face up. "How come your using those. They're not smooth like the others?" asked Devin. The apprentice mason smiled as he placed the next to last brick. "Hold it up and look close at the surface." Young Joe told the boy. The urchin lifted the brick and peered closer at the surface of the brick. While he was inspecting it, he noticed that if the sun hit it just right there was a faint sparkle. Then he noticed that what he thought was poc marks and imperfections were actually foot prints. The younger Joe noticed the boys eyes widening. " A friend of mine, Marcus, works for the brick maker " He didn't refer to Marcus as an apprentice. Even though he was a friend, Joe knew that Marcus had no interest in the craft. He was only in it for the coin. " The yard where they lay the bricks out to dry is near the wild areas. Marcus was supposed to set the wards before he left one evening. But he forgot. Seems as there is a nest of wild pixies near there. They like to dance in the moonlight." He took the brick from the boy's hand and laid it into place and then gave it a practiced tap. The Potter's call sounded then. All Young Joe heard from the urchin boy then was the rumble of his stomach as the lad hurried over to the tree and tray. His gaze remained on the final brick.

Old Joe was hidden from sight behind a good five feet of brick wall. He had just pressed the iron frame that would hold the flue into place when the Potter was heard to call. He glanced through the hole before he stood. His cap pushed back with one hand while his other pulled a faded blue bandana from his back pocket. It was used to wipe his brow dry. " A break sounds good about now." Smiling as he settled his cap back into place. He walked through the space where the door to the kiln would go to join Devin and Piper under the shade of the tree. " Devin." he said. The boy, who already had a mouth full of bread, blanched a bit and mumbled a thanks as best he could with the full mouth. Old Joe gave the Potter a grey wink then bent to fill the mugs.

The urchin gave a big swallow. "Yes, Miss." Those were the only words managed before the boy took a hearty bite from a piece of cheese. The old mason laughed at the Potter's flattery. He straightened, one of the mugs in one hand a slice of cheese in the other. " No doubt I've been plying my trade since before the Potter Piper was a twinkle in anyone's eye, Lass." the old man quipped.

"Now, as to 'with my eyes closed'.." The old Mason grinned once more. "Some might complain that I 'saw timber' in my sleep. Course, I never was bothered by it." He took a hearty bite of cheese in imitation of the urchin boy. The Old Joe and the urchin boy shared a full mouth chuckle as Piper's curiosity took over and she went off to inspect, revel in, the work done so far.

Over by the bin Young Joe accepted the offered mug. A silent nod was his form of thanks. That veil of uncertainty that the apprentice had shown when she had first remarked about his "difference" when they met had returned. It was as if he was holding his breath. Silver grey eyes watched the traipse of clay stained fingers along the path of magical foot prints. The smile and tone of Piper's low words melted the veil away once more. The Potter had a talent for such things.

The youth released the breath that he had indeed been holding. His smile matched the Potter's own when the mug of tea was lowered after a sip. When he did finally speak, his voice was as soft as her own. " When I was a child my mother used to read to me from a book that was her favorite as a child. A story about Lost Boys and Pirates and Fairies." His smile softened in the remembrance. " When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies." young Joe quoted.

He let his eyes meet Piper's "She always told me to let my inner child keep that laughter of delight going. Hopefully, when your working and you open the bin to get out what you need, your eyes will catch sight of the sparkle and foot prints so your inner child can keep laughing as well."

Young Joe crouched down, lanky legs folding, to sit beside the Potter as he listed to her tick off the different types of fairies. Every once in a while he would interject a word or two. "The Bwciod are usually harmless, though are known to let you know when they are mad. You need to learn to think a bit like them. If they think you don't miss something that they took or act like your glad it went missing, they'll sometimes bring it back as another trick."

Mostly, he just sipped at the cold tea as he listened to her talk. His eyes kept watching her hands as she spoke. Following them as they gestured and sketched out the look of this fairy or that.While, he knew some of the names she mentioned a few of them were new to him. It never hurt to learn something new. When the Potter started speaking about the Geancanach, his smile deepened a touch. He was very familiar with that bright little type of fairy. He thought back to something she had said earlier about him having a '...posse of fairies on retainer..'. While he still listened to her talk, there was a scheme hatching in his mind. He tried to keep his smile neutral enough not to give his plotting mind away.

"I don't mind being an accomplice at all." Something devious slipped into his smile. He knew it and couldn't rein it back inside. The only alternative was distraction. "I was wondering about something else. Do you think it would be possible, or I should say, would you mind if I came by to watch you work sometime" I've never seen pots being thrown." He thought that was the proper term.

Under the tree, Devin had gobbled up his fill of food and then some. The boy gave a contented belch. That and the look upon the boy's face when he realized what he had just done had the old Mason laughing loud. Seeing as the Potter was still over by the bin area with his grandson, Old Joe just grinned at the boy. " That's alright lad. It was good and filling fodder for us work horses." The urchin smiled at being included in that Us. Old Joe grunted and groaned, making more of it than was really true, about his aching bones as he stood up and brushed a bit of grass from his overalls with a few swipes of his cap." What say you youngin'. Ready to get back to work" " He called over to the younger Joe and Potter. A broad smile evident as the cap was settled back upon his head.

The oldtimer looked between looked between the departing Potter and his grandson after that last exchange between the two. A bushy grey brow lifted slowly. Young Joe just grinned. " Professional curiosity" was the answer he gave to his grandfather. Old Joe turned his head to look the way the potter had retreated back into her cottage. "Well, can't say as I blame you." A grey wink for the youth.

Back to work meant trading trowel and mortar board for hammer and nails. Wooden braces were built around and inside the bin first. The work had been sound and the lines were all plumb. The braces would simply keep them that way while the mortar dried over the night. Braces next for the inside of the kiln. The wood work construction extended past the height of bricks already layed. A skeleton of wood that would lend support to the rest and insure the weight of the roof would have a chance to bond once the bricks had been set. Devin was back in the role of fetching and holding for the pair of masons as they worked. The inside skeleton finished, they started the scaffolding needed to finish the walls and reach to work on the roof around the oustside of the kiln.

The hammering and noise of work had drawn a watcher. Old Joe spotted her peering over a wall at them. The Crazy Neighbor Lady. She had the scowl of a woman about to launch into a tirade of complaints. Just as she opened her mouth to begin the old Mason gave her a charming broad smile. He lifted a hand to tug his cap from his head. His words prefaced by a small bow. " Hello Miss, lovely..." Old Joe left just enough of a pause between his words right then. "...afternoon we're having today." He looked up at the blue sky for a moment before his grey gaze fell to the woman again. The Crazy Neighbor Lady stammered and then smiled. "Yes." she managed. "And, might I say, full of beautiful views." Old Joe remarked. It was then that the woman actually giggled a bit. "Well." She could not think of a thing to say. She nodded and disappeared back behind the wall. The old mason was sure he saw a blush upon the woman's cheeks.

The younger of the Joes looked up at his grandfather still up on the scaffolding. Old Joe winked down at his grandson. "Yes, you get that from my side of the family." The cap was settled back onto the Mason's head. Back to work. Young Joe went and got the pieces of iron that would make up the door frame. The elder Joe had left a channel in the wall around where the door would sit. The flanges of iron slid perfectly into the space. Mortar piped into the crevices, Devin stood in the doorway to hold the pieces flush as the pair worked the bricks around to finish the doorway.

"Devin. I need you to do a special job for me." Old Joe called the urchin over and handed him a small container half full of dry mortar mix and a spoon. He hunkered down beside the boy as Devin looked from the container to the spoon. " I need a special mix of mortar. Young Joe there is too heavy handed at some things. This mix has to be extra smooth, so first thing we have to do is make sure there are no lumps in the dry mix." The elder Joe had noticed the boy's last yawn a short time ago. It was time to pull out the trick he used to use on Young Joe when he was just a boy. "I need you to stir this mix all the way around at least three to four hundred times around. Then when your done, we can start adding the water. Think you can do that for me?" The urchin nodded to the old man. At the mason's added suggestion, the boy went over to the shade of the tree to sit down and start the stirring.

Young Joe remarked quietly to his grandfather. "You think he'll even make it to one hundred?" The elder Joe clapped his grandson on the shoulder. "You never did." The two of them went back to the work at hand. Devin made it almost to seventy stirs before he fell asleep in the shade of the tree.

Brick after brick was laid into place. The Joes worked in comfortable silence for a time. The younger paused to straighten his back and stretch. He glanced to check on the sleeping boy. As he did so, his gaze caught upon one of the designs that had been drawn into the wet cement at a corner. Bending back to work. He laid a brick in the bed of wet mortar."How is it that you know everything, Old Man.?"

The old mason straighten. Kerchief pulled from his pocket was drawn across his sweaty brow. There was a devilish smile and a twinkle in grey eyes when he looked to his grandson. "Magic." When he stuffed the kerchief pack into his pocket the calloused fingers touched upon the locket he carried there. His smile softened. "You could say it's because of a promise." He grasped the locket and took it out. Over the years the delicate engravings and finish had been burnished to mere ghosts upon the silver. His thumb pressed the pin to pop the locket open. Grey eyes lowered to the pair of pictures held inside. One his daughter, the other his wife.

"On our wedding day, I vowed a few things to Sarah. Love, Honor and Cherish. But I also vowed to continue the thing that really won her over." The old mason's gaze lingered on the picture of his departed wife. "You do it too Joe. You just don't realize it yet." One grey eye winked at the locket picture before he closed it and slipped it back into his pocket. "What's that?" asked the younger Joe. "It's the small things that you notice and then act upon. See, your grandma had quite the number of suitors back then. A few of them were almost as handsome as me." He puffed out his chest again and showed what he liked to think was his roguish smile.

"But they were all rather well to do, like her family." he continued. " I was just a working feller. But I noticed how she liked to pick wildflowers when she would go for walks in the park. So when the other fellers would show up with bouquets of roses, I would show up with a sprig of wildflowers I had picked. I'd take her out for a picnic under the stars because I noticed how she always looked up at the sky. It's the simple things that bring magic and in turn you have to send that magic along."

"But how did you know about the design..." Young Joe's question came to a halt as he remembered a small detail."Bottom of the cups." the youngster answered his own question. Old Joe bent back to work. Mortar spread and bricks laid down. "Any sod could slop some mortar on some bricks and try to build something. But that would be nothing. Take the Potter for example. Something told you to pick those bricks for the bin. You gave her a smile. In turn she'll do the same for someone. Someone will buy one of her wares as a gift. Then it becomes more than just a mug or vase." So spoke the Mason Philosopher.

By the time the young boy, Devin, had stirred from his nap, the mason and his apprentice had finished the walls. Devin had gone back to stirring the dry mortar powder. His features carried a fine dusting of it when he brought the container over to Old Joe. The old mason took the container and gave it a shake as he watched the contents shift with a critical eye. It was all a show, of course. Young Joe managed to avoid laughing as he watched. Old Joe squinted a look at the urchin then. A wink was given. "Right fine job you did there Devin." He waited till Devin had gone off to fetch some more bricks before gave his grandson a grey wink and dumped the mortar powder back in with the rest.

With the walls completed, the pair got to work on the roof. Old Joe had decided to go with a Tudor type arch. He on one side, Young Joe on the other. A double layer of bricks would be laid towards the center. The keystone brick placed at the center of each course to complete the row. The keystone would be slightly raised from the rest of the brick to form a decorative ridge. The frame of wood that had been built would give support while the arched ceiling was being laid.

The pair of masons, standing on the scaffolding worked from their perspective sides towards the center. When it came time for the keystone to be placed Old Joe eyed the space were it would be set. He pulled a brick hammer from a side pocket of his overalls. A brick in one hand, he brought the clawed side of the hammer down to strike the brick. An angle of the brick fell away. The brick turned, he made another strike. The old mason handed the hammer to his apprentice who was standing at his side. Old Joe buttered the brick with mortar and laid the keystone into place. A couple of taps with the handle of his trowel to the top of the keystone and the first part of the arched ceiling was set. Without a word to his apprentice the old mason moved back to his side of the kiln to begin the next course of double bricks.

Young Joe looked at the keystone. It had fit perfectly. Shaking his head slightly he slid the handle of the hammer into a side pocket of his overalls and went back to his side of the kiln. The next course of bricks laid, the pair of masons met at the middle again. Old Joe looked to the other expectantly. The younger Joe pulled the hammer from his pocket, but when he went to hand it to his grandfather the old mason was handing him a brick. This had to be a test for the apprentice. Young Joe immediately hooked the claw of the hammer into the pocket on the bib of his overalls so he could pull out his measuring tape and pencil to mark off the angles on the brick. The old mason climbed down from the scaffolding while his grandson measured and scribed.

He conducted a walk around the kiln to check the work they had done. He stopped here and there. A grey eye squinted to follow the level of a line. A dabbing touch to check how the mortar was setting up. It might look like a game of Follow the Leader because in the old mason's wake was the boy Devin. When Old Joe would stop and squint at a line the boy imitated him as he moved on further. Touch followed touch all the way around. When the circle had been made, the old-timer reached out one last time to brush his hand along a course of bricks. He started to step away but turned quickly on a heel. Devin had just reached out to mimic the man's touch along the wall when he was confronted by the grinning mason. The urchin didn't have time to react before he was hoisted up and found himself sitting upon the old man's shoulder. The boy's sudden laughter filled the air as he looked around from his new perch."What do you think Devin" We doing a fair job?" asked Old Joe. Devin paused a minute before answering. Making like he was looking at the kiln with a seasoned eye, he nodded slowly as he spoke "Yep, it looks like it will do." "Will do' Will do?" Old Joe said incredulously. He reached up to grab the boy on his shoulder and pulled him half off. The tickling commenced. Old-timer and the boy were laughing now as the apprentice picked up yet another brick and tried again.

By the time the pair was finished wrestling and returned to work Young Joe had just scribed a line on his fifth brick. He took up the hammer again and struck the brick. An angle cleaved away from the rest of the brick. Once more, it was not along the line he had scribed. The brick was dropped down over the side of the scaffolding into the growing pile of discards. Devin set about picking up the discarded bricks as Old Joe climbed back up on the scaffold and went to stand over beside his grandson. Young Joe had picked up another brick. Well aware that his grandfather was standing there right beside him, the youngster stared at the brick. Finally, he asked "What am I doing wrong?"

The old mason laid a hand upon his grandson's shoulder. "You're letting your brain get in the way of your art." Joe looked over to his grandfather. The question was clear in his expression. Old Joe chuckled. "Rulers and measuring. All that has its place. But you're at the point where your brain is trying to analyze something that your artistic side is trying to express. Those messages are getting mixed up. When you strike your muscles are trying to answer both messages so that aim gets all messed up." The apprentice knew the masters philosophy on masonry. Despite what seemed a trade of measurements and math, it was also a form of art. Old Joe reached over and took the pencil out of the youngster's hand and put the hammer in the hand instead. "Now, you know the space that has to be filled. Look at the brick and see the shape." His voice had dropped. The tone steady and calm. Soothing in its own way. "You have to see the brick in your hand as it fits that space. Like a key in a lock. Only the right one will work. Don't see the lines on the face of the bricks like you were drawing. You have to see the brick as it should be. When you see that, that's when you strike." Old Joe took a step aside from his apprentice. The youth stared at the brick again. It took a few moments before the hammer lifted and fell. An angle sheared away from the rest of the brick. He turned the brick in his hand. Another strike. The apprentice held the brick up to show the master mason. It would be a perfect fit.

"About time." He gave his grandson a grey wink. Then came the inevitable. "Back to work!" Devin, who had been watching the whole exchange looked down at the discarded bricks and fragments that littered the ground at his feet. Back to work for him meant gathering up those bricks. The boy bent to start loading his bucket with the pieces. His fingers clutched about an angle of brick. The one that Young Joe had struck from the brick that had turned out right. The urchin slipped that fragment into his pocket.

The rest of the work on the roof flowed easily. Brick after brick, course after course. Young Joe had a few more bricks for the scrap bucket, but the keystones all lined up perfectly. Devin had been given a mallet and instructions. He moved around the slab knocking the stakes that had held up the face boards around the slab back and forth until they loosened and he could pull them up. The boy was careful as he pulled the face boards away. Marveling at how the design of flames ringed the slab. He had a bit of a struggle carrying some of the boards back to the wagon because of their length. He had declined an offer from the younger Joe of help when the apprentice saw him struggling; this was his job to do. He had slid the last board into the back of the wagon and seemed to be staring off into space when the potter had come across the yard. The boy took no notice when Piper had spoken; he was busy watching the wall that ran between her property and the neighbors.

The masons looked over as she neared. Something nearing a frown might have shown on Old Joe's wizened features. It was gone in the blink of an eye. So quick, it might have not even happened. He flashed one of his most charming smiles as he held the last keystone and a trowel in his hands. "Seems as though we've hit a snag, Piper. Neither Joe nor I can get this last brick to fit. Maybe you can give us a hand." Young Joe wiped a hand across the bib of his overalls before he crouched down where he stood on the scaffold and leaned to offer that hand to help the potter climb up.

Devin squeezed the potter's hand as she came and claimed his in her trembling hand. The pair of Joes exchanged a look but by the time Piper and Devin arrived at the scaffolding they were full of smiles. Old Joe reached down to help Devin up on the scaffolding too. The boy should be part of this since he had helped. Young Joe crossed his arms and watched his grandfather and Piper. He knew how much the old man was enjoying this.

"Now it will take a couple of days for the mortar to set properly. One of us will be by to check on how it's going. Then we will be back to install the doors and flue and things." Young Joe unfolded one arm. " I can come by and check things." the younger volunteered quickly.Pure mischief in his eyes as he looked to his grandfather. The elder mason nodded." We have an eager apprentice. Joe there will be coming by to check on the setting." Old Joe said nodding to his apprentice.

"That only leaves one thing then." The old mason had buttered two sides of the wedge shaped brick with mortar. There was a twinkle in the old mason's grey eyes as he handed Piper the last keystone and the trowel. "Just as the first, settle the keystone in it's place and then give it a tap three times. I would have you finish what you have started."

The potter had an audience of three. Possibly four, one never knew where the crazy neighbor lady could be lurking.

Old Joe caught himself sniffling." Three good taps you made to settle the last, lass." He lowered Devin back to stand on the scaffold. He ruffled the boy's hair with a calloused hand.Young Joe nodded in agreement with his grandfather." Fitting for the stone that holds it all together." The young Joe's smile was genuine with a slight wink for the potter and the old mason. He looked to Devin there. "Come on Devin. Quit loafing about. Sooner we pack the tools, the sooner we get home for dinner."

The apprentice and the boy climbed down from the scaffolding and started gathering their tools and loading them into the wagon. Each in turn paused as they worked. Young Joe to gaze at the bin he had built. Devin to stare at that spot on the wall.

The old mason pulled a clean cloth from his pocket and slipped it into Piper's hand. He set an arm across her shoulders and gave the potter a gentle squeeze." We'll be out of your way in a few minutes so you can enjoy your time, Piper." He gave her another squeeze before he stepped from her side and climbed down off the scaffolding.

Being the master mason, he supervised the other two in the clean up. That meant he leaned against the wagon loading his pipe with a fresh bowl of fragrant tobacco while they loaded the tools and Young Joe harnessed the ox back to the wagon. It only took a few minutes before the three were ready to be on their way. A wreath of smoke surrounding the master mason's smiling face as the three offered calls of good night to the potter.

Devin waved from his perch in the wagon. "Have fun, Piper." the younger Joe called with his wave. The senior Joe offered a grey wink. The pair drove the ox and wagon forward. "How long do you think it will take?" young Joe asked his grandfather. Joe glanced over his shoulder and then back to his grandson. "I wouldn't be surprised if we hear a hoop and holler before we turn onto the lane." They both grinned as they headed for home.