Photo byPatti BlackonUnsplash

In the sizzling state of Florida, where alligators laze around in the sun and oranges grow as large as a child's head, there is a band of extraordinary kids, known far and wide as the "Clay Crusaders". Though their real names are ordinary – Tim, Sally, Benny, and Mia – the magic they wield with a chunk of clay is anything but. It all happens in the artsy town of St. Augustine, where the sun dances off the cobalt blue ocean and the air smells like a mix of salt, sunshine, and creativity. Under the shade of palm trees, these kids gather at a place known as "Pottery Paradise". It’s not your usual pottery class. Nope. This was a realm where clay could transform into anything their imagination conjured. Now, let’s introduce our cool imaginary character, Sir Clayalot, a friendly dragon who breathes life and colors into their pottery. He's the size of a minivan with soft, marshmallowy scales and a tail that swirls like a whipped cream topping. Sir Clayalot helps the Clay Crusaders create masterpieces out of mucky mud. His fiery breath doesn't burn; instead, it glows with a magical warmth that can bake clay into shiny, sturdy treasures. The kids mold clay into fantastical shapes; moons that glow in the dark, bowls with feet that dance around the table, and vases that sing when they're filled with flowers. And they laugh, goodness, how they laugh! Laughing with their hands squelchy with clay and faces aglow with Florida sunshine, they create magic one pottery piece at a time. The Clay Crusaders and Sir Clayalot, they're the real Florida treasures. Watch out, alligators and giant oranges, you've got some competition!