The “Mouse” That Saved a Pottery Studio: When Petty Revenge Turns Creative Clean-Up
Picture this: the gentle clink of clay, the soft whir of pottery wheels, and the faint aroma of… stale honey and crumpled cereal boxes? For one pottery studio run by two creative spirits, the battle for studio cleanliness hit peak messiness—until a “mouse” staged an intervention.
If you’ve ever shared a workspace with someone who leaves a trail of snack carnage, you’ll find this story both relatable and, dare we say, inspiring. What happens when gentle reminders and polite requests don’t work? Sometimes, you need a little mischief (and maybe a few “mouse bites”) to get the job done.
Clay, Creativity, and the Case of the Rogue Cornflakes
Our story, originally shared by u/Sandwich_Sandwiches on Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge, kicks off in a pottery studio where creativity flows as freely as the cereal crumbs. The OP (original poster) and her friend are both self-confessedly messy—artists, after all, aren’t known for their tidiness. But there’s messy and then there’s “perpetually abandoned food packets in the teaching room” messy.
Despite a clear agreement to keep the teaching space food-free (“as clean as you can with pottery”), OP’s friend kept leaving out cereal boxes, honey jars, and tea bags for all to see. Multiple reminders led to momentary improvements, but the food always crept back in. As the OP wryly put it, “It looks unprofessional”—and after asking nicely, something had to give.
When Talking Doesn’t Work… Bring in the (Fake) Mice
Instead of yet another fruitless chat, OP decided to get crafty in a way only a potter could. Armed with a pin tool (usually reserved for smoothing clay), she transformed the offending cereal box into a rodent crime scene: holes “chewed” through the cardboard and a scatter of crumbs for realism. “I scratched at it and poked at it, to make it look like a mouse had bitten through,” OP admitted. Then, she waited.
The result? Studio-mate panic, heightened concern for “disease-ridden cornflakes,” and, crucially—no more food left out. Victory, albeit a little sneaky.
Redditors were quick to chime in with both praise and playful suggestions:
- “Congratulations on solving a problem with no confrontation,” cheered u/Acrobatic-Dust-3305, summing up the silent triumph.
- The ever-hilarious u/CatlessBoyMom quipped, “If you give a potter a mouse, she’ll clean up her cookies.”
- Several users even offered tips to up the ante: “Black rice looks just like droppings,” noted u/mynotverycreativeid, while others suggested cardamom seeds, black sesame, and caraway seeds for maximum (fake) rodent realism. Who knew the spice rack could double as a prop department in the war on workplace mess?
Was It Petty—or Just Good Studio Hygiene?
While some might clutch their pearls at the deception, the Reddit crowd largely sided with OP’s creative approach. As u/GreatZucchini8 mused, “Some people only learn the hard way. As far as I'm concerned, you did her (and yourself) a favor by sparing her from having to deal with actual mice.” After all, the alternative—real rodents—could have been a business-ending disaster.
Others pointed out that direct confrontation had already failed. “You tried talking, and she forced you into something that works better than talking,” wrote u/Sad-Map6779, echoing the frustration many feel when gentle reminders go ignored.
And really, who’s the villain here? As u/Vibe_me_pos put it: “You accomplished what you needed to accomplish. Were you deceptive? A bit. Given her habits a mouse could’ve eaten through the cereal box. Take the win and enjoy not getting pissed off at her every day.”
But perhaps the most insightful comment came from u/HopefulHalfTime: “She only changed her behavior when it affected her. …Interesting.” Sometimes, change doesn’t come from logic or rules, but from a little well-placed fear (of mice, or at least, of mouse droppings).
The Fine Art of Petty Problem-Solving
In the end, the studio was saved from snack-related shame, and the friendship endured. Was it petty? Sure. Effective? Absolutely. And as the community agreed, sometimes a touch of mischief is the only way to make a point stick—especially when it comes to keeping creative spaces livable.
If you’re ever at your wit’s end with a messy roommate, coworker, or family member, take a page from this pottery studio: a little playful deception (and maybe a few spare cardamom pods) might just be the nudge they need to clean up their act.
Have you ever tried a little “petty revenge” to solve a problem? Did it work, or did it backfire spectacularly? Share your stories in the comments below—because sometimes, sharing the mess is half the fun.
Original Reddit Post: A mouse! Or was it..