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You didn't just pull out a bag of googly eyes and not grab the interest of a 14 year old sitting across from your table. It was not the norm and like every good teenager, anything not the norm was to be questioned and interrogated. For better or worse.

Staring, (which was in and of itself impolite), Jane ignored her mother's constant staring at her phone and opted to target her wayward curiosities to someone else. Someone with googly eyes one their table along with socks like it was Martha Stewart crafty hour.

"The print." She said, with a sudden loudness. "It's nearly valentines day. So if you're going to do something, best to just go full hearts." She hadn't a clue what this woman was doing or why but hey, she'd asked.
"What are you doing anyway?"

Yes well of course the heart printed sock would be a good choice, Valentines. They already had them in stores even. Not that she was eyeballing the many chocolate covered things. No, not at all why would one think that? "Sock puppets?" She asked, curiosity rising. It wasn't everyday you saw an adult making those things- in fact, Jane was sure she'd not even made once since- actually she made one no less than a year ago, thanks girl scout summer camp.

The woman had a point though, getting crafty was at times more fun than reading. Still, was a bit odd to do it in a restaurant. "Huh." As Jane's mother chided her briefly, telling her to stop bothering the other customers Jane nodded with dutiful obedience.
Then promptly ignored her mother.
Who was pretty much ignoring her by remaining glued to her phone.

"See, strawberries. Valentines sublime-er, subliminal messaging." She coughed, trying to sound like she knew exactly what she was talking about.
"Why are you making them? You a teacher?" If she was, Jane certainly didn't recall her from her elementary school days.

This lady had a valid point. Games on a phone or just making stuff on the go was boring after a while. Jane gave her mother a stink eye, (which she was lucky enough to have not been caught giving), Jane just continued one with the interaction. This woman was far too interesting anyway.

Plus being patronized by her mom with crayons and a coloring place mat at 14 was painful.

Jane's life was suffering teen angst for being far too young looking and her parents just not taking her seriously. Ever. Secretly the girl wondered if she took up goth how her parents might react. Probably with awkward trips into hot topic.

"I'm Jane. Just curious, since Sock puppets are like- that's kid stuff." Said the kid.
"Most adults I see doing that its for their kids or they teach. And I don't see you with kids unless-" Jane looked around.
"You an aunt?"

Jane could kind of respect that 'its fun so try and stop me' mentality. But-

"jane is what parents name their kids when they aren't creative."
That got her mother's attention.
"JANE!"
"WHAT? You could have given me a cool name. Like Raven. Or Esmeralda. Heck mom even Renesseme is a cooler name then Jane." She shot back.

Her mother sighed heavily and once more appologized for her daughter's behavior.
Before going telling her daughter she had to make a phone call and to stop harassing the other customers.

Jane just rolled here eyes.
"..........."


Then looked back at the puppets.
"So.. Puppets like muppets or like.... Dark Crystal puppets?"

Jane was smiling, and with her mother gone to go chat on the phone if left the teen able to talk as she liked.
"I want to become an astrophysicist." She stated as if it was not an exceptionally complex field of study.
"So I can lay the smack down on people who think the world is flat. Like Neil deGrasse Tyson, only I'm a girl, so my smack downs would be even more brutal."

Her food was on it's way, and Jane pulled back only to eyeball it before looking back at the puppets.
"That or just a vet. I'm not sure yet. Puppets are cool though too. Not a lot of people wanna be puppet masters I'd think." She pointed to the googly eyes.
"Or have the humor to just make funny stuff."

Jane didn't have the smarts yet, but she was aiming high. Plus it helped keep her mom and dad off her back about the whole 'what do you want to be' talks. Sound like you have a plan and they backed off usually.


"Well, teachers use puppets to teach so hey, still not off the mark!" She grinned.
Leaning into the open path, Jane just kept grinning, which got even wider when the offer or a free puppet came out.
"Heck yeah!" She nearly bounced in her seat.
"Puppets make for great snapchats and just- She sighed. "I am like 1000 points behind on my story. Puppets can bring it all back PLUS." She held up a finger as if to make a point.
"Puppets are a heck of a lot cooler than drawing on your hand. Multiple use for the snaps. And my mom can't yell at me for drawing on myself."

Jane was grinning ear to ear. "Stars for sure! Hearts is good for the holiday, but I could make space jokes."

The waitress finally zoned in and delivered her food, asking where Jane's mother was and getting "I dunno, probably outside yelling at my dad over the phone." As if on target, Jane's mother was outside the window, storming back and forth on the sidewalk, clearly yelling into her phone.

"She does that. But don't worry, she'll stop and come in soon." The waitress looked at the woman outside before just going 'okay' and leaving Jane with two plates of food.
Jan just snickered.

"Hey Miranda?" She held up her phone.
"Would you mind taking a selfie with me?"