12-top

It was cold today at D's coffee, and a huge group of people have decided to occupy the cafe with loud banter at a long 12-top table. The baristas seemed very annoyed when the 12 uniquely, and very oddly dressed patrons began, without warning, moving tables, loudly shouting greetings at each other, even though they had arrived not 5 minutes earlier and already greeting each other when first arriving. 

Now as I mentioned this select group of loud patrons were dressed with a severe case of hipstertitis, a disease that seems to grab these patrons by the flannel and dragged them through an awkward stage of post-goth/emo stage and into the pre-hipster era of their youth. Young and most likely very impressionable, these teenagers are dressed in heavy flannel, and band shirts with colorful jackets, all seem to wear beanies and big, round glasses, and sporting boots of all varieties and converses of all the worn out and outdated colors. All of the 7 girls wear the eyes winged, sharp enough to probably cut down the patriarchy, and the boys, in all their awkward post-pubescent years, are trying to grow out facial hair, but sadly it just comes and patches and looks misplaced on their face. 

They all sit, after all loudly agreeing the table was to all of their liking (and trust me their was bickering about the angle of the table being "too off center" for one of the girl tastes). 

I want to divert my eyes to another bout of patrons, but my eyes remained glued to these young teenagers, obviously a few of them just grasping the concept of how to drive a car, as during their conversation the console some of the others the horrors of the DMV and the dreaded driving test at the local driving school. Something about their odd flannel and obscure band shirts draws me to pay attention.

There is a dull 10 minutes, where the group talks about school, how biology is a drag and blah blah blah, I tune out for the most part and focused on an old lady reading a book. But then the baristas arrive to deliver cappuccinos, lattes, breves, and teas. As soon as the drinks are down, they all drink, eerily at the same second. There is an angry squeak of disapproval and a girl shoots up, mug in hand, and a frown on her face. She approached the counter, now loudly demanding what the barista handed her. He answers a latte. She then asks if there is sugar, and responds with a questioning yes. She then demands why there isn't enough sugar, and the barista wears this smirk and points to a canister of sugar that she is "welcomed to use if she is dissatisfied". With a flustered huff and an embarrassed heat to her cheeks she beelines for the sugar, downs it into her latte, and returns to the table. 

It is casual for the rest of the time, people stream in and out getting coffee to fight the grogginess of the night and keep warm from the chill. The 12-top is mostly talking (quietly, kinda not), and nothing major has happened since the latte incident. Eventually the cafe empties out and all that is left is the 12-top, baristas, and I.

Seeming to notice the vacant area around them, the 12-top begins pulling out their songs, and loudly exclaiming new songs they have found recently. And then the chorus of clashing tunes begins, and they begin arguing which artist is better and begin to banter loudly. Seeming to grow tired of the loudness growing, one of the baristas make his way over, and exclaims its close to closing time and they need to clean. Taking it as my cue to leave as well, we all pack up and leave, and even as I leave I can still hear the bickering of the teenagers over their music.