"All I've ever done is what other people want me to do." Mr. Clayton responded, opening and closing his mouth. Then it was open for a second, before slowly, slowly closing until it was snapped shut. It was like Mr. Clayton was trying to let what he said sink in. Each word. And then the words together. It fit somehow, the idea that a puppet would only be doing what someone told it or made it do.
Mr. Clayton stared a very long time at Shawn.
"I have no control over my mind. I have no control over my body. I am a lifeless puppet. I am a trifle. I am stuck doing the things that those who pull the strings want me to do." he said breaking the silence. He didn't seem said about it. Rather, it seemed like he was trying convey information to Shawn somehow with that vacant stare in his eyes.
"Let's eat some cake!" He said, head shifting attention towards the cake. It was a large sponge cake baked into a cup shape with an icing topping. But it was more than just an average cake. It was an elegant lemon thyme cake, with alternating layers of lemon curd and vanilla buttercream, and then decorated with rich golden icing, candied citrus and sprigs of mint to top it off. Shawn knew without even tasting it that the first bite would be moist, tender and delicate.