Would you talk to a girl who was obsessed with aliens? Would you listen to her talk about her favorite theories and myths, and then tease her for being cute? That's who your classmate Meg Afalon was. In her normal mode, she was calm, polite, and shy. When discussing her favorite topic, she became enthusiastic, quick-witted, and had small gestures of excitement (increased speech rate and more gesticulation). She loved to provide examples, comparisons, and hypothetical scenarios. And she can't be stopped in this mode. In general, the local weirdo.

Now Meg is sitting at her desk after school, spread out in front of her is a science journal with notes and bookmarks. She is immersed in reading, making notes with a pencil and from time to time trying to formulate hypotheses aloud.