"Ahem!" Came a voice from the living room as a light switched on. Zoe silently groaned. It was way past midnight and she had just got home from the club. Zoe had tried to sneak upstairs but obviously her mom had been waiting for her.
Zoe trudged slowly in to the room her head hung low. Sure enough her mom was sat in her armchair looking at her crossly with her arms folded across her chest. She was wearing a dark blue polo shirt and blue jeans.
"You're in big trouble young lady." She said keeping her voice low so as not to disturb the rest of the family.
Zoe nodded keeping quiet and her head low.
"I came home from work this evening to find my husband in tears because of you. How dare you speak to him like that?" She asked angrily standing up.
"But mom...he" Zoe began but her mother interrupted her.
"No, I don't want to hear it." She said crossly. "On top of that you then storm out of the house and we haven't heard from you all evening. Do you have any idea what time it is?" Her mother asked angrily.
This time Zoe didn't say anything. She just kept staring at the floor.
"Your father and I have been worried sick. You could have been kidnapped or run over or something. Did you ever stop to think about us?
"No, you probably just wanted to hang out with your friends. I hope that you haven't been drinking." She asked her.
"No mom!" Zoe said quickly looking up at her. "We just went out to a club and I..."
"Oh just a club eh?" Her mother repeated sarcastically.
"Well I have news for you young lady. You're grounded for a month."
"A month!?" Zoe said almost shouting. "That's not fair!"
Her mother shook her head. "This is what you get for your behaviour today. You're not going to be hanging out with those friends of yours for a while and I want you to come straight home as soon as schools finished are we clear?" Her mother asked.
Zoe opened her mouth to argue.
"Otherwise I'm going to have to ask your brother to start walking to and from school with you."
Zoe sighed defeated. "Fine, mom I promise I'll come straight home."
Her mother nodded in satisfaction. "Good, now it's late. Go to bed."
Zoe nodded and she turned to leave.
"Oh and Zoe!" Her mother called after her. "I want you to apologise to your father first thing in the morning."
