"I'm home, Mo-" Unceremoniously dropping my backpack by the door, I was surprised to see my mother standing a few feet in front of the door with a decidedly unpleasant expression on her face.
"Uh...hi." I finished lamely.
"Where have you been? It's nearly five." This was odd. Sure, I was a little later getting back than I normally was, but I rarely headed home immediately after school. Mom tended to be pretty easy going.
"Um. I was just hanging out with Karyn."
Mom's hand went to her forehead. She sighed, rubbing her temples. "I thought we had talked about this." Now I was starting to get nervous. I could tell she was struggling to keep her voice down. "I don't want you seeing that girl, Jon."
"...What? It's never bothered you before."
She stared at me blankly. I was definitely missing something here.
"Jon. We've been over this. She's a bad influence on you."
"A bad influence?" Mom liked Karyn. She was always observing how polite she was, and admonishing me for not being more like her. "What are you talking about?"
Mom's face twitched. Maybe that wasn't the smartest thing to say.
"What am I talking about? She's been suspended twice this year alone, and there's no telling what her and her friends have been doing at those parties at all hours of the night. You know one of them is already pregnant. At seventeen. Jon, you promised me you wouldn't see her anymore."
"Uh...I'm sorry?"
Mom sighed, suddenly taking a great interest in the living room carpet.
"That's not going to cut it. After what happened two weeks ago..." She shuddered. "I'm afraid you're grounded until further notice. I want you home the instant school is over tomorrow. And you absolutely will not leave the house without my permission. Is that understood?"
