It was the rest of the family that gave him even more pause. He didn't have much time to contemplate that difference before her heard someone calling from downstairs, "Mom, where are you?"
It sounded like Zoe...except less accusatory. When Zoe poked her head in, Jon was a bit surprised. Her hair wasn't dyed black, as he was used to. It was her natural brownish color. "What's wrong? Why aren't you dressed? I thought you said you had to be at work early?"
Zoe is concerned about me...what sort of weird parallel dimension have I found myself in? Jon thought. He always thought Zoe cared...but she was usually spending too much time rebelling against authority to be bothered with niceties.
"Just...late start," Jon said in a soft voice somewhat higher than he preferred.
"Well, Mikey just finished breakfast...and I wanted to talk to you about dying my hair..."
"I thought he was out of cereal?"
"No, he has a full box last I checked," Zoe said. "I mean...that cereal is disgusting, but...So...about my hair...What do you think?"
"What color were you thinking?" Jon said, as he tried to find something to wear that wouldn't make him cringe.
"I haven't decided. You aren't going to give me the...why would you want to change your body speech? I can always change my hair back...And I kept my grades up...so is it a deal?"
Jon paused. Remember, you are supposed to be the Mom. "How about you show me some colors you are thinking of and we'll start there. But...it sounds like a lot of work for something you might change your mind about later," he said, honestly.
Zoe hugged him. "It's not a yes, but I'll take it. Thanks, Mom."
Jon paused. "You seem to be in a good mood today," he commented, trying to pry for information. Why was Zoe so...not disagreeable?
"I guess..." Zoe said, shrugged. "Just...felt like things were...better...this morning. Weird, huh?"
You don't know the half of it. Jon thought.
