The bowl was crusted over with bright orange Velveeta sauce—the kind of crustiness that you couldn't just put in the dishwasher and hope for the best. Someone would have to scrub that off. Zoe wondered if she was in trouble for failing to put her dishes away.

She looked at her mother for a clue. But she could tell from her mother's face that her trouble was of a more epic nature. She continued looking around the kitchen.