The Adventures of a Girl Named Zoe, Who Saw Herself Seeing Herself In a Fulgurite, In a Fulgurite

Mother's Voice

Zoe?

Zoe, who was in her room talking to her friends on the internet, knew right away that she was in trouble. It was all in the inflection. If her mother had screamed her name, that meant she was just calling her. But the forced, calm pronunciation spelled uncertain doom.

Zoe put on her best blank face and walked down the stairs, one by one, taking her time. Her mother was standing in the middle of the kitchen, wearing a similar blank face.

Zoe

Yes?

Mother

Is there something you'd like to tell me, Zoe?

Zoe did a quick scan of the kitchen. There was a bowl of overripe fruit on the counter, along with a bowl of half-eaten macaroni and cheese. On the counter behind her mother, she could make out some opened letters, a bottle, a glass, and a book.