From the Desk of Zoe Washington

Zoe knows she might lose her phone for lying about the movie, but there is no time to call Professor Thomas before they arrive home. Trevor’s mother tells Grandma how Zoe and Trevor lied and used a cab; Grandma calls Zoe’s mother home from work. Trevor and his mother go to their home.

Grandma is disappointed that Zoe went back on her word about finding the alibi witness. Grandma partially blames herself for modeling dishonesty. Zoe tries to tell Grandma that Professor Thomas remembers meeting Marcus, but Grandma will not allow her to call Professor Thomas, and she insists that Zoe turn over her phone instead. Zoe screams that she hates Grandma, a reaction she immediately regrets but cannot take back; she does not apologize. She gives up the phone.

When Mom arrives home, Grandma admits her role in Zoe’s correspondence with Marcus. Mom is furious. In the ensuing argument, it comes out that Mom has thrown out all of Marcus’s many letters to Zoe over the years. Zoe is furious as well: “Those were my letters” (246). Mom says she never read them and knows nothing about their contents. Trevor’s mom rings the doorbell, interrupting their argument.