So, lemme ask you a question...

Suppose you're 23. And you leave the house at 2 (I caught the 2:30 boat), telling your mother that you're heading to the bookstore. Now, every time you head to the bookstore, you spend several hours in there reading, only to duck out by purchasing one or two books. (And several hours reading means three to six books, depending on their length, just so we're clear on why purchasing only two books is 'ducking out'.)

Indeed, in your youth, you used to stay in the bookstore until it closed, and then go home with your mom.

Your phone is broken, by the way - and nobody actually knows anybody else's phone numbers, they just autodial.

So you go to the bookstore, and you read, and you come home a bit early - just missing the 8:30 boat, and catching the 9:30 instead. No calls to anybody because it's not like you *can* call anybody, right? This isn't news.

Is it reasonable for your mom to panic and call your sister at 8:43 9:23 asking frantically if you've been heard from?

I mean, I know I hardly ever stay out late, I've no need to, but... this seemed a bit over the top, y'know? I'm starting to wonder if I should've been more wild as a teenager - y'know, stayed out until midnight a few times, forgot to call when I got home, that sort of thing. Maybe my mom wouldn't worry so much now if I'd broken curfew once in a while....

(Actually, I don't believe I *had* a curfew, because "as long as you call and make sure I don't worry, it's okay with me", but that's not the point. Clearly, I'm paying for the mistakes of my not-so ill-spent youth.)

(All times are post meridiem by the way)