Deja vu -- over The Pond

One of the (mixed) blessings of this visit is going to be observing my once-teenaged daughter managing her own almost-teen girl........ When we arrived, as you may know, Leenie and Greg were already in Morocco, and Lil had been with her dad for the usual weekend visit. When Miss L. arrived back here at home, after school on Monday evening, we had a little planning session (with lists and notebooks, and with Nanny Linda in attendance) so that we grandparents would be apprised of the week's schedules. I made notes (of course): Lily would be home at about 7 PM on Tuesday, because there was a birthday party after school for friend Amy; at 5 PM (after choir practice) on Wednesday; etc.
As Linda was listening in on this, I assumed that it was all approved plan, and made note so we could be calibrated on her schedule.
Oopz ... how soon I forget the nimble ways of 'Les Jeunes Filles.' -- apparently Mum had NOT been apprised of a Tuesday return at 7 PM, after dark.
So as Tuesday afternoon wended its way, we received a call from Morocco; how were we getting on, what did we think of lovely Lil, etc. I was filling Mum in on our experiences so far, and said 'So, John is cooking dinner for us tonight, and Lil should be home in another couple of hours, around 7 PM' -- and there was this ominous silence on the other end of the wire. 'at 7 PM??? ... why so late?' came the measured response. I explained about our planning session of the day before, and the birthday party, but was realizing that this was not going well.
So a bit after we rang off, I got a jingle from Lily; tearfully she advised me that she was headed for the bus and would be back here before 6 PM or shortly thereafter.
'Has your mother rung you up, then?' -- 'Yes... sniff ... see you shortly...'
When our heroine arrived thereafter, we learned that she was now on probation, having at least deflected a very possible grounding for the rest of the week; there is another Very Important party on Thursday afternoon, and we will confer with Morocco this evening for a probation hearing....
Dear Lil, she can break my heart, just as her mother always could; it's a damn' good thing her mother knows the drill, due to much sad experience, and keeps a tight rein on Missy.
So today, Lil is due home promptly at 5 PM -- she is to take us 'round to Stratford Lane for tea; and she had already contracted to cook dinner for us this evening, a special new recipe she has just learned. After that, we are to report to Command HQ and then we'll see if probation is to be lifted. I should really work her little tail off, while I have all this power over the child, eh?
(For parents who may be wondering -- yes, Lily usually has a lot of homework in the afternoons; but this week is just prior to the mid-term break here in GB, and it's party time (for some schoolgirls, anyway; we'll see if our social butterfly has her wings permanently clipped, or if she will escape.)
Tee hee / Bwaahaahaa / Sigh.