I don't own SL

Three days after Zack and Cody got grounded for crashing a wedding and sneaking out to do a web-show they still weren't talking to Carrie. She was getting frustrated but not weakening in her resolve. Still, she and the boys had to talk. She loved her kids and they needed to resolve whatever issue was causing the distance between them.

"Family meeting," she called, "I ordered pizza from Gene's"

Those were the magic words. Zack and Cody loved pizza from Gene's. They came into the family room where Carrie was sitting.

"Before we eat we talk," she said, "Plant your butts on the chair"

Zack and Cody both sat down.

"Okay," Carrie began, "What's the deal? You haven't been talking to me in 3 days"

"We're angry," Cody said.

"I gathered that," Carrie replied, "Now suppose you tell me WHY you're angry"

"It's because you're unfair,"

Carrie raised an eyebrow.

"How am I unfair Zack," Carrie asked

"It's because every time we mess up your solution is to punish us. Max's parents have a talk with her. Tapeworm's parents let it go a lot of times-"

Carrie held a hand up.

"You're absolutely right," Carrie said, "I do rely on punishment a lot and I do tend to lump you and your brother together. Boys I get up at 5 o'clock in the morning have to get myself ready for the day and get you boys up and ready for the day followed by several hours of rehearsal and maybe a few breaks. Then I come home. I help you guys with homework and I make sure you guys are fed-"

"We get it," Cody said, "You're an amazing mom. We love you-"

"I love you boys too," Carrie said, "But the point is I'm a verybusy mom which I have to be in order to support you guys. I would love to have the time to sit down and have a chat with you boys but it's either starve or crack down on you guys. Unless you have a better idea," she said.

"I can think of an idea," Cody said, "You could chart the good things we do and for every 10 points give us $15.00 for the game room or something like that."

"And what about when you do something wrong," Carrie asked.

"Take away the points I guess," Zack said.

"I don't know guys," Carrie said, "I mean you're not kids anymore"

"We're kids," Zack said, "We're just older kids"

"Fine," Carrie said, "But I'm only trying it for a week. If it doesn't work we go right back to the old way"

"FINE," Zack and Cody said

"Now get ready for dinner," Carrie told them, "Pizza from Gene's"

The boys got ready.