What Part Don't You Get?

So, Eli didn't come home from school today. Called all the friends, no go. The last friend (his friend Eli) on the list was a disconnected number. So Hannah and I tried calling him on his cell phone, no go. He sets it on silent/vibrate mode in school and when he is running or playing, he can't feel it ring. So I jumped in the car and drove to Eli's house. His mom drove in the driveway right after I did, so I got to meet her--she called me "Kris" even after I corrected her. Hmmm. We talked to one of her young sons--"Is Eli here?" I asked.
"Which one?"
Eli's mom and I both looked at him and said "Both of them!"
Well, they weren't anywhere to be found.
So I drove around the neighborhood looking for a wandering duo of Elis.
I gave up and went home after two rounds of the neighborhood, and Eli called me as I pulled in the driveway.
"Where are you?" I asked him.
"We were in the back yard at Eli's house." Ok, we did not look there.
"Well you had better get home right now." I said calmly--ha. Trust me, he knew what he had to look forward to when he got home.
"I thought you could come and pick me up."
I had to pause to collect my thoughts.
"No, I think you got yourself over there, you can walk home."
Lest you think I am an ogre, it is about a mile.
When he got home I asked him why he thought he could ignore the rules and do what he pleased.
Know what he said?
"Because I'm older."
Oh, well, then!
I told him the next time I feel like blowing a stop sign and I get picked up, I'll tell the officer "I'm older" and then I shouldn't have to pay the ticket, right?
"Ok, mom, I get it." he said humbly.
We shall see.