The not-so-quiet game

On the way home from visiting grandparents, Dixie decided to play the quiet game.

Dixie: We're playing the quiet game the whole way home! 3-2-1 go!
Daddy: But we're not out of Abilene yet! How about we just play to the highway?
Dixie: You lose! You lose!
Daddy: But I wasn't playing yet!
Dixie: We're playing the quiet game. 3-2-1 go!
Melody: But only to the highway.
Dixie: You lose! You lose!
Melody: I didn't lose! I was just making the rules.
Dixie: Well, I already made the rules.

Four or five more games are begun in vain. Rules are argued over and added. The highway is coming into view when Dixie finally gets a game started.

Dixie: We're playing the quiet game until we get to the highway and only the big people count because Charlie can't be expected to understand the game so start in 3-2-1 go!

The entire van is quiet for seconds. Charlie, who has patiently awaited his turn to speak for years now, gets his chance.

Charlie: 3-2-1 go! Four! Five! Si-Seven! Eight! Nine! Ten! . . . Eleven! Ready, set, go! Airplane fly up! Down!
Dixie: Charlie loses!
Melody: But Charlie wasn't playing! You made that rule!
Dixie: Oh, yeah. We're playing the quiet game until we get to the highway and only the big people count because Charlie can't be expected to understand the game so start in 3-2-1 go!
Melody: How far is the highway?
Mommy: We just drove under it. When we go up this hill and join that road, we'll be on it.
Dixie: Melody loses! Mommy loses! Start again in 3-2-1 go!
Melody: We're on the highway!
Dixie: Oh, good. I was getting tired of that game already.