I was in the mood to fight, so instead of reaching down and restarting the High School Musical CD when it ended, I let the Justin Timberlake CD start.

"I want to listen to High School Musical," Alexis said.

"It's my turn to pick music," I replied. I nearly always let the kid listen to whatever she requests in the car, but like I said, I was in the mood to fight. (What? You don't start fights with your kid? Well, you should. It's fun.)

"I'm going to tell your husband," the kid threatened.

I had to laugh at that unique response. "Go ahead," I tossed back over my shoulder.

Alexis dug around for a few minutes and eventually came up with her purse. It must have been sitting beside her car seat, jammed into some crevice. She quickly slid the zipper back and rummaged until she found her plastic Tinkerbell phone.

"Hi, Daddy," she said into the phone. "Mommy won't let me listen to High School Musical."

She paused, as if listening to a response.

"Oh," she continued. "Five minutes? OK," she said as she hung up the toy phone. "Daddy said I can listen to High School Musical in five minutes," she gloated.

"No, he didn't," I replied. I told you I was in the mood to fight.

"Yes, he did," she said defensively.

"I'm going to call him and ask him myself," I threatened.

"Nooooo! Don't call Daddy! I'll call Daddy," Alexis quickly said as she grabbed her phone again. "Hi, Daddy. Mommy said 'no' but . . . " her voice trailed off as the so-called conversation continued. My money says the kid wins an Academy Award for Best Fake Phone Call some day. A few moments later, she said, "OK, Daddy," before shutting the phone again.

"Daddy says I have to listen to you," Alexis reported in her most annoyed voice.

How am I supposed to start a fight with my kid when she's such a self-policing goody two-shoes?