How we cite our quotes:
Quote #4
John Wesley kicked the back of the front seat and June Star hung over her mother's shoulder and whined desperately into her ear that they never had any fun even on their vacation, that they could never do what THEY wanted to do. The baby began to scream and John Wesley kicked the back of the seat so hard that his father could feel the blows in his kidney. (50)
This scene is a great comedic moment. The father is trying to assert himself as head of the family, and is beaten into submission by his two volatile children. This could be from any number of "worst family vacation ever" movies.
Quote #5
"We've had an ACCIDENT!" the children screamed in a frenzy of delight.
"But nobody's killed," June Star said with disappointment as the grandmother limped out of the car… (66)
The kids are thrilled that they got in a car accident and disappointed that nobody died. It seems insensitive that either child wishes a family member had died. Hopefully in this case it's because they don't actually understand how serious it is.
Quote #6
Bailey turned his head sharply and said something to his mother that shocked even the children. The old lady began to cry and The Misfit reddened. (84)
Rude remarks from the dad to his troublesome mother are classic dysfunctional family fare, and we've already seen some of that dynamic in this story. What's absurd here is that Bailey would say something apparently really nasty (it shocks "even the children") to his mother when they've got a gun pointed at them. Even The Misfit is a horrified.