Sadly, your young self learned the wrong lessons.

1. Always ask the question to which you want a specific answer (should be yes or no) when your parents are distracted.
2. If you don’t get the correct answer, try again at the next opportunity until you get the correct answer.
3. What you have the correct answer, never bring the subject up again until confronted by parents.

PS: This doesn’t work with spouses. They hold more power than parents because you chose them (no matter how foolish your choice may have been.)

PPS: Nothing in the Postscript applies to my own marriage. Carol is perfect and I chose wisely.