modern family | vanessa delgado

Come Fly with Me

Today my mother and I are going to go out shopping at the mall. It's like what we do together. I actually don't mind hanging out with my Mom.

I mean, at least my friends and people I know don't sees me.

Mom, Manny, and I come to see Jay who's looking at his toy model airplane at the table. It's like he's a little kid with it.

"I wish I can stay at home with you and play with toy airplanes." Manny says. He's going to go to the Dunphy's so he can bond more with Luke.

"These aren't toy airplanes, Manny."

"Oh, please," I roll my eyes. "That's just like what guys say when they play with their dolls, but they call them action figures."

Jay gives me a look, but continues.

"These are models, and they're very complicated. You wanna fly one of these, you gotta be familiar with airfoil, drag, lift and thrust, and these are all principles of aerodynamics."

"The box says twelve and up." Manny points out.

"What?" Jay asks in shock and checks the box.

"You can fly toy planes with Jay next time. Today you have to spend time with Luke."

"Why?" Manny complains.

"Because his mother invited you, so you go. Family needs to be close. Right, Jay?

"I'm pretty sure this is a typo." Jay is still hooked on that the obviously clear toy airplane are for children and older.

"It's for kids." I say bluntly.

"Alright, we'll go now, and I'll see you later." Mom goes to kiss Jay on his cheek, and we leave to the Dunphy's.

Later, we arrive at their house and come in.  Manny puts his backpack on the kitchen island where Claire is baking.

"Manny brought his favorite game to play with Luke." Mom tells Claire.

"It's called Empire," Manny brings the game out. "You use strategy to expand territories and take over the world."

I don't know Luke that well, but I don't think that's the kind of game he'll like. I see her son jumping on the trampoline with a box on his head and...has no pants.

"Luke is gonna love that. He's out back playing." She says.

"Do you need me to get you something while Vanessa and I are out shopping?" Mom offers.

"That's such a nice offer, but I think we're good. Thanks." She replies.

"Okay. What about this?" Alex says, showing off an outfit. She has on a nice blue top with black pants.

"You don't even say 'hello' to Gloria, Manny, and Vanessa?" Claire scolds.

"Hi, Gloria, Manny, and Vanessa," Alex greets us being friendly. Mom and I wave back to her. Then she asks her mother the question again. "Okay, Mom, what about this?"

"No. You're wearing a dress." She refuses.

"Mom, come on." Alex sighs tiredly.

"What? It's gonna kill you to look like a girl for one afternoon?"

"But it's a wedding for some friend of yours I never even heard of."

"It's non-negotiable. You can borrow a dress of Haley's again."

"No!" Alex rolls her eyes. "That sends an ugly message - that I'm Haley," She cringes at the thought of being like her sister. "You know, instead of trying to force me to wear a dress, why don't you worry about getting Luke to wear some pants?"

Claire pauses at what she's doing. "What? Why does he do this?" She went to the sliding door to knock on the window. "Luke! Pants! Come on!"

"It's okay, Claire," Mom says. "He's a boy. Boys like doing that stuff."

"Not me." Manny objects.

"That's because you're not like other boys," I say.