Decisions (Modern Family)

All the Dunphys and Delgados gathered around the living room, some annoyed, some happy and some excited to see the chaos that was to come.

Phil sat at the coffee table, meticulously arranging the Monopoly money and property cards like a seasoned banker, humming to himself because the children (Alex and Vin) insisted that Claire should play with them, it would be more fun (chaotic). So, Claire sat on the sofa grumbling and glaring at the board.

[Commentary]

"Yeah, so, the kids somehow convinced me to play." Claire threw her hands in the air, exasperated. "I couldn't say no to their faces. And who knows? Maybe this will be a simple, wholesome game—no shouting, no threats to shove the board up someo—somewhere."

She shook her head, then scoffed. "Oh, who am I kidding? I still remember the day I threatened to burn Mitch's posters over this stupid game." Her eyes took on a nostalgic gleam before her expression hardened into a determined smirk.

"I'm gonna win this. I'm gonna show those little chaos gremlins what defeat looks like."

She leaned in slightly, voice lowering conspiratorially. "And I've got a clear shot. Haley couldn't care less, Luke doesn't really get the game, and Manny? Please. He's more focused on Haley than the game."

Her smirk widened. "The real threats are Alex and Vince. But…" she tapped her temple knowingly, "if I play my cards right…"

She pumped her fist in the air. "Yeah! Mama's gonna win this."

[Commentary end]

Claire suddenly leaned forward, clutching her top hat piece, her competitive streak kicking into high gear. Beside her, Haley groaned, barely suppressing an eye roll as she slouched back against the couch with her shoe piece. Her gaze kept drifting toward the coffee table, where her phone lay just out of reach—confiscated in the name of family bonding.

[Commentary]

"Ugh, I could be texting my friend about her new shoes right now, but noooo." Haley flicked her hair over her shoulder, exasperated. "Apparently, it's family time. Because, yeah, we totally don't see each other every single day."

She sighed dramatically before suddenly perking up. "Speaking of family time—my friend said some girl in our year got pregnant. I think she said her name was Juno or something. Anyway, that's not even the crazy part."

She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Her dad punched the boyfriend right in the junk. In front of the entire cheerleading team. And then the whole school got involved, and—"

[Commentary End]

Alex sat beside Haley, gripping her Scottie dog piece, her gaze sharp and calculating. While others played for fun (or, in Haley's case, under protest), she was treating this like a scientific experiment.

[Commentary]

"So, I just finished this book on the psychology of winning," Alex adjusted her glasses, a knowing smirk creeping onto her face. "And what better way to test my findings than Monopoly? People think this game is just about rolling dice, but really? It's about strategy, manipulation, and knowing exactly how to push people's buttons."

She leaned in, voice dropping like she was revealing classified intel. "I wanted to see what made everyone tick. So far, my observations are fascinating."

She pointed discreetly. "Mom? Classic control freak. She won't play to win—she'll play to make sure no one else wins."

"Vin?" She flicked her eyes toward him, watching as he lazily spun his dice. "Overconfident. He acts like victory is inevitable, which means he'll take reckless risks. Easy pickings."

"Manny? Oh, he won't last long." She side-eyed him, watching as he sighed dreamily in Haley's direction. "He's already lost, he just doesn't know it yet."

Finally, she sighed and nodded toward Haley, who was slouched back with an arm draped over the couch. "And Haley? She's only here because her phone got taken away. If bribing the banker were allowed, she'd be all over it."

Alex smirked, adjusting her grip on the Scottie dog. "So yeah… I've basically already won."

[Commentary end]

To her left, Vinny sat back with a lazy smirk, idly tapping his battleship piece against the board. Unlike the others, he wasn't frantically strategizing or sulking—he was simply watching. Watching as tensions rose, as glares were exchanged, and as frustration simmered just beneath the surface.

This was exactly what he wanted.

To his right, Manny barely even registered the game with his thimble piece, his focus entirely on Haley. His dreamy sighs were practically loud enough to be another player at the table. Meanwhile, Haley herself wasn't even looking at the board—just glaring at the coffee table where her confiscated phone taunted her.

Vinny chuckled under his breath. This is gonna be fun.

[Commentary]

"So, here's the deal. Jay told me how intense Claire gets when she plays any kind of game, and I've spent enough time around Alex to know that, for her, this is just some twisted social experiment." Vinny smirked, tilting his head slightly. "Haley? She couldn't care less. She's only here because her phone isn't. She already lost."

Manny interrupted him with a dreamy sigh, "But it would be in good taste as men of honor to let the lady win."

Vinny stared at him for a beat before shaking his head. "Focus pendejo, no brother of mine will lose because of crushing on a girl. And what men? I saw you crying for your stuffed panda last week."

Manny gasped, placing a dramatic hand on his chest. "That was different! Señor Bubbles has been with me since I was a baby!"

"Yeah, you're not making it past round three." 

"I mean, come on, this game is practically rigged in my favor." Vinny shrugged. "Claire's gonna be too focused on stopping Alex to see me coming. Alex is so busy analyzing everyone else that she won't notice me making moves. Haley and Manny? They're not even in the game. And Luke and Phil?" He chuckled. "Wild cards. Absolute chaos. But I can work with chaos."

"This is gonna be fun."

[Commentary end]

He leaned over to Manny and whispered something that Manny shook his head to until Vinny looked him in the eye and mouthed something that seemed to terrify him. This little action went unnoticed by all but Claire and Alex.

Luke meanwhile was sliding his racecar piece up and down the sofa.

[Commentary]

"Would I finish the game faster if I covered my racecar piece in oil?" Luke tilted his head, deep in thought. "Like, would it just slide to Boardwalk on its own? Monopoly doesn't have real physics, but if it did, I'd be so ahead of the game right now."

He paused, then grinned. "Also, if I roll the dice really fast, does that mean my car is speeding? Should I get a tiny Monopoly cop car to chase it?"

[Commentary end]

"Well, Here you go." Phil started to hand over the Monopoly money.

[Commentary]

"Monopoly! Always a fun game to bring the family together. A little friendly competition, some good old-fashioned capitalism, and—if we're lucky—only mild emotional scarring!" Phil chuckled, organizing the bills like a professional banker. "Claire says I take the banker role a little too seriously, but someone has to make sure the economy stays stable."

He leaned in, lowering his voice. "Between you and me, I've got my eye on Vin and Alex. They've got that 'I'll do whatever it takes to win' look. Classic Wall Street energy."

"And also the game that distracts Claire from the fact I forgot to bring the groceries."

[Commentary end]

Phil cleared his throat and continued passing out the money, making sure to avoid Claire's gaze. She was still too focused on the board to notice—so far, so good.

"Alright, everyone starts with $1,500! Spend it wisely, invest smartly, and remember—Monopoly is a game of strategy and heart."

Claire pinched the bridge of her nose. "Luke, please just focus."

Luke stopped sliding his piece for a second, then gave her a thumbs-up. "Got it, Mom! Focusing... in three… two…"

He immediately resumed zooming the race car around, making engine noises under his breath.

Alex rolled her eyes. "We're never going to finish this game."

Phil finally cleared his throat, adjusting his imaginary tie like a game show host. "Alright, folks, it's go time! First up, Claire! Roll those dice and let's see where fate takes you!"

Claire exhaled sharply and snatched up the dice. "Fine. But just know, when I win, I'm rubbing it in every single one of your faces."

Vinny leaned back, smirking. "We'll see about that, Sis."

Claire gave a mock smile and threw the dice which rolled and rolled till the top faces showed a 5 and a 2.

She moved her top hat piece seven spaces forward, landing on Chance. Her smirk widened as she plucked a card from the deck.

Claire cleared her throat dramatically and read aloud, "'Advance to Boardwalk.'"

The room fell silent for a beat.

"…Oh, come on!" Alex huffed. "There's no way!"

Vinny raised an eyebrow, impressed but unfazed. "Well, well, well. Looks like luck is on your side, but let's see if it stays."

Phil gasped, clutching his chest in exaggerated shock. "This is a historic moment, people! First roll, and we're already talking prime real estate!"

Manny, still somewhat distracted by Haley, clapped politely. "A strong start for the matriarch."

Claire grinned smugly. "That's right. Mama's taking over this board."

Haley, barely glancing up from her non-existent phone, sighed. "Cool. Can I mortgage my enthusiasm?"

Luke, meanwhile, was still rolling his racecar up and down the couch. "Whoa, does that mean Mom just teleported across the board? Monopoly physics are weird."

Vinny just chuckled under his breath. The game was just beginning, and Claire was already riding high. Perfect. The higher she climbed, the funnier it would be when she crashed.

"Alright, alright," Phil clapped his hands together. "Claire, Here you go."

He handed over the e-state card taking the money owed to the bank.

Claire received the Boardwalk card with much enthusiasm, doing a little dance.

Phil clapped his hands together. "Next up—Haley! Let's keep this game rolling."

Haley accepted the dice rolling her eyes and threw them on the board with a casual flick.

Haley barely glanced at the dice as she lazily moved her shoe piece seven spaces forward—only to land on the exact same Chance spot Claire had just vacated.

She sighed dramatically and picked up a card, reading in the flattest voice possible, "Get Out of Jail Free."

Haley blinked at the card before shrugging. "Huh. Could be useful."

Claire scoffed. "Seriously? You land on the same spot as me and that's what you get? No debt? No setbacks? Just a free pass?"

Haley smirked, waving the card. "Jealous?"

Alex huffed. "Technically, a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card isn't that valuable unless you plan on breaking the law, which—given who it is—honestly isn't out of the question."

Vinny grinned. "Yeah, but if Claire lands in jail first, I'm betting Haley will sell that card for double its worth just to watch her suffer."

Haley gasped, placing a hand over her chest in mock offense. "Excuse you, Vinny! I would never take advantage of my own mother like that." She paused, then grinned. "Unless she really needed it."

Claire narrowed her eyes. "I am not losing to you."

Phil clapped his hands together, eager to keep things moving. "Okay, okay! Next up—Alex!"

Alex took a deep breath, cracking her knuckles as she picked up the dice. "Alright, time to show you all how this game is really played."

Vinny leaned back, watching with a knowing smirk. If there was one person who could match Claire's energy, it was Alex. And that meant this was only going to get better.

Alex seemed to be doing some calculation as she moved her wrists and threw the dice.

The dice rolled over and showed 5 and 2.

Everybody stayed silent for a moment before Claire spoke up, "Phil, are these faulty?"

Phil picked up the dice, shaking them in his hands with a thoughtful expression. "Faulty? No way! These are premium, high-quality, Dunphy-certified dice." He tossed them up, letting them bounce on the board. They landed on a 5 and a 2.

The room went dead silent.

Luke gasped. "Oh my God, they're haunted!"

Manny adjusted his glasses. "Or cursed!"

Haley, still holding her Get Out of Jail Free card, raised an eyebrow. "Should I be worried? Because if there's a ghost in this house, I need to know if it's cool or, like, vengeful."

Alex, ever the scientist, frowned. "Statistically speaking, the probability of rolling the exact same numbers three times in a row is—"

"Phil!" Claire cut in, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Are you sure you didn't tamper with these? Because I swear, if you did, and you're trying to make this some kind of teachable moment about probability, I will flip this board."

Phil put his hands up defensively. "Hey! I may be a fun dad, but I would never rig a Monopoly game. That's just unethical!"

Vinny, watching all this unfold, let out a low whistle. "Man, if this streak keeps going, I'm gonna start thinking the dice are trying to tell us something."

Alex narrowed her eyes. "There's no such thing as destiny in Monopoly. Just strategy, manipulation, and calculated risk." She folded her arms. "And speaking of risk—if I land on the same stupid space as you two, I swear, I will be testing the laws of physics by launching this board into orbit."

Phil cleared his throat. "Well, no use worrying about the dice now! The game must go on! Honey, pick a card."

Alex picked up a chance card and read it aloud, "Advance to St. Charles Place."

"Alex, you want it?" Alex gave a nod and gave the money.

"Alright, Vinny, you're up next!"

Vinny picked up the dice. "Alright, let's see if the universe wants to mess with us some more."

He gave the dice a good shake, then tossed them onto the board.

They tumbled, bounced, and finally landed—

5 and 3.

Claire threw her hands up in exasperation. "Oh, so you get to break the pattern? Convenient."

Vinny just grinned. "What can I say? The dice like me better."

Alex, still side-eyeing the board suspiciously, muttered, "Or maybe it's just lulling us into a false sense of security."

Phil, ever the optimist, clapped his hands. "See? Nothing to worry about! Just a normal, totally-not-haunted game of Monopoly!"

Luke, still pale from his turn, whispered, "That's what they want you to think."

Ignoring him, Vinny moved his piece eight spaces and landed on Vermont Avenue. "Alright, I am taking it."

Claire scoffed. "You're really investing in the light blues? Bold choice."

Vinny handed over his cash with a shrug. "Hey, Boardwalk isn't everything, Sis. Sometimes, it's the little guys that win."

Haley raised an eyebrow. "Tell that to literally every game of Monopoly ever."

Phil ignored the growing debate and clapped again. "Alright, Manny! You're up, buddy! Show us what you got!"

Manny took the dice into his fist and shoved the fist right in front of Haley's face who got startled.

"Wh-Wha-What is-"

Manny interjected before she could complete the question, "Little blow from the lady for luck."

Vinny sighed and threw his head into his palms.

Haley gave him the most unimpressed look possible. Manny felt a kick land on his thigh followed by, "Just for once, just one time act normally, you burro estúpido. Just throw the dice on the board."

Vin shook his head seeing his brother's antics.

Manny rubbed the sore spot as he tossed the dice. The numbers that came up were 1 and 3.

Vinny let out a dramatic sigh of relief. "Thank Mama, the curse is broken."

Alex narrowed her eyes. "Or maybe the universe just decided Manny doesn't deserve to be part of the glitch in the Matrix."

Manny scoffed. "Pfft. That just means I'm special in a different way."

Haley smirked. "Yeah, special is one way to put it."

Phil, ever the peacemaker, clapped his hands. "Alright, alright, let's keep this game moving! Manny, take your turn and let's see where you land."

Manny moved his piece forward, counting under his breath, before stopping at Income Tax.

He groaned. "Oh, come on. This game is rigged against me."

Claire grinned. "Maybe you should've blown on the dice yourself for luck."

Manny just muttered something under his breath as he begrudgingly handed over his money. He took two 100 dollar bills and was sliding it towards Phil.

Phil raised an eyebrow, Alex smirked, Claire seeing the amount was about to say something before Vin stopped Manny.

"What are you doing?"

Manny looked confused, "Paying the taxes."

Vin shook his head, "But why are you giving 200 dollars?"

Manny blinked. "Because... that's what it costs?"

Vinny groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Manny, it literally says right there—$200 or 10% of your total assets."

Manny frowned, looking down at his money pile. "So…?"

"Manny, Honey" Claire leaned forward, propping her elbows on the table. "It says here Pay $200 or 10% of everything you own. The game has just started, so you don't have anything but the initial amount."

Phil nodded, jumping in. "Which means 10% of your total assets is just 10% of the starting money—$1,500. And 10% of $1,500 is...?"

Manny hesitated. "Uh… $150?"

Claire beamed. "Bingo! So instead of paying $200, you could just pay $150 and save yourself fifty bucks."

Manny blinked. "Wait. Then why would anyone ever pick the $200 option?"

Vinny smirked. "Because as the game goes on and you start buying properties, your total assets grow. If you're rolling in cash and hotels later, 10% could be way more than $200. But right now? Yeah, you're just handing over extra money for no reason."

Manny pursed his lips, considering. Then he slid $150 toward Phil instead. "Fine. I'll take the discount."

Alex chuckled. "Look at that. Our little Manny's learning basic economics."

Manny shot her a look. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Just wait till I own half the board."

Vinny shook his head. "Manny, I swear, if you ever start a business, I'm not investing."

Manny just huffed, crossing his arms. "Your loss. I'd run a great business."

Haley smirked. "Yeah, a charity at this rate."

Claire ruffled his hair. "Sure, honey. Keep dreaming."

Phil clapped his hands. "Alright, lesson over. Luke! You're up, buddy. Let's see what kind of chaos you bring to the table."

Luke grabbed the dice, wiggling his eyebrows mischievously. "Oh, you're all in trouble now." He shook them dramatically, muttering, "Come on, something good…" before tossing them onto the board.

The dice bounced, tumbled, and finally settled—5 and 2.

The room went completely silent.

Vinny slowly leaned forward, staring at the dice. "Well it is Dunphy-certified alright.."

Claire blinked. "Again?"

Alex groaned, throwing her hands in the air. "Okay, nope. I refuse to accept this. There is no way we've all rolled a seven."

Haley crossed her arms. "Phil, I'm asking again—are these dice rigged?"

Phil raised both hands defensively. "I swear on my love for this game, I did not tamper with the dice!"

Luke, however, looked delighted. "Well, whatever it is, I'll take it!" He happily moved his race car piece forward, landing on the same Chance spot the others had passed.

Luke dramatically picked up the card, cleared his throat, and read: "Speeding fine $15. No Way!"

Everybody gave a strange look at Luke's apparent happiness on getting fined.

Phil said, "Luke you know Buddy, You have to give the money, you don't get the 15 dollars."

Luke shouted hysterically, "Yeah but I'm fast."

Phil and Claire shared an odd look on Luke's outlook.

Finally it was Claire's turn again. Claire shook her fist, muttering under her breath as she threw the dice onto the board. The small cubes tumbled across the surface, spinning dramatically before landing.

5 and 3.

She blinked. Then narrowed her eyes. Then slowly turned to Phil.

"Oh, so now they work?"

Phil shrugged. "See? I told you there was nothing wrong with the dice."

Claire exhaled sharply through her nose. "Oh, right, of course. It's just been coincidence that we've all been rolling five and two for the past ten minutes."

Alex peered at the board. "Technically, that's progress."

Vinny leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "So close, yet so far," he said with mock sympathy.

"Alright, let's see what you landed on?" Phil said as he handed over $200 on her completing one round which Claire took happily.

Chance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My patreon:

patreon.com/Darkonhard

Thank you for reading!!!