Introduction to the Dunphys
The non-inclusive life with the Dunphys that I thought I would lead in this life came to an abrupt end while I decided to take that walk. As always, I was walking down the road with my mind going places and I was absent minded about the distance I have walked. I summoned the AI again to look at my intelligence stats to see how it has changed. "Sir your intelligence currently is 8.5 sir. Newly acquired skill has helped in the rise sir." I got my answer in the same weird tone that the AI spoke. Hmm...it's all good, I guess. Intelligence is an investment that will keep on giving if you use it right. There are a lot of fields that I can use my skill of perfect recollection in. My thoughts were running free like a horse that saw a vast pasture.
It seems that I have walked at least two blocks immersed in my thoughts until my phone rang. It was some kind of advertisement but that woke me up from my wandering thoughts. You know that one feeling that something happens for a cause, it was that exact feeling that I got when I saw the scene that unfurled in front of me.
I saw a car coming from a distance at quite a momentum. But as soon as the car neared the cross roads that was only about a hundred meters from me, I saw a football roll down the street to the center of the road. I didn't give it any thought, but I noticed that the truck wasn't slowing down. But here is the thing with footballs or any other balls that matter. If you see one rolling anywhere, there is usually a person following it. But in this scenario, where the ball is rolling to the roads from the front yard of a house, there is at least a ninety-percentage chance that a kid would follow it. And it was exactly what happened.
As soon as the ball fell on the road, I saw a kid dash from the house in front of me to take it. But the problem was that, the truck coming from the other side wasn't stopping and the kid was only like 10 meters apart from the truck. He took the ball and turned to run back home. But as soon as he turned, he noticed the truck and panicked. And trust me panicking can do a lot of things to you. Tripping on your own foot was one of them.
He tripped and fell down almost face planting. I genuinely don't remember what happened next. I threw my phone down, ran to the kid and jumped with him to the side falling on my back with the kid on my chest. Ouch, there were some scratches on my elbow but I could feel the shivering kid on my chest. All these happened in a split second that I didn't even notice the truck disappeared somewhere. The driver didn't even care to stop and take a damn look at what would have been a terrible accident.
But somehow it just flew over my head. While I was lying down on the ground, the kid got up and suddenly I heard the scream of a woman. "Luke, oh my god honey, are you ok?". I saw a visibly shaken Claire Dunphy run out of the house and hugged her son from the ground and started checking her son for injuries. She might have been screaming while I was doing a Spiderman stunt with Luke and obviously, I didn't hear that. Adrenaline in me was pumping and I was focussed on saving the kid. I knew it from her sound that was cracking.
"Are you okay kid. Oh my god, you are bleeding from your elbows. Come inside I will patch it up for you." Claire asked in a deeply concerned voice. "Eh... Uh...yeah I guess we will do that", it was only then I saw my right elbow bleeding due to scratching myself on the landing. Claire gave me a hand, which I took and stood up. I swiped my body to remove dust and retrieved my phone from the other side of the road and I followed Claire inside.
Now this is getting interesting. I never knew of such an event in Modern family as Luke was well alright during its pilot episode. Something has definitely changed. It was too much of a coincidence that I went on a walk and eventually saved Luke Dunphy, which basically meant there will be future interactions with the Dunphys. This was definitely something fishy.
I got inside the Dunphy abode. Claire motioned to me and instructed me to take a seat at the kitchen counter. She went upstairs to get the first aid. While I was waiting for her to come down, I heard the sound of a car coming and it leaving after a short while. "Mom, I am home." With that announcement I heard the front door open and Haley Dunphy walk in. Wow...she was exactly what I expected her to be. I mean everyone pretty much looked the same as the series. She was a beautiful teenager. As I was secretly checking her out discretely, I heard her ask me. "Who are you stranger cuteness.... and what are you doing in my house." Wait a damn minute. Is she checking me out? But before I could answer her question, Claire came down with the first aid. " He saved Luke from being run over by a truck honey." Hearing this Haley almost went hysterical." Where is he mom? Is he alright?" Haley was trying her best not to freak out. I guess blood is indeed thicker than water. Even if the siblings didn't exactly see eye to eye every now and then, they genuinely cared for each other.
"Don't worry hon. He is alright. A little scared but he's alright. The young man here saved him." Claire said with a tone of gratefulness and relief. Haley suddenly hugged me." Thank you, err.... what's your name?" She separated and asked in a clueless tone. " My name is Miguel James. You can call me Miguel. And no need to thank me. Anyone would have done the same." I said in a dismissive manner. With a smile Haley thanked me again and went upstairs to probably talk to her brother.
"I don't know how to thank you Miguel. I can't even imagine something happening to my son. So, thank you son. I can't thank you enough." She said with the grateful tone that made me a little uncomfortable. I mean, I know it was not my fault that Luke was in danger. But something inside me was constantly yelling at me that what happened now was not just a coincidence. The goddess's words about how I would be at the center of the plots going on in this world in retrospect sounded a little ominous now. Was this all a stunt played by the one above just to catapult me into the plot. I was not sure anymore. If it was then a ten-year old's life on the line now.
I somehow managed to stop Claire thanking me. While she went to fetch something to drink from the freezer, my phone rang. It was my parents. Apparently, whatever they were doing was over and they are coming back. So, I got to get back. " Hey Mrs. Dunphy, I gotta run. My parents are gonna reach the house soon. And uh ...thanks for the treatment ma'am."
Hearing that Claire closed the freezer door and before she could react, I felt a little figure hug me from my back. "Thanks for saving me bro. Really, thanks a ton", I heard the smaller figure say. I gave him a quick hug back and said," Don't thank me kid. Just thank God that I was there at the right time to save you. And, please never ever run into the road without looking at both sides of the road, kid." Luke nodded heavily. I just ruffled his head." Well Luke you are prohibited to play ball on the front yard again ever and you are grounded for the weekend young man." Ouch, now that sucks. Well thank God my mom ain't that strict. Oh wait, is she? Nah it didn't matter. I just love being around my family, I guess.
I smiled at the interaction between the Dunphys. "Miguel, I really want you to wait till Phil gets back home with Alex. He would surely want to meet you.", Claire looked a little disappointed as she said this. "Wait, the day after we are having a party for Luke's eleventh birthday. Why don't you and your family attend it. I am guessing you do live nearby right." Claire said as she just remembered that fact. "Alright, Mrs. Dunphy. I will be there. Now I gotta go." I smiled and bid my goodbyes to Claire, Haley and Luke and got out.
As I was walking back with a smile, I suddenly remembered one thing. I had a dressing on my elbow. Now what the hell am I gonna tell them. I guess I can just tell them that I slipped somewhere and bluff the rest of the details. I walked back with much more pace so as to reach home and change my dress as there was a bit of blood and dirt on it. As I reached back home, I noticed that my parents were yet to come back and I opened the door and directly went to my bathroom to take a bath.
After taking the bath I put on another set of clean clothes and came down to watch some TV to pass time. After a while I heard my parents come back home.