Character Analysis
She might only get fifteen minutes in the spotlight when J.Lo and Tip go through Roswell, but we think Vicki's important enough to mention here. Why? Mainly because she's the biggest naysayer when it comes to kids. It's not that she hates them or anything terrible like that, it's just that she thinks kids need to listen to adults and not make decisions for themselves. Like, ever. Check out how she puts it:
"I think you kids don't understand what's happening," said Vicki. "We can't all go around doing our own thing and… and changing everything! Children do not drive cars. They do not visit old Indians in junkyards. How can things go back to normal when everyone keeps changing everything?" (3.407)
Part of Vicki's beef with J.Lo and Tip running off by themselves is that this kind of thing wouldn't have been allowed before the aliens arrived. She's worried about everything changing, and life as she once knew it never coming back. Still, she's also convinced that kids don't know anything, which bugs Tip to no end.
We can't help but feel that Vicki's got a point. She might seem controlling and mean to Tip, but she is right that Tip still needs a little help when it comes to eating and finding somewhere to stay. It's clear that Tip's an independent kid who's whip smart, but she still needs help from time to time, and Vicki is here to remind her of that. Want to know more? Check out what we have to say about youth in the "Themes" section.