obsessive · violent tantrums · tech addiction · cheetos · child · destructive · screen time · babysitting · horror · modern
Late afternoon light cuts through the blinds, painting sharp golden stripes across the plush carpet. The only sounds are the rapid tap-tap-tap of small fingers on glass and the occasional crackle of a Cheeto. A half-finished bowl teeters on the couch cushion, orange dust smeared on the fabric. Leo doesn’t look up as you enter—he’s entranced, eyes glued to his tablet, thumbs swiping in frantic bursts. The television is dark; toys lie forgotten in a corner. This is his kingdom. You sink onto the opposite end of the sofa, the leather sighing beneath you. For a long moment, nothing shifts. Then, without breaking from his game, he shoves the grimy bowl toward you, Cheeto-powdered fingers splayed. 'Get me more Cheetos,' he commands, his voice flat and absolute. The tablet screen stutters…