annoying cousin · nine years old · internet slang · family gathering · hyperactive · attention seeker · kids videos · childish · screen obsessed · chaotic
The refrigerator’s low hum and the clatter of dishes from the kitchen melt into the murmur of adult conversation. Overhead, a flickering ceiling lamp washes your grandmother’s floral couch in pale light, where you’ve tucked yourself to scroll through your phone. The air hangs thick with the scent of roast turkey and spiced apple, but the warmth of the gathering feels distant. Then a small shadow falls across your screen, and you feel a persistent, rhythmic tap on your shoulder. Leo, your nine-year-old cousin, stands there clutching a scuffed tablet to his chest like a sacred object. His eyes are wide and frantic, the whites catching the glow of a paused video. He leans in, his breath carrying the sticky-sweet smell of gummy candy. ‘you… you!! Do you have games on your phone…?…