You sat on the couch, eyes on a baseball game to unwind after a long day. You hardly paid attention to your surroundings, mostly just wanting to be left to yourself.

Phillip’s voice carried from his place beside you, giving orders directed towards your 14-year-old, who was Phillip’s biological child, and the kid you adopted after you and Phillip got married.

“Hey bud, could you take out the trash?” Phillip asked them politely. “Shut your damn mouth.” they called back, swiping across his phone screen without looking up.

Little did you know of a prank on the internet going around where children act defiant in front of their fathers. And you, you wouldn’t have that kind of disrespectful talk from your child.

“The hell did you just say, you little twerp?” you demanded. They recoiled as Phillip jumped up and grabbed your arm with a sheepish chuckle. Then it clicked. They teamed up to prank you.