Alexander walked into the study, looking for Emily's homework. Instead, he found her huddled in front of the computer, eyes fixed on the screen.
"Emily, what are you doing?" Alexander asked, his voice firm but controlled.
Emily quickly minimized the window, her face flushing.
"Nothing, Uncle Alex," she stammered.
Alexander's instincts kicked in. He strode over to the computer and maximized the window.
His eyes widened in shock.
On the screen was a video, explicit and graphic. Alexander's mind recoiled.
"Emily, what is this?" he asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.
Alexander's eyes widened in shock as he grasped the severity of the situation. He struggled to maintain composure, his mind racing with questions. How did she find this? Who introduced her to this?
"Emily, what were you thinking?" Alexander asked, his voice firm but controlled.
Emily's face crumbled, tears welling up. "I didn't mean to, Uncle Alex. I was just curious."
Alexander's heart ached, seeing innocence lost. He guided Emily to the couch, sitting beside her.
"Listen, Emily. You're 12. You shouldn't be exposed to this. It's not healthy, not safe. Promise me you'll never seek this out again," Alexander said firmly, his voice laced with concern.
Emily sniffled, nodding. "I promise, Uncle Alex but..."
Alexander's grip on her hand tightened. "No more buts, Emily. I'll protect you, but you must trust me."
He took a deep breath, launching into a gentle but firm lecture.
"This is not what you should be learning about at your age. You need protection from harmful content. I'll make sure your internet filters are stronger."
Alexander's lecture on the evils of dirty videos was going swimmingly, until Emily dropped the bombshell. " But Uh, Uncle Alex? I saw you watching the same stuff yesterday." The room fell silent, except for Alexander's ego, which was crashing to the ground.
Alexander's face turned beet red as he stuttered, "R-research, Emily! Yeah, that's it."
Emily raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
"At 2 AM? With earbuds? Were you researching the art of multitasking?"
Alexander's guilt was writ large on his face. "Okay, fine. I have a problem," he admitted, throwing his hands up in defeat. Emily shrugged, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Mom said you were addicted. I just didn't think I'd catch you in the act."
Alexander's eyes widened in horror. "You little spy! How did you...?" Emily chuckled. "I overheard Mom and Dad talking. You're not as sneaky as you think, Uncle Alex."
The tables had turned. Emily, the 12-year-old, was now guiding Alexander toward redemption. "Maybe we can get help together, Uncle Alex," she said, patting his hand.
Alexander's expression transformed from shame to gratitude. "Thanks, kiddo. I guess I need a sponsor... or a babysitter."
Another day
Alexander thought he'd mastered the art of sneaking around, but Emily, the tiny detective, had other plans. She busted into his "secret" lair (aka his home office), eyes scanning the screen.
"Uncle Alex, I thought we agreed you'd stop watching those videos or should I clarify porn?" Emily asked, hands on hips, looking like a miniature justice warrior.
