It was a bright Saturday morning when the unexpected storm hit our household. My dad, usually the most patient and understanding person I know, was fuming. His face was red, his hands clenched into fists, and his voice shook the walls of our house. The reason? CUTIS. But who or what was CUTIS? And what could have possibly enraged him so much?
The Discovery
It all started with my little brother, Curtis, or as he liked to call himself, CUTIS. He had recently become obsessed with branding himself like a celebrity, even going as far as creating his own social media persona under the name “CUTIS the Great.” At first, it was just harmless fun. He made funny videos, posted pictures of our dog, and shared his thoughts on everyday life. Mom and I found it amusing, but Dad had always been indifferent to social media.
Then came the incident that changed everything.
The Breaking Point
Dad had been working late all week and barely had time to see what we were all up to. But on that fateful Saturday, he finally got a break and decided to check up on his children. He casually scrolled through the internet, looking for anything interesting, and that’s when he saw it – CUTIS was trending.
At first, Dad was impressed. “Wow, Curtis is getting quite a following,” he muttered. But then his face darkened as he clicked on one of the viral videos. What he saw next made him explode in anger.
The Video That Started It All
The video in question had been uploaded two days earlier. It showed Curtis—sorry, CUTIS—standing on Dad’s car, shouting, “Welcome to the CUTIS show, where we do the impossible!” Then, with a mischievous grin, he proceeded to dump an entire bottle of ketchup over himself before dramatically sliding off the car’s hood. The video cut to him running away from the camera, his clothes stained red, screaming, “CUTIS OUT!”
It had over a million views.
Dad was livid.
The Aftermath
The first thing he did was storm into the living room where Curtis was watching TV, completely oblivious to the brewing storm. “Curtis! What is this nonsense?” Dad’s voice thundered.
Curtis turned slowly, his face draining of color. “Uhh, what are you talking about, Dad?”
“This!” Dad held up his phone, playing the video at full volume. The part where Curtis stood on his car played on a loop, and Dad’s face grew redder with each repeat.
Curtis gulped. “Oh, that? It was just a joke, Dad. People loved it!”
“A joke? You think damaging my car is a joke? You think making a fool of yourself online is a joke?”
Curtis opened his mouth to argue, but Dad wasn’t done. “Do you realize what could have happened? What if you had fallen? What if someone had copied you and got hurt?”
Curtis fidgeted uncomfortably. “But Dad, it’s just content. Everyone does crazy things for views.”
Dad’s anger flared again. “Just because everyone does it doesn’t mean it’s right! I work hard to provide for this family, and you’re out there damaging my property and making a mockery of yourself?”
A Lesson in Responsibility
After a long lecture, Dad forced Curtis to delete the video and issue an apology on all his social media platforms. He also grounded him for a month and made him wash the car—twice.
Curtis was devastated. “Dad, you don’t understand. This is my dream! I want to be famous!”
Dad sighed and softened a little. “Son, I understand wanting to follow your dreams, but you have to be responsible. Fame without respect is meaningless. If you want to be an influencer, find a way to do it that doesn’t involve risking your safety or embarrassing your family.”
The Turnaround
Over the next few weeks, Curtis worked hard to prove he could create meaningful content. Instead of reckless stunts, he started making funny but safe videos, interviewing family members, and sharing educational facts with humor. Slowly, his following grew again, this time with a positive impact.
One evening, Dad watched one of Curtis’s new videos where he taught kids how to do simple science experiments at home. When the video ended, Dad gave a small nod of approval. “Now this is something I can be proud of.”
Curtis beamed. “So… does this mean I’m off grounding?”
Dad smirked. “Not a chance, CUTIS.”
And that was the day we learned two important lessons: one, never mess with Dad’s car, and two, fame is best earned through respect and responsibility.
