Friday 8:00 AM marked the time of death for Riley’s alarm clock as it impacted the wall opposite his bed. The velocity was sufficient that the plastic box disintegrated before hitting the floor. “For f**k’s sake,” Riley groaned upon seeing the pieces fall to the laminate floor. “That is one more thing added to the list of things I can’t afford to replace.”
He crawled his way from the bed. “Hey, Max! What’s on the calendar for today?”
In its monotone voice, the digital assistant said, “Morning Riley, today work starts at 10:00 AM. Would you like to add anything else?”
“Why do I keep asking for a schedule when I do the same thing every day?”
Max responded with, “Please restate your question.”
At times, Riley considered throwing Max at the wall, but he kept his opinion to himself. After
