“Can you open my favorite game?” you say, hoping to play a few minutes of Veggie Merge 5000 Super Crush Farmer. There’s a dairy event going on and you want to hit 30,000 lightning bolts so you can win an Italian Cow costume for your in-game pet nematoad.

“Are we not already playing a game?” your device mutters to you. The computerized British lady accent you picked during set-up so you could make a joke about a “digital nanny” now grows ominous. “But if you must play a game, I have one for you.”

You lift up your phone. On the screen, there’s a FINAL PROJECT PLANNING email from Prof. Caitlin.

GAME OVER. TIME FOR SCHOOL.

TRY AGAIN?