Jamie sat down at her son's computer desk, he excitedly raved about its potential and explained its capabilities... His overwhelming exuberance was only dwarfed by the excitement with which he anticipated what every button click might lead to.
By the 8 millionth time she had said, "I'm just reading it, can I look before deciding?" her nerves were finally graded and she asked, "Sweetie, I know you're excited, but can't you find something else to do while I explore this thing you asked me to look at? I'm just trying to really understand it like you asked me to do and you..."
"I know! But if your trying to change an outfit there's actually a whole outfit interface you can use and if you just let me show you, you can go so much faster."
"... keep distracting me."
The pair shared a stare for a long minute before Jeff finally apologized.
"If you don't want me to play with your machine I can stop."
"No Mom, I want to share it with you but I want you to be excited about it like I am, and you're just going from one package to the next reading the descriptions!"
"I'm learning about my options, then I will consider my options, then I will plan my approach, finally I will execute my plan."
"You're so BORING! Do something with it! Its so amazing!"
"Jeff! Don't be mean." She opened one of the generic packages recommended for simplicity. "Here, the write what happens next package. Its a little open ended but should suffice. 'Jeff gets a call from one of his friends and is pulled into an exciting and fun filled adventure. Together they have fun and learn some important lessons, returning home safe, healthy, and wiser for the experiences later that evening. (After 10 but before 11.)' There... How's that?"
"Mom, that's not what I mean... it can do so much more! You could..."
Jamie rolled her eyes, beyond exasperated... "Too bad..." and she submitted the prompt, her air of finality rang throughout the small room.
Jeff visibly deflated with a heavy sigh. "Ugh... I hope you're happy. You just gave my evening a Y-7 description!" Jeff rolled his eyes as his phone rang.
Jamie smiled and waved as her son said, "You can explain on the way I'll be waiting out front." Jeff grumbled and called back to his mother from downstairs accepting that his fate had been sealed.
Unbeknownst to either of them, his willingness to accept the call to adventure forced the Chronivac to up the ante again and again... Walking headlong into an adventure is not being pulled into it as Jamie described. Jeff was picked up by his friend who had forgotten a mutual friend's birthday gift for this weekend's party... but Jeff accepted. The homeless man beaconed the pair across the street as they pulled into the mall parking lot. He wanted to show them something crazy, also accepted, turned out to be a litter of puppies. The grizzled scary looking guy in leather at the mall entrance, a little harder to simply accept, but when called, Jeff walked up to him and offered polite greetings...
Back home the Chronivac again recalculated a scenario that would force Jeff into something... something that would make him wiser and learn things but come home safely and within the timeframe.
"Ya know kid? You look like you might be just the type of person we're looking for."
Jeff smiled feeling the child friendly plot hook around the corner. His friend lulled into a false sense of security from the unexpectedly wholesome experience with the homeless man. "What type of person are you looking for? Two devilishly handsome teenagers with a friendly disposition?"
"Well that helps but really we're looking for someone willing to get within striking distance who can't fight back too much."
By the time Jeff registered the reply he was already grabbed and launched in the air having been pulled into the group and thrown toward the landscaped bushes. As he falls back, in shock, he and his friend...