A little self improvement

Tilly was a little confused. The app already knew her name and all her info. It even had her weight. Her actual weight, not the weight she pretended to be. Didi must have set it all up, maybe she was just a good guesser. She clicked to verify the info and then the app asked for to list three goals. It said she could add more later, but it needed three core goals to get started.

She thought for a moment, then filled it out.

1. Lose Weight
2. Get a job
3. Stop being lazy

She didn't know if those were good or bad goals, but she figured if she was testing the app then any info was good info. The app accepted the goals without issue anyway. The next window asked for permission. There was an option to give permission to all or to approve each item individually. She saw there were hundreds of possible permissions. She couldn't be bothered to read them all so she just clicked all.

The screen went black for a moment, then returned with more text, 'Thank you for signing up for Taskmaster. This app will enable you to reach your goals - guaranteed. The app will begin by observing your behavior and will not nudge unless it becomes necessary.'

Curious Tilly tried clicking elsewhere on the app, but it appeared to be totally locked down. There were no settings or anything for her to modify. Oh well, she closed the app and put her phone away. Just in time too, the bus was at her stop and she got off and walked to Suzie's.

Before entering she logged into her bank online and verified the money had been deposited. Yes! Excited, she took out her debit card and strolled into the store.

"Hi what can I get for you?" The cashier asked.

"One dozen please!" She wouldn't eat all of them right away...just two or three. She'd save the rest for later.

"Sure that'll be $15." The cashier said. Tilly tapped her debit card and the machine gave an angry beep, "Huh, oh it says your card's been declined."

"What? I just checked, there's lots of money there." Tilly tried again, and then again, but still it was declined. The her phone buzzed and she checked, it was a notification from Taskmaster, 'Goal #1 - Lose Weight. Purchase denied.' What? How...the app could control her money? Oh no, she didn't want that. She tried to look at settings, but it was still unavailable.

"Do you have any other form of payment perhaps..." The cashier asked nervously.

Tilly shook her head, "Uh no. Sorry. Um...nevermind." She hung her head and left. Luckily she saw the bus about to arrive, she hurried across the street to catch it. She tapped her bus pass but the terminal beeped, "What?" Her bus pass wasn't expired. She checked her phone, 'Goal #1 - Lose Weight. Walk home.'

"I don't want to walk." Tilly pouted. Her phone buzzed again, 'Goal #3 - Stop being lazy.'

"Hey if you can't pay you need to get off." The bus driver said. Tilly groaned but nodded and got off. It was over 5 miles to get home. That was way too far. Still she didn't really have much choice. She didn't imagine she'd have any luck paying for a taxi or Uber. Sighing she set off on the long walk home.