Awkward Next Day
No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong.
Albert Einstein
This little story represents the last part of the first chapter, introductions, of an experimental work in progress called Maya. While Maya is the core of the story, it is made up of three separate yet dependent stories, which explains the three major themes going on, each with its own major event to introduce in this final part of the first chapter draft.
Cheers!
It seemed like an impossible task for the three.
Professor Chow defined the challenge.
It became their challenge.
They dared think they could create a computer-based “awareness.”
They formulated their thesis.
This was their domain expertise.
Maya had witnessed rape.
Maya had witnessed murder.
Maya had witnessed entire tribes decimated by other humans.
Maya had witnessed blind aggression of humanity against humanity, but this was humans driven to their death by an unseen motivation.
On the Monday following the Sunday night beach fire and songs with the introduction of Anne, Jack’s employees noticed that Jack was a little more activated than his usual chill self. He seemed happier, walking on his toes, greeting everyone a bit chippier than usual.
Then, at nine A.M., consistent with the past few weeks, Anne walked through the open coffee shop entrance door, and without pause stood in line. Jack froze, and everyone behind the counter noticed the contrast between that moment and his uncharacteristic overly happy behavior just prior to that moment.
Maya watched him dive.
Then he surfaced, gasping.
Euphoric while facing death and not knowing why.
Maya wondered, “why were these people eagerly diving into the water only to die minutes later?”
Jack froze, staring at Anne Eth Janes, DNA Research Scientist, remembering the kiss the night before, wondering what to say, as if caught between two different universes, his past, his family, his present, and his desire.
Anne noticed Jack’s stare, but it wasn’t his playful smile. Anne returned the stare with a cold smile wondering where her flirty Jack went, and who was this imposter?
When Anne arrived at the counter Jack smiled and asked, “The usual?”
The muscles around Anne’s eyes tightened, and, smiling back at Jack, replied, “Of course.”
Spencer arrived a few days prior and Beth arrived earlier that day.
Max has just arrived at building 32 Vassar Street.
He walked to room 313.
As Max walked in he saw three other people.
“Hi, I’m Professor Chow.
You must be Max.”
The rocks were loaded.
The carts were filled.
The donkeys pulled the carts to destinations unknown.
Maya watched this seeming insanity unfold with suspicious curiosity wondering what was at play here.
Jack noticed the cold response from Anne and instantly knew that something had interrupted their special dynamic. Jack paused for an awkward split second and then with his typical smile said, “Of course.”
And then he focused on writing the order on the cup feeling like the wind had just been kicked out of him. He felt a little sick to his stomach in this awkward moment.
Anne’s eyebrows ever-so-slightly turned down with the muscles around her eyes starting to tighten as she wondered, “Who is this? Where’s my Jack?”
“The three of you will be a team over the next two years.
How were you chosen?
Your passions were the criterion.
This quarter you will learn where your passions overlap.
You will define your project goal.
And perhaps a working model.”
Maya watched from afar.
Then followed the carts.
She wanted to understand this in its entirety.
Two hours later the carts arrived at a stone structure where warriors were strategically positioned.
Jack quickly looked up at Anne and noticed the slightly concerned look, quizzically smiled, and said, “A perfect drink for a perfect day,” and then handed the cup to the barista.
Anne knew that was her queue to move on. It felt strange, the comradery had gone. As Anne was leaving Jack’s, the background sound of the customers seemed muffled. And, as she sipped her double white chocolate coconut latte, she thought it didn’t taste quite as good as yesterday.
As Jack watched Anne walk out of the front door, the muscles in his face lost every subatomic particle of energy, a sharp contrast to just a few minutes earlier before Anne walked in. The young student barista standing three feet to Jack’s right noticed.
A few minutes later there was a temporary lull in customers and no line. The young blond barista who looked all of sixteen turned to Jack and with no subtle tone questioned, “Jack, what’s going on?”
In a low tone, Jack responded, “That is the most amazing person I’ve met, and yet it would be wrong of me to introduce her to my life. I want to get to know her, but I can’t… It’s complicated.”
The barista responded, “Jack, I know you. You’re much stronger than this. Be you. Go after your heart.”
Jack stared at the door, at the residue memory of a few minutes earlier watching Anne leave as if they would never meet the same way again, and then, after a deep heavy sigh replied, “I’ve never let the family stop me from my ambitions. This is different. My family will always be my family and there is no way I can let who they are, what they are, ruin something so pure and beautiful as Anne.”
The barista matter-of-factly said, “Jack, seek help.”
As Anne walked to the office she turned her thoughts to the molecular biology of DNA, wondering what a total map of the universe of chemistry as an input affecting proteins and corresponding resulting effects, or output on DNA, would look like. Anne was after THE blueprint for DNA.
Tuesday went more or less like Monday, although Anne found it easier to let go of the Sunday evening beach fire with singing and the feeling of belonging. And then the kiss that would, for her, echo an eternity. “I don’t understand Jack. I know he felt it. I can read that he is a good soul. Why this…, reaction? It’s not honest. DNA, proteins, keep building that blueprint…” thought Anne.
Wednesday went about the same, memories of Sunday disturbing her focus until Anne heard Evan’s voice, and the invitation to an evening out to hear a local musician. “Why not,” thought Anne. After accepting Evan's invitation she now had something to look forward to.
That next Saturday night with Evan at the nightclub, the Backstage, this strange little space that was tightly packed with people and music that was mesmerizing, soothing while uncomfortable at the same time, watching Jack become the music as he played, Anne considered the absolute quietness that surrounded her, seeming as if in the center of a black hole. Anne was momentarily amazed at the total lack of sound.
Then she thought, “What are you going to do, girl? You’ve always blocked out the world in order to focus on the next step.” As she watched him become the music she thought, “Is Jack that next step?”
As Jack strummed the chords and almost as if a robot, sang the words remembering the prior weekend, the excitement of anticipating taking Anne to meet his friends, the fire pit, the crispest stars he ever saw, and then the kiss. As he sang, as he remembered, his eyes glossed over as he held back tears torn between his heart and his family, and the knowledge that the two could not coexist.
Anne felt dizzy, she had to leave, the room, the people began to feel as if it were starting to move outside of Anne’s control. She stood and walked out without saying a word to Evan.
Outside in the fresh evening air, Anne realized she hadn’t said anything to Evan. “I’ll touch base with him on Monday. Ah, the fresh air is great. Home.”
And then Anne slowly moved one foot and then the other as she started walking home, thinking about Jack, about the fire, the song, the kiss, the next day, what it meant to be in a relationship, giving time to someone else, teaming with them to create shared outcomes… and wondered if the reward was worth the emotional roller-coaster, the opportunity cost, the time investment. She had always had one goal, to discover the secret of magic, the essence of life, to turn the mystery of DNA into a solvable puzzle, one she would solve.
The next day, Sunday, Anne woke up to see gray and rain outside her bedroom window. She thought, “I’ll go sit at Jack’s with a coconut milk double latte and just read.”
After the nightclub gig, Jack slept a rare four hours. Upon waking up, his mind flooded with the replay of the kiss a week earlier, he made the decision to chase his heart. He knew the consequence and was prepared to cut the cord with the family.
Jack showered and walked to the coffee shop to prepare for opening, feeling like he was bouncing on his toes as he walked, knowing that he was free to explore what his heart was telling him was right. He had decided. When Anne came in for her morning coffee, he would talk to her and explain his absence from his usual self.
Jack and the young blond employee prepared the shop for opening. To his young employee, he seemed much more his good-natured without-a-worry self.
Promptly at five A.M. Jack unlocked the front door. No sooner had he turned to walk back behind the counter that a young college student female with black hair walked in from the light gray sky and rain through the door.
“Any questions so far?” asked Professor Chow.
The three quietly listened.
The next day they started.
They met at the appointed time and reintroduced themselves.
Beth’s knowledge, architecture of the mind.
Max and Spencer, technology.
Maya watched in wonderment.
Warriors unloaded the stones.
Each warrior carried a handful of stones into the structure.
Then from the edge of the structure appeared a large man walking toward the bowed warriors.
Strangely, the young student walked to a table, sat down, and pulled out a pad and started writing.
Just as Jack was noticing the young woman who had just walked in raise her hand, slowly, to the side of her forehead and then run her fingers through her black hair, from the corner of his eye he noticed Anne walking through the door. He quickly turned to look up at Anne and smiled.
Anne noticed Jack’s smile was like the original, not the manufactured smile from last week. The tiny muscles around his eyes were relaxed, less taunt. Anne felt her slight tension dissolve and smiled back, noticing Jack almost glow as she smiled, a cause and effect equation, she pondered.
“Double coconut milk latte for my favorite most consistent patron?” asked Jack.
“Of course,” responded Anne, wondering what had caused the difference in Jack between last week and today, yet happy the hint of camaraderie had returned, her Jack returning to what she would expect, just like her latte.
“This one is on the house,” announced Jack.
Anne’s right eyebrow raised as she replied, “Well, to what do I owe this treat?”
“May I join you for a coffee this morning?”
Jack wanted to say more but knew he had to start slowly.
Anne knew Jack had an agenda and hoped it might be an explanation for last week's behavior, so replied, “Sure, but I’m not one to give second chances.”
Jack returned the answer with a warm smile and said, “I’ll bring the coffee’s.”
Anne blinked, then turned to see only one other patron sitting and writing something in what looked like an electronic pad. She picked the couch near the fireplace to walk toward.
Within seconds of sitting on the oversized leather sofa cushions, Jack appeared with two coffees.
Jack handed a cup to Anne, then sat in the leather chair facing the sofa, looking at Anne.
Anne stared at Jack, waiting for his opening to what she hoped was an acceptable explanation for a week of unusual behavior.
“Anne, DNA research scientist,” started Jack, pausing momentarily then continuing with a serious smile, “last Sunday, the beach fire, singing, walking you home, was the most incredible night of my life. We shared an incredible moment, one that I realized if we were to continue I would have to share with you who I am.”
Beth created the “design” of the synthetic mind.
Max created the neuron factory.
Spencer provided behavior insights.
Their idea: create a model of a mind.
They proposed a testable computer-based awareness.
Then they started to design.
Maya’s blue-green eyes reflected eternity.
Her DNA inspired by chance.
She raised her hand to the side of her forehead.
Then, running her fingers through her black hair, she thought, “I have a long time…”
Anne returned the look of seriousness and said, “I know who you are.”
Jack replied, “There is more to the story, my family, The family. My father owns many things, including the firm you work for. Anne, it is a very influential family. You need to know this.”
The smile had disappeared as Anne’s head tilted ever so slightly to the left as the muscles at the edge of her eyes created tiny wrinkles. Staring at Jack, understanding father was Arcangela, her head returned to center. Anne pictured the night at the beach, the daily bantering and flirting, the kiss, the feelings of confusion as she watched him sing in the dimly light nightclub.
Anne started to smile, saying, “Well, whatever happens, one thing is guaranteed, you make the absolute best coconut milk lattes.”
Jack leaned back, relaxing, said, “What does Anne Eth Janes, DNA Research Scientist enjoy doing when not researching?”
The next two hours were spent with Anne sharing stories about her past, the magical stories her mother would tell about the estate in Brittany where she grew up, Merlin and Viviane, and those stories as inspiration for what her contribution would be, decoding the mysteries of the essence of life, of DNA.
Jack was mesmerized.
No part of this story may be transmitted or reproduced by any means or in any form, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the author’s written permission.
This story is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, and incidents that bear any resemblance to actual people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
