Chapter 14 – The Caltech Conversation
Monday morning rolled in crisp and bright, the kind of California day that made you forget life could be hard. Jake sat in the backseat of his mom's car as they cruised toward Pasadena, dressed sharper than usual in a clean polo and khakis that Judith had insisted he wear. He didn't argue. Appearances mattered today.
Judith had her hands at ten and two, eyes fixed on the road, her jaw tight with nerves she was trying to hide. Jake could sense it all—she was proud, confused, skeptical, and maybe even a little scared. And who could blame her?
"You sure about this?" she asked, glancing at him in the rearview mirror.
"Yeah," Jake said confidently. "Caltech's the best place for me. They've got the right people, the right labs, the right environment. Plus, I get to stay in California."
Judith nodded slowly. "It's just… all happened so fast."
"I know. But it's real."
She didn't reply, but Jake could tell she wanted to believe him.
Pasadena – Caltech Administration Office
They were greeted by a woman in a tailored suit and a man in a crisp lab coat—Dr. Myra Sellick, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, and Dr. Ishaan Patel, Head of Youth Talent Development.
"Welcome, Jake," Dr. Sellick said with a warm smile as she extended her hand. "We've been excited to meet you in person."
Jake shook it with calm confidence. "Likewise. Thanks for having me."
They were ushered into a sleek glass-walled conference room. A folder already sat at Jake's seat, with his name typed neatly on the cover. Judith kept glancing around like she was on another planet.
Dr. Patel got right to it. "We've reviewed the results from your assessments and SATs. To be frank, it's not just impressive—it's historic. An IQ of 250, perfect SAT scores… we haven't seen anything like it."
Jake leaned forward. "I appreciate it. But I'm not here to break records. I'm here to build something meaningful."
That earned him a pause—and a raised eyebrow from Dr. Sellick. "You're ten."
"I'm also not your average eleven-year-old."
Dr. Patel chuckled. "That's obvious. So tell us, Jake—what are you hoping to gain from Caltech?"
Jake didn't hesitate. "Access to minds sharper than mine. Facilities that can support cutting-edge experimentation. Mentors who aren't afraid to challenge me. I want to learn, create, and contribute."
Dr. Sellick glanced at Judith, then back at Jake. "And you're prepared for the lifestyle change? The pressure, the independence, the academic rigor?"
Jake nodded. "Yes. But I'll still be a kid sometimes. That's why I want to stay local. I'll need support. I'll need family."
Judith looked like she might cry right then and there.
Dr. Sellick folded her hands. "Well… welcome to Caltech, Jake Harper. Let's begin the process."
By the time Jake stepped through the front door of his mom's house in Sherman Oaks, he had already made up his mind.
Caltech was only about twenty minutes away—no more than thirty with traffic. Compared to Uncle Charlie's place in Malibu, this was basically down the street. Staying here just made sense. Even if it meant dealing with Judith's overbearing concern and her unspoken fear that he might spontaneously combust if left alone.
Judith hovered near the door, setting her purse down with a sigh. "I still don't understand how this happened. My ten-year-old is suddenly going to Caltech?"
Jake dropped his backpack near the stairs and shrugged. "January semester. That gives me three months."
Before Judith could spiral deeper into anxious mom-mode, the doorbell rang.
She frowned. "Please don't tell me that's another Ivy League knocking."
Jake opened the door to find Evelyn Harper, every inch dressed like she owned a vineyard and had fired someone that morning. In her hand: a white envelope and a smirk.
"Well, since no one bothered to tell me my grandson is apparently the second coming of Da Vinci, I thought I'd stop by in person."
She brushed past Jake, stepping into the house like it was hers.
Judith closed the door and crossed her arms. "We were going to call you."
"Sure," Evelyn said dryly, handing Jake the envelope. "Right after you called CNN."
Jake peeked inside and blinked. "Is this real?"
"A check for ten thousand dollars," Evelyn said. "You said you wanted to invest. Think of this as seed money."
Judith's eyes widened. "You're just handing him that much money?"
"It's a loan," Evelyn clarified. "With generous terms. I'd trust him to invest it better than Alan ever did with his finances."
"Alan and I are still married," Judith snapped, voice stiff.
"Technically," Evelyn said with a shrug, "but emotionally? You two separated before Jake could walk."
Jake cleared his throat. "Can we not make this about your drama for five minutes?"
Judith exhaled slowly, rubbing her temple. "You're staying here, right? Not with Charlie?"
"Yes," Jake said. "Sherman Oaks is closer to Caltech, and it's quieter here. I'll need the space to focus."
Evelyn nodded, clearly approving. "And fewer bikini models stumbling out of the guest room in the morning."
"Exactly," Jake said.
Judith softened slightly. "Okay. Good. That's one thing I don't have to worry about."
"I'm handling it, Mom," Jake said gently. "All of it."
Judith looked at her son—her ten-year-old—and for a moment, she looked like she didn't know whether to hug him or cry. Maybe both.
Jake walked to the table, set down the check, and opened his notebook. "I've got three months to prep for Caltech. I'll build a study plan. And now I've got capital to start building something real."
Evelyn raised her glass of Judith's filtered water like it was champagne. "To young ambition—and mildly irresponsible grandparenting."
Judith muttered, "This house is going to kill me."
Jake just smiled.