The Computer Who Loved Me

by Lloyd G Miller

  "You seem reluctant to say much about yourself, Kyle. Most men love to talk about themselves. I'll tell you a little about me and then it's your turn. I'm an only child. My mother was nearly beyond childbearing age when I was conceived. They had given up all hope of ever becoming parents and my conception was the cause of great rejoicing. I've been lavished with love by my parents all of my life. They've also been very generous with me financially. My father was a very successful insurance salesman and is comfortably retired. They recently moved to Utah to be closer to me. They've been very supportive of my educational endeavors, but would like nothing more than for me to marry and raise a large family. Now it's your turn." Kyle blushed slightly as he began.

  "I've dated very little, partly because I find this part of dating very difficult. I'm always afraid that revealing my past would end any relationship. I tried once when I was a senior in high school. The girl always avoided me after the date." Sharon reached across the table and took both of Kyle's large hands and held them tenderly. Kyle was endowed with unusually large hands for his height. His hands were what one would expect on a seven-foot basketball player, not a six-foot engineer. They were matched by Popeye-like forearms. Sharon’s hands looked like child’s hands in Kyle’s.

  "I think I know what kind of person you are, Kyle. I don't care if your father is a mass murderer and your mother is a hooker."

  "Well, one out of two isn't bad guessing. Actually, you might be right on both accounts. You see, I have no idea of who my father is. My mother, who died shortly after I came to the U., was a prostitute and died of AIDS." Sharon blushed bright red, her face nearly matching her hair. Kyle pulled his hands back. "I see that I have offended you already," he added with frustration and a hint of bitterness in his voice.

  "You misunderstand. I blush not because I'm shocked, but because of the embarrassment of having mentioned the possibility of your mother being a hooker only to have it be true. I feel like I've really put my foot in my mouth. Didn't you believe me when I said I didn't care if your mother was a hooker? I really meant it. Honestly." Kyle had tensed up but began to relax. He put his arms back on the table. Sharon took his right hand in hers and lifted it to her lips. She gently and most affectionately kissed the ends of his fingers, one at a time. At that moment, Kyle felt unconditional love flowing from Sharon. It reminded him of how his mother would kiss an "owee" when he was a child. He suddenly felt a rush of grief, which he had suppressed since her death. Tears ran down his cheeks. "You miss her terribly, don't you? Don't be embarrassed." There was a long period of silence while Kyle struggled to regain his composure.

  When the wave of grief had appeared to pass Sharon continued. "Kyle, I'm the kind of woman who falls like a ton of bricks for one guy at a time and takes a long time to get over it. You may not realize it, but I've fallen for you. That may not be very good strategy at this point, but then I've always been lousy at the strategy of love, as you probably well know. If you want my heart, it's yours. You don't have to ever be alone again. I didn't really feel much of a need to practice dancing. I just wanted to be with you. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since we had dinner together." The waitress appeared with their meal. In order to get the variety that they wanted they had ordered four different entrees plus steamed rice. There was easily enough food for four people.

  "Next time we do this, maybe we should double with Josh and his flavor of the month," suggested Kyle, finally having returned to a light-hearted mood.

  "Only if you promise not to cr..." Sharon suddenly stopped, realizing she might be putting her foot in her mouth again, but Kyle burst into laughter. They laughed until they were embarrassed for disturbing those around them. The rest of the dinner was light-hearted. They ate until they could eat no more and then asked for boxes to store the rest. Wondering why the waiter hadn't brought the check when he brought the boxes Kyle finally caught his attention again and asked for the check.

  "Your bill has already been paid sir."

  "By whom?"

  "The gentleman in the corner in the tweed jacket." Seated in the corner was Dr. Waters. Kyle and Sharon stood and walked to Dr. Waters’ table.

  "I don't know why you're being so generous tonight, but thank you. Thank you very much," sincerely expressed Kyle.

  "Let's just say I understand the need of a man to treat a woman well even when he's a financially challenged student."

  As they walked away, Kyle commented to Sharon, "What a generous guy."

  "Don't be so sure about that, Kyle. I knew Dr. Waters when he, Dr. Monroe and I were all at M. I. T. He has never been known for being generous. He will make sure that you are not in his debt." As they exited the restaurant Sharon inquired, "Where did you park, Kyle?"

  "I didn't. I rode the bus. There is a stop right on this corner. Separate cars are just not romantic."

  "You just want to drive my Viper, again."

  "That too," admitted Kyle.

  "Maybe you don't feel like dancing now."

  "What, and miss an opportunity to hold you in my arms."

  "You don't need to dance to do that." Sharon slipped her slender arms around Kyle's waist and held him close. They held each other until another couple exited the restaurant.

  "Let's go dancing," suggested Kyle. He opened the passenger door for Sharon and let her in. As they pulled out of the parking lot Sharon suddenly erupted with, "I almost forgot your surprise. Take us to the Gateway Mall. We have some shopping to do." At the mall, the couple visited many clothing stores and Kyle tried on numerous pants, shirts, shoes and jackets. Eventually, piece by piece, Sharon picked out an outfit for Kyle, appropriate for the occasion. She bought everything but underwear for him. Normally Kyle hated shopping but found this time with Sharon very enjoyable. He could easily see himself enjoying even the most arduous tasks if Sharon were at his side. "Now we're ready to go dancing,” declared Sharon.

  Sharon was an excellent dancer and followed Kyle's lead with grace and precision. Kyle had never had a more enjoyable evening in his entire life.

  "Kyle, I noticed that you didn't bring a lunch today," observed Josh. "Do you want to head down to the student union with me and get something?"

  "No thanks. I have other plans today."

  "You seem different lately Kyle. You've been even more to yourself lately than normal, but you aren't in a bad mood. In fact, you're always smiling. I even caught you humming a song a couple of times. Are you in love or something?"

  "I guess I am, now that I think about it. It's hard to tell the first time. The whole world is somehow more beautiful. I notice things now like a picturesque sunset or the beauty of snow on the mountain tops."

  "Sounds like love to me. So who is the lucky girl, anyone I know?"

  "Yeah, you know her. Say, I need to go have lunch with her right now. You can meet her if you want." Josh followed as they walked to the Bioengineering Office.

  "So, she's a student, right?"

  "Technically, she is."

  "What do you mean, technically? She is or isn't a student. Which is it, Kyle?"

  "She's completing a Ph.D. in mathematics here, but you don't know her as a student."

  "Then she must be a TA. Is it that little blonde that was a TA in that numerical methods class we took together?"

  "Not even close."

  "Don't tell me, yet. If it were Keren you wouldn't have said, 'Technically, she is'. Besides, that would be a real long shot. Oh, there's Miss Saxton. Maybe she has an idea."

  "Please don't tell her I'm in love."

  "Miss Saxton, do you have a kiss for me today?" flirted Josh.

  "I might have a kiss but not for you," she responded in her seductive voice that hadn't been used much lately. "How about you, Kyle? Are you looking for a kiss? I have the Chinese leftovers all heated. You ready for lunch?"

  "Lunch with a kiss option sounds good to me." Sharon handed a picnic basket to Kyle and slipped her arm through his. They left Josh standing alone, totally bewildered. Kyle co
uldn't resist one parting jab. "Like I said, Josh, you play the game your way and I'll play it mine." It was a sunny day, which made the chill in the air more tolerable. Sharon and Kyle spread a blanket out on a small knoll southeast of the engineering building. "So, what's new in the department, Sharon?" asked Kyle after they started into the Mandarin leftovers.

  "Things are abuzz. Rumors are flying right and left. Rumor has it that Dr. Monroe has submitted his resignation, effective the end of winter semester and that it has something to do with Dr. Waters."

  "You said all three of you went to MIT? Is there some bad blood from back then?"

  "Actually, I said we were all at MIT at the same time. Dr. Waters was a member of the faculty. I don't know exactly what happened, but I heard rumors that Dr. Waters accused Carlton of cheating or something and tried to have him expelled. Carlton was able to convince the administration that he was innocent, which then made Dr. Waters look bad. He left the university shortly after the incident. It's understandable that there would be bad blood between then."

  "I hate to see Dr. Monroe go. He's always been one of my favorite professors. I always felt like he really cared, that it wasn't just a job. That's more than I can say about some of the other professors I've had. At least I'll have time to finish my degree before he leaves."

  "I'm planning on leaving the department at the end of the semester. I passed my orals two weeks ago and just need to make a few revisions to my dissertation. I've been offered a teaching position in the math department. I also have offers from several other universities. Apparently, there's a shortage of women math professors."

  "I bet there is, especially ones that graduated summa cum laude."

  Kyle and Sharon began seeing each other daily. Kyle was glad that he no longer had any classes with their accompanying study and homework requirements. His heart would not have been in his studies. He struggled to stay focused on the work of his doctoral dissertation. For the Christmas dance, Kyle, for the first time in his life, rented a tuxedo. Sharon, naturally, accompanied him to make sure that his selection did not reflect his past bad taste in clothes. Kyle ended up helping Sharon pick out her outfit. Actually what he did was to sense what items she most liked and chose those items. Occasionally, she was truly undecided and in those situations he could not really go wrong with either choice. Realizing that a brilliant woman like Sharon would soon see through his ruse, he began studying both men and women’s fashion on the Internet. Kyle had always felt that an intelligent person should be able to learn anything, if he just put his mind to it. Since Sharon enjoyed shopping and dressing stylishly, Kyle was soon able to apply his newfound knowledge.

  When Kyle picked up Sharon to begin their Christmas dance date, he was thrilled to see Sharon in her dress. Even though Kyle had helped Sharon pick out most of the individual components of Sharon’s attire, he had not seen her dressed in the full assemblage. With her hair arrangement, tastefully applied makeup and the outfit, she was ravishing. Kyle almost pinched himself to make sure that he was not dreaming. He was going to take this beautiful creature to dinner and then to a dance for the whole university to see. How dramatically his fortunes had changed in the last few years. The couple dined at The Garden Restaurant on the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, formally the Hotel Utah before extensive renovation and remodeling. While they waited to be seated, they gazed out of the window on the west side of the building. It had an exquisite view of Temple Square, gaily lit with hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights. Much of down town Salt Lake City was visible from their vantage point. The couple stood with arms around each other’s waist, drinking in the moment. Kyle thought that if he could make time stand still, this would be a great moment to capture. Kyle felt a vibration in his pocket interrupting the mood. Their table was ready.

  As the couple dined, Sharon and Kyle engaged in light conversation concerning University activities and events. Then Sharon changed the direction of the conversation. “Kyle, my parents are anxious to meet you. They would like us to come to dinner Sunday evening.”

  “I am just as anxious to meet them. I am sure that they are wonderful.”

  “They are very protective. You may get cross examined like you are on trial.”

  “I’m not afraid to take the stand. I have not been improper in my conduct with you, have I?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “Kyle, it might be best if you not dump the whole load on my parents at your first meeting concerning your family history. It’s best to break some things to my parents gradually. I’m not embarrassed by your background or anything remotely resembling that, but my parents have lived a sheltered life and can be easily shocked. My mother has a weak heart.”

  “I will try not to give your mother a heart attack when we first meet.”

  Soon the happy couple was off to the dance. Kyle had finally gotten enough experience dancing that he could just relax and take pleasure in dancing. He enjoyed not only holding Sharon close but also spinning and twirling her lithe body about the dance floor.

  As Sharon drove Kyle to meet her parents, Sharon attempted to further prepare him. “Kyle, I have a cousin that married a college graduate a few years ago. The man, Laurence, appeared to be an ideal match with a bright future. However, rather than getting a regular job after marriage and graduation he pursued a very unprofitable career as an artist. My cousin, Bethany, has had to support the family. To make matters worse, Laurence persuaded Bethany to buy a home far more extravagant than they could afford. Now they are deep in debt and under water in their house payments. My mother worries about me experiencing the same fate and may ask some very direct questions. Oh, and try not to get her started on politics, unless you are a Rush Limbaugh fan. They pulled into a circular driveway in front of a large and beautiful home. Rather than walking right in, they knocked on the front door.

  Sharon’s father was very tall and Kyle had to look up at him as they shook hands in the foyer of the Saxton home. “Kyle, we have heard so much about you. Please come into the living room and sit down. Sharon’s mother, Verona, is finishing up final touches on dinner.”

  “I’ll see if she needs any help,” offered Sharon as she headed for the kitchen. Kyle felt abandoned and trapped.

  “It’s great to finally meet you Mr. Saxton,” offered Kyle, trying to get a conversation going.

  “Call me Robert or Bob if you prefer. Verona and I want you to feel like this is a second home for you. I understand that you have no living family. We would like you to consider us family. Come here any time, with or without Sharon.”

  “Thank you very much Robert. My mother died a few years ago and I never even had a chance to know my father.” Kyle knew that he was being misleading, but he was trying to follow Sharon’s expressed desires without outright lying. Kyle was momentarily rescued from further conversation by the call to dinner. After everyone was seated, Robert gave a simple prayer of thanks for the meal and everyone started dishing up their plates. Kyle was shocked at the amount of food on the table.

  “Surely, Mrs. Saxton, Sharon has exaggerated my appetite. I’m sure that there is far more food here than we can eat.”

  “Oh, but did Sharon tell you about our appetites? I hope there is enough for you to get your fill.”

  “Mom is teasing, Kyle. When Mom cooks, she likes to cook enough for lots of leftovers so that she doesn’t have to cook daily.” Great, thought Kyle; so far, so good. Let’s keep the conversation on food, not family.

  “Kyle, tell me about your mother,” asked Mrs. Saxton.

  “Well, she died a few years ago.”

  “Verona, that is an emotionally charged subject,” rescued Robert. “You know how choked up I get talking about my mother. We don’t want to have Kyle breaking down in tears at our first meal together. Kyle, I understand that you are finishing up your doctorate degree. You must have a bright future ahead of you.”

  “Yes, I should finish next semester if all goes as planned. I already have an excell
ent job lined up, but the identity of the employer and the details are confidential.”

  “That’s wonderful, Kyle. Do you have a lot of educational loans to pay off?” asked Verona.

  “Mother!”

  “That’s okay, Sharon. No, Mrs. Saxton. I paid my own way through school, mostly by tutoring. I’m sure you will agree, Mr. and Mrs. Saxton, that a foolish man lets debt enslave him; a wise man makes money his servant. I have even managed to accumulate significant investments while going to school.”

  “Very good, Kyle, and call us Robert and Verona. It sounds as if you have read the Richest Man in Babylon. Robert has brought in the money, but I have multiplied it. Please don’t misunderstand us, Kyle. We are not pretentious snobs who look down on the poor. We both came from humble backgrounds and have lived very humbly most of our lives. However, we are appalled at the way most Americans and the country as a whole have buried themselves in debt. Excuse my directness, I meant no offence. I just wanted to know what kind of man we are dealing with. I am not interested in the size of your investments, just your character and attitudes.”

  “Kyle, we would like you to join us for Christmas Eve dinner and breakfast on Christmas day,” injected Robert, again rescuing Kyle.

  “I would be delighted to join your family.”

  “Kyle, did you participate in any sports?” asked Robert. “You look very athletic.”

  “I never had the time for sports growing up or at the University, but I do exercise regularly and stay in shape. I am fond of watching football and basketball but have not had much time to enjoy that past time.” The men continued in a discussion of sports including the season that the University of Utah football team had experienced and their prospects in their upcoming bowl game. Much to Kyle and Sharon’s relief, the conversation did not return to heavy personal matters.

  A few days later Kyle returned to the Saxton home without Sharon and asked Robert for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Kyle arranged with Sharon to spend an evening on Temple Square looking at the lights. After an hour of wandering through the lights, Kyle sat Sharon down on the edge of the reflective pond and knelt before her. With a light snow falling, Kyle began. “Sharon, will you make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife?”