SATURDAY STORY - DANIEL JACKSON AND THE DJ COMPUTER - PART V

 SATURDAY STORY, SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023 - DANIEL JACKSON #5

On Saturday I write fiction (and will continue until I get it right!!!).  I’m liking this story about Daniel Jackson who created a computer in his parent’s basement at age 14 and started a personal computer company that made him a millionaire (at least on paper).

Up to chapter 5, Daniel (now calling himself Dan) is “hiding in plain sight” at Purdue University.  He doesn’t want anybody to know that he is the founder of a major computer company.  

He is in his freshman year with a physics, computer science, math, business, and computer engineering focus if not a major.  He has a girlfriend (Linda Watson) and life is kind of crazy for him.

This chapter starts with Dan being home for Thanksgiving break towards the end of his first semester.

*****

Will and Beth Jackson picked up Daniel from Hawkins Hall on Friday, November 16, 1984.  It was great to see his parents and to have time away from campus.  Of course, it wasn’t quite free time as Daniel brought his books with him.  When he returned to campus, he would have two weeks of classes and then final exams.  He didn’t bring his DJ Computer with him as he would have computing resources at home.

It was about a two-and-one-half-hour drive from West Lafayette Indiana to Bloomington Illinois.  His Mom, Beth, drove with Daniel in the front seat, and Dad, Will, in the backseat.  Even though they talked weekly, it seemed like non-stop talking on the way home.  His parents questioned him “How are classes going?”, “Do you have papers and homework over Thanksgiving break?”, “Do you like the campus?”, “How is Linda” (Daniel wasn’t quite ready to talk about her yet), “Do you like the campus?”, “How was Homecoming?”, “Do you like going to football games?”, and a billion other questions.  

And, of course, Daniel had a million questions for his folks, mostly concerning his/their computer business.  Daniel was taking an introduction to business, and an economics course that really opened his eyes to DJ Computers as a business.  

They stopped at Tony’s Diner for dinner.  Tony’s was their place to go for pasta.  Daniel was realizing that he hadn’t had pasta at Purdue - pizza, yes, pasta, no.  

That night Daniel slept in his own bed, in his own room - and it felt really different.  

*****

Saturday morning, Daniel could sleep in, but his body was awake.  He rolled over at about 6:30 and tried to go back to sleep but he was rested and his mind was awake.  He heard his dad in the kitchen making coffee and then his folks enjoying coffee and catching the latest news on TV.  So, he got up and made his way downstairs.  And, as a surprise for his parents, Daniel went into the kitchen and got a cup of black coffee.

Dad laughed as Daniel came into the den with a cup of steaming hot coffee.  “I see you’ve learned how to drink coffee at Purdue”.

Daniel blushed, “I learned in the cafeteria.  A group of us like to sit and talk after dinner, and somehow I picked up the coffee habit.”

Dad and Mom both laughed at that.

They started on the questions that didn’t get answered in the car yesterday.  

Mom asked, “How is Gary Bunce?”

Gary was Daniel’s physics professor and was a friend of Beth and Will Jackson.  Beth was pregnant with Daniel while Gary and Beth worked on this Ph.D. at the University of Michigan some 19 years ago.  

Daniel told of Dr. Bunce’s meeting with him and how he really liked Dr. Bunce, and how the class was going, the lab experiments they were doing, what they were learning.  Mom taught physics at the University of Illinois and looked like she was getting some first-hand information she could use in her class.

Then, Mom asked, “And how is the physics lab?  Is that where you met Linda?”

Daniel replied, “Yes.”  He hadn’t dated in high school and having a girlfriend had not been on his list of things to do in his first semester.  

Dad continued, “Is Linda a physics major?”

Daniel said, “She’s not really sure.  She has declared a chemistry major, but she is really good at physics.  Her dad is an engineer and her mom is an architect.”

Dad asked, “How about the other classes?”

Daniel went into a description of his other classes - how he was surprised that he liked the Introduction to Business and economics classes, how he was the top student in Physics and Calculus, and struggling to get a “B” in Freshman Composition.  

Daniel asked about DJ Computers.  

Dad said, “I’m not as close as I could be, but it seems like things are great.  Our market share is up to about 24%.  I’ve invited Uncle Steve and Aunt Leah and their family to join us tomorrow for lunch, and then there is a board meeting on Monday that Steve wants you to attend.”

Dad continued, “From what I hear, we are doing well, our stock prices are up, we have to watch our quality more, the board seems to want to acquire a disk drive company, we have low-end and high-end models, color monitors are becoming viable, and competition is fierce!!!”

Dad paused and added “And, wunderkind Daniel Jackson is still beloved and they would love to see you on the production floor smiling, talking to those you know and remember.  Grab some lunch in the cafeteria before the board meeting, walk around with a Dr. Pepper, whatever - but show up and be an encourager.  You can wear a Purdue shirt - or an Illinois shirt - or a Chicago Bears shirt!!”  At least “da Bears” were looking good this season and probably going on to the NFL playoffs.

At that even Dan laughed.  The geeky kid who founded a computer company is to walk around shaking hands and wearing a Chicago Bear shirt.  Oh well, anymore, he was a figurehead.  “His” company wasn’t in his hands, not that it made a lot of difference.  But, deep down inside Daniel Jackson was a shining memory as the founder of a major computer company at age 14!!

*****

Mom - being Mom - dragged Daniel to the department store for some clothes.  Dan wasn’t much of a clothes hog, but she convinced him to have two new pairs of jeans, two new long sleeve knitted shirts, a new pair of running shoes, and a new everyday coat.

It was about all Dan could do not to continually say, “Oh Mom” with derision at everything she picked out.  What an odd situation, a millionaire, an eighteen-year-old computer entrepreneur, and his mother out shopping.  He was a college student and wanted to fit in, and also remain mostly anonymous.

Finally, it was done, and they headed home.

In the car, Beth asked about Linda.  “Is she nice?  Do you like her?”.

Daniel answered casually at first.  “Yes, she is nice.  Yes, I like her.”.

Beth asked, “So what is she like?”

They were about half a mile from home but on a residential street.  Daniel said, “Mom, pull over”.

Beth replied, “What?”

Daniel said, “Mom, pull over to the curb, I need to talk to somebody”.

That was a first for the Mother-Son combination.  Beth Jackson pulled over on Eagle Crest Road, just before the intersection with Interlocken Drive. She turned off her car and turned to her son.

Beth asked, “Okay, what’s going on?”

Daniel started, “Mom, I’m pretty naive about girls, I’m pretty naive about dating.  I don’t know if I should kiss, hug, or ahh.”

He stopped talking and Mom knew she needed to wait for her son.

He continued, “After the homecoming parade, we, ahh, made out just outside the dorm door.  I liked it, I liked kissing her.  Well, the kissing has been good, and I guess we’re an item or a couple of whatever that is.  That’s okay with me.”

Again, another pause, Mom was thinking, ‘oh no, my son got his girlfriend pregnant’. 

Thursday night before I came home on Friday, we were making out, and she, ahh, stuck her hand in, ahh, my pants and, ahh.”

Then Daniel just blurted it out, “I, ahh, reached a climax, right there, in the entry to Hawkins Hall. In my pants, in her hand.  It was awesome but scary.  I, ahh, know I can’t, ahh, sleep with her, I think she wants me to, ahh, do more things with her and for her sexually.”

If Beth Jackson had a camera and took a picture right then, her son would be beet red with embarrassment.  He was naive and really needed help.

Beth cleared her throat as an indication she was going to talk, but that she needed to process the information before talking to her son.

“Daniel”, she started.  “I’m your mom, and I love you to the moon and back.  I am so honored that you wanted to talk to me about this and not your friends at college, and even, not your dad.”

She continued, “Yes, it sounds like Linda is, ahh, gaga about you, she loves you, she wants you, she’s enamored about you.  I have no idea how many boyfriends she may have had, but she seems to be a bit advanced in terms of dating and sex.  It is probably a novelty for her to have an inexperienced boyfriend, a virgin boyfriend if I can be so blunt. 

“So, yes, some girls do things like put their hands into their boyfriend's pants.  I wouldn’t be surprised if soon when you are out together that she might be braless. She REALLY wants you and in the old game of boyfriend and girlfriend, she knows some moves and plays to win the game.  

“I can’t give you much advice, but use your brain, don’t jump into bed with her until you’re ready. And, then make sure you wear a condom and that she is on the pill.  I love sex with your dad, it is a mutual act of deep love, deep understanding, and deep respect, and when we have sex I think we both understand how valuable it is to our relationship.  

“I’m sorry to say that shortly after you were born, and I finished my doctorate, and we moved here, your dad and I talked to a family counselor about sex and marriage.  It was really valuable for us.  Over the years, we’ve worked at our marriage to make it better.  The counseling made us better in bed, but more importantly, it made us better people, and a better couple.”

It was Beth’s turn to blush.  How do you tell your naive son about your sex life? She didn’t want to say that she and Will were savage animals in the bedroom, but that sex was special to them.  

Beth spoke, “Daniel, you haven’t been to many weddings, but in the traditional wedding vows, there is a line about ‘until death parts us’.  I love your dad, and I want to be with him until he dies or I die.  The Greeks had three words for love - agape, eros, and philia.  Agape love is a God kind of love, the best love.  Sure our lovemaking can be hot and pleasurable - like eros love. I’d hate for our lovemaking to become trite and only functional. And for sure, your dad and I are best friends - philia love.  Every marriage can be a rocky road, every marriage has swamps, deserts, mountains to cross, and misunderstanding galore.  

She continued, “Maybe Linda is a more free spirit in terms of sex.  Maybe she is experienced in bed and is hoping to have that relationship with you.  My advice is to be careful and talk with Linda about this, and if necessary see a counselor.  Yes, enjoy her body, enjoy her breasts, and yes, someday, enjoy finding her sweet spot.  But make it meaningful if you can, make it more than the thrill of riding a new rollercoaster at Cedar Point.  Let the fireworks come.  Build that foundation of love, understanding, and sharing.”

Mom and son sat quietly in the car for about two minutes.  Mom broke the silence by asking “Do you want pizza tonight?”

Daniel laughed, and the serious moment gave way to a joyous one.  

Daniel said, “Can we have onions, green peppers, and green olives on our pizza? And probably something like a meat-lovers pizza.”

That made Beth Jackson laugh too.  She said, “And, with sauerkraut, anchovies, and broccoli too?”

They started up and finished the drive home.  As they got out of the car, Daniel hugged his mother and said “Thank you, Mom”. Beth hugged her son and said, “I love you, Daniel”.

*****

The family had pizza for dinner, and they watched Ohio State versus Purdue on ESPN.  Surprise upon surprise, Purdue beat #2 ranked Ohio State 28 to 23. Purdue trailed 17-14 but scored twice early in the fourth quarter both following interceptions of Mike Tomczak.

Dan Jackson laid awake for a while - thinking.  Today was almost a normal day.  He was home with his family, shopping, pizza, and football.  At times he was sorry he made that first DJ computer and lost out on his high school years.  Few traveled the road he was on - and of those, even fewer made it to age 30 without a major shipwreck in their lives.  Following his talk with Mom, he felt good.  Love was important.  

Meanwhile, down the hallway, Beth and Will Jackson lay in bed talking.  Beth mentioned her talk with Dan about life, sex, and love.  Will listened earnestly.  Listening was a skill he failed at in their early years of marriage.  He remembered Dr. Emily Frazee when they went to counseling.  She had said that Love was really spelled T-I-M-E and was built on focused listening and attention to the other person.  It seemed so simple now, but there had been those rocky days.  Why had he let money and work get ahead of this important relationship with his wife?  

That night the two cuddled, and refreshed the bond between them.

*****

Uncle Steve and Aunt Leah and their four-year-old twin girls, Ada and Abby came for lunch at about 1:00 on Sunday afternoon.  Will Jackson was in the backyard grilling hamburgers for the family.  Uncle Steve and Daniel watched Will and carried on a conversation about DJ Computers.

Dan asked how DJ Computers was coming.

Uncle Steve was ready - the market share was up from about 16% to 24% - with strong competition from Dell, Compaq, and Gateway computers.  Quality problems still existed but were getting to be less of a problem.  If a product quality checker spotted any problems before the computer went into a box, it went back to be fixed.  But, if an assembler had six (or more) computers assembled in a shirt with no quality issues, they got a $10 daily bonus.  That really seemed to positively impact the assembly line. 

The R&D (research and development) skunkworks were coming up with new ideas - better disk drives, faster computer chips, color monitors, cheaper and faster delivery, better speakers, and more options for consumers.  Customers had options for cheaper computers up to state-of-the-art personal computers with more bells and whistles.  

Competition kept the profit margin at about $200 for a machine, but that still generated revenue of $17.3 million so far this year.  Much of that was pumped back in for better processes and components to stay ahead of the other computer makers.  The stock price was solid and hadn’t had any major downturns.  Dividends to stockholders were very good.  Dan’s dividends were automatically used to purchase more stock.  

The biggest bottlenecks were some supply chain issues.  With the phenomenal growth in personal computers, there weren’t enough motherboard makers.  DJ Computers had acquired a motherboard and main computer box company out of Chicago.  The company was experimenting with AMD chips instead of Intel chips.  It seemed as if AMD chips were both faster and cheaper than Intel chips.  The question was about the longevity of the chips  

Uncle Steve asked Dan to come to the board meeting on Monday, and then be around the assembly floor (or really assembly floors since they now had multiple assembly sites).  And, yes, he wasn’t kidding about wearing a Chicago Bears jersey as he walked around.  Be the hero that everybody loved.

Uncle Steve wanted to know if Dan could help out in the R&D lab next summer.  He even thought that Dan could make it both a work and an educational experience as an independent study.  Dan thought that would be great.

Things looked rosy for DJ Computers.  Gateway had offered to buy or merge with DJ Computers, but Uncle Steve indicated the offer wasn’t good enough.

*****

Meanwhile, Beth and Leah mixed up a green salad and were preparing lunch.  When he finished talking with Uncle Steve, Dan Jackson, founder of the DJ Computer Company was being a horse for the twins to take turns riding on his back.  Abby had brown hair and brown eyes and Ada was a blue-eyed blonde.  Then the girls got piggyback rides on cousin Dan’s back.  Dan made sure he bounced them like trying to throw them off his back.  The girls laughed, and Dan’s heart was full. Finally, he took a break and his brain flashed to wondering what Linda Watson and her family were doing today.  

Beth and Leah had set up television trays in the living room for the adults, and Ada and Abby sat at the table with their burgers.  Dan almost sat at the table with the girls, but opted for the living room, knowing that Uncle Steve would want to chat more about DJ Computers sometime in the afternoon.  The Chicago Bears were hosting the Detroit Lions today at Soldier’s Field.  The Bears were leading the ‘black-and-blue’ division of the National Football League and under Mike Ditka headed towards the playoffs.

But, it wasn’t long into the game when Uncle Steve fell asleep as did Will, so Dan was back with the twins again.  The twins giggled at almost everything that Dan did or that he said.  He tried mixing things up - calling them by the wrong names, telling Abby her red dress was really yellow, and Ada that she didn’t have shoes on (and she did).  About an hour later Aunt Leah came to relieve Dan of his duties and the girls wanted to keep playing with their cousin.  

What a wonderful time - no college work, no papers to write, no computer company planning to do, just be a big kid and love these sweet girls.

Dan joined his dad and uncle in the den.  They woke up a little when somebody scored, and the announcers raised their voices.

But, sitting on the sofa, Dan put his head on a pillow, closed his eyes, and he joined his dad and uncle in taking a Sunday afternoon nap.

*****

Dan woke up with the commercial break for the two-minute warning.  The Bears were behind by a score of 9 for the Bears and 14 for the Lions.  Dad was also awake but Uncle Steve was still out.  Dan reflected a little on Uncle Steve - CEO of a major computer company that four years ago didn’t exist, two awesome twins that wanted some of his time, and a wife who also would like to see her husband more.  Was that what success was?  15-hour days, meetings every hour, planning, reports, and being so tired you slept during Sunday NFL football games.  Dan thought his uncle, who was twelve years younger than his dad, was looking old and tired.

After the break, Jim McMahon led the Bears down the field and Willie Gault caught a twenty-yard pass for a touchdown with 18 seconds left.  With the extra point, the Bears had a 16 to 14 lead.  

The Lions got a first down, but an interception by Todd Bell on the 35-yard line of the Bears sealed the victory for the Bears.

Uncle Steve woke up for the touchdown and the victory.  

*****

On Monday, he borrowed Mom’s car to drive to DJ Computers headquarters.  He found a visitor parking spot (there wasn’t a reserved parking place for the founder of the company).  He still had his ID card and passed through security, with the guards looking at him.  “Good Morning, Mr. Jackson.  It is great to have you here.  It must be Thanksgiving Break”.  Dan smiled and agreed it was Thanksgiving break.  This building was a year-and-one-half old.  He’d been here a few times, but it was still strange to him.

It was a short walk to the executive suite.  He walked in and saw Brittany Washington - and Brittany immediately jumped up and ran to hug Dan.  When DJ Computers had taken off, Brittany was one of the first full-time hires. 

“Daniel, you look so great.  It is so awesome to have you here!!”

And, like normal, Dan Jackson blushed!!!

He grinned and hugged Brittany back.  “It’s so good to see you and to be back”.

Brittany had a million questions, “How’s school? Do you like Purdue?  Are you majoring in computer engineering?  Have you been to a football game? Do you have a girlfriend?”

Fortunately, Uncle Steve Jackson came out to greet his nephew and save him from being crushed by Brittany’s hugs!!

*****

The meeting lasted two hours, and it was almost exactly like his “Introduction to Business” class on campus.

The COO - Chief Operating Officer gave a report on production, successes, and failures; the CFO - Chief Finance Officer gave a report on the corporate finances  (they were doing well); the CTO - Chief Technology Officer talked about the research and development and trying to stay ahead of the technology curve.  New chips should be coming out soon.  DJ Computers had an automatic buy to get the new chips from Intel two months before they officially went on the market. 

The CMO - Chief Marketing Office surprised Dan with a potential marketing plan for the fall of 1985.  Sarah Kissich’s plan was to have a series of ads featuring Dan going off to college with a DJ Computer in his room.  Dan will be doing word processing, mathematics, and using the new technology of email to write home.  The tagline would be “Don’t go off to college without a DJ Computer.  Dan wanted to talk with her later.  (Would Sarah use a model, or did she really want Dan to be in the commercials)

The meeting finished with Steve Jackson giving an overall view - of growth, direction, and plans for the future.  Some of which Dan had heard yesterday when they talked while Will Jackson grilled the hamburgers.  

*****

After the meeting, Brittany got her second hug from Dan.  Uncle Steve and Dan (in his Chicago Bears shirt) drove to their main assembly plant which was about five blocks away next to the State Fair Insurance headquarters.  Dan and Steve walked through the plant saying high and shaking hands.  Wally Bunting from the marketing department came along and took digital pictures on his new Kodak digital camera of Steve and Dan talking to employees.

A few of the folks remembered Dan.  Dan had worked part-time on the assembly floor while in high school.  

Steve took Dan to the R&D lab.  They showed him their work with email and the fledgling concept of the Internet.  They were testing out some of the newer and faster chips from Intel and AMD.  For the main computer, they wanted faster processing, better software, and more functionality.  The computers came loaded with MS-DOS - Microsoft’s Operating System software.  A group of six were experimenting with other operating systems, including Unix and even Apple’s proprietary operating system.  

After seeing all the new things, Dan had a brief flash of dropping out of college and working here in research and development.  

***

Uncle Steve took Dan back to the main building and offered to buy him lunch, but Dan passed on lunch and opted to go back home and work on papers and assignments for his classes.

*****

The rest of Thanksgiving week went well.  Dan had time every day for a good cross-country run.  The local running group had a “Turkey Trot” event and Dan got registered and ran with several of his old high school cross-country friends. Katrina Kirkpatrick ran with him and they talked briefly.  They agreed to meet for lunch on Saturday at the Mcdonald's on East College Road near Target.  

Thanksgiving dinner was at Uncle Steve’s house.  Dad’s parents were still in Wyoming, Michigan, and Mom’s folks were in Chelsea Michigan.  Over Christmas Break, the Jacksons would visit there.  But Aunt Leah’s parents were in Peoria, Illinois, and made the short drive.  

Like most Thanksgiving dinners, there was ample food and a Detroit Lion football game.  Surprisingly the 4 and 8 Lions beat the Green Bay Packers at the Pontiac Silverdome 31 to 28.

Abby and Ada had fun with cousin Dan.  Aunt Leah’s brother, Carl and his wife Kari, and their year-old son came too, and the girls played with baby Brian like he was their doll.  

*****

On Black Friday, Beth and Leah went shopping at Target at 6:00.  On Friday afternoon, Dan, Will, and Steve went to Best Buy - mostly to get out of the house, but to see how Best Buy was selling DJ Computers.  (Uncle Steve joked about how this was a business trip to see how their computer was compared to others).

*****

On Saturday Dan met Katrina Kirkpatrick at Mcdonald's and swapped college stories.  Katrina mentioned she had a boyfriend.  She was attending Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois, a Chicago suburb.  She was thinking about joining a sorority during the spring rush.  She asked Dan if he was thinking about a fraternity.  He wasn’t sure yet.  They hugged as two old friends after finishing dinner with a McFlurry ice cream.  

On Sunday, November 25th, Will, Beth, and Dan drove to West Lafayette Indiana to take Dan back for the last three weeks of his first semester in college.

And, Dan was glad to be back at Purdue!!!

******

So, a longer chapter.  I like this story and have some plans.  There have been some weeks when I didn’t have time and my fiction is short and incomplete.  

So, Dan had an interesting Thanksgiving week.  His talk with his Mom will have some ramifications when he gets back to campus.  He has an exciting freshman year to finish ahead of him. 

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, MARCH 18, 2023