Colt O'Brien Sees the Light Read online

  Billy yelled, “I did it! I got an 800! Wow, is this great!”

  After the boys had calmed down a little, the still radiant Ron Sweden pulled two baseball-style caps out of a bag and handed one to each boy.

  He said, “You're both Microsoft Certified Professionals now. That’s what it says on these hats. This is good; this is very good.”

  Chapter 5

  ------Email-------

  From: O’Brien, Colt[[email protected]]

  To: Jones, Bobby[[email protected]]

  Subject: What the hell?

  Sent: 10/15/1999

  ----------------------------------------------------

  What the hell is goin on Bobster? I saw some computer thing going on in the tech lab. Creepy snotnosed kids barely out of 6th grade were acting computer smart. That’s our room. I don’t trust them………

  ------Email-------

  Colt O’Brien flashed down the main hall of Highline High School. The five foot, four-inch senior was dressed to garner attention. He strutted like he owned the town of Burien and the State of Washington. His jet-black hair, dark blue eyes and unique style of dress made him stand out. He wore purple tennis shoes, gray T-shirt, red shorts with a day-glo orange backpack that bounced up and down his back. Crowds of students were strolling between classes and talking in small groups. Although this was nothing new, they looked up to see what color combinations were on display today. Colt's rapid strides and decisive, churning arm movements made the other students seem stationary. Suddenly, a piercing, monotonous sound pealed through the air, causing Colt to stop. Students moved away from him as he grabbed something from his belt. He held the small, black, rectangular noise-maker between his thumb and forefinger. He looked around and waved it at the onlookers.

  “Haven’t you heard a pager before? It’s not a fire alarm. Chill out. I have another computer to fix, that’s all.”

  A high-pitched male voice from the crowd whined, “Can’t you make that thing stop beeping. Isn’t there a silent mode or something?”

  “Whatever,” said Colt with a shrug. “Later dude, later.”

  He looked at the message on the pager which read, “911 – Mr. Towne’s computer is down - Please come to office.”

  Colt grinned and thought about how much he liked his life. I love being a senior; only a few easy classes to sit through. I get to save the principal of the school from his computer and from himself. He beamed with pride in knowing that he was the hero, the answer man, the tech guy that always saved the day. Bringing computers back to life gave him a deep, lasting satisfaction. To most of them, computers are magic. Good for me. Nobody is as good at this stuff as I am. He was already beginning to sparkle as he pranced decisively toward the office and another opportunity to demonstrate his skills.

  Colt slowed down as he approached Mr. Towne’s office. A woman in her forties with dark red hair and a friendly smile sat behind a desk. Her bright blue eyes twinkled as Colt walked in.

  “That was fast. You were either close or you ran all the way,” she said.

  “Hi Janet. I was close, but you know I'd hustle over here anyway. So what happened this time?” said Colt.

  “Mr. Towne said the screen went blank and never came back. I just checked and it's still that way. He’s in a meeting. Go on in. By the way, your shoes are my color. How did you know?”

  Colt liked that Janet was being playful. He tried to put those who he helped at ease. The young man grinned.

  “I always try to give great service to my customers. And a little color can brighten someone's day.”

  "Well, it brightened mine," said Janet with a smile.

  Colt strolled into the office while removing his backpack, which he laid on the floor in front of an upright, gray, rectangular computer. He paused to look at the bulky video monitor that was sitting on the large desk above. The screen was blank. He then surveyed the computer itself and pushed a button. The plain gray box emitted a soft whirring sound for a few seconds and was silent. After about five seconds he pushed the button again. Three small lights blinked and the whirring sound started again. The computer monitor flashed on and off numerous times before Colt pushed the power button again to turn the machine off. With sure hands, he removed cables from the rear of the personal computer and laid it on its side. After unscrewing the side panel, he located and yanked out a plastic electronic card that was about four inches long by three inches wide. He put the card into his backpack and walked out of the room to Janet’s desk.

  “It’s the video card. I'll grab one and be back in a bit,” said Colt.

  “How bad is it? I’m not even going to ask what a video card is. I hate those things,” said Janet.

  “No big deal. It doesn’t look that bad. I hate those things myself sometimes,” he said with eyes looking toward the ceiling.

  Colt exited the office and strolled down the hall, which was now empty. At the end, he walked down a flight of stairs to the basement floor. He opened the door to the second room on the left and walked in under a sign that read TECH LAB. Then he encountered the unexpected.

  A loud voice echoed through the room, which startled Colt. He looked up to see four people. One person was in front of a white board that displayed black, scribbled words. That guy looks like a teacher. But why is he here shouting so loud? Three others sat at a table that was about six feet long, listening. Who the hell are these guys? Don't they know this is our tech room? He stiffened and looked at the interlopers with an untrusting stare. It took all of the self-control he could muster to avoid questioning the invaders. He nodded to the group as he shuffled past them toward another room in the back. They acknowledged by nodding back and returned to what they had been doing.

  Colt pretended to be busy as he watched what appeared to be an informal computer class. He noticed the words on the white board first: TCP/IP, Sub-netting, DHCP, Host Header, and others. The only acronym that he recognized was TCP/IP, which he knew had something to do with the internet. The rest of the words were foreign to him. The medium-sized man with the booming voice wore a gray T-shirt, faded jeans and a tan baseball cap that had the word “Microsoft” sewn onto the front. He had mixed blue-green eyes, was a bit stocky, and spoke casually, but with a deep confident voice. One of the three listeners was also an adult. He was tall and slender with intelligent brown eyes. He listened, but had a confused look which Colt could relate to. His tailored suit fit him perfectly and he was obviously comfortable wearing it. Colt guessed his age at around forty-five. Next to him sat two young boys that he did not recognize. Crap! They have to be freshmen. These guys look way too relaxed. If I don’t know this stuff, then there's no way they do. They have to be punks faking it. This feels like total crap.

  Colt became more agitated and was about to become angry. His mind was no longer working in a logical fashion and he knew it. I better wait before I talk to these guys. They're already pissing me off.

  His attention now turned to an overhead cabinet, which he unlocked and opened. An assortment of computer components and devices including mice and keyboards, were piled in a disorganized heap. Colt grabbed a computer card that was the same size as the one he removed from Mr. Towne’s PC and shoved it into his backpack. As he did so, he removed the defective card from his backpack and dropped it in a three-by-three-foot clear plastic bin that had “BAD PARTS” scrawled on the side in black magic marker. He said nothing as he scurried past the four intruders and out the door.

  Janet glanced up from her desk as a Colt entered the office. He winked as he passed her, but was forced to stop when he strode through the office doorway, causing his backpack to bounce up his back. Someone occupied the chair in front of the dead computer and desk. If his teenage reflexes had not been so acute, he would've plowed into Mr. Towne.

  Mr. Towne, the principal of Highline High, looked at Colt and said “Good to see you, Colt. You never know when these things are going t
o break, I guess.”

  His kind smile reflected a strong affection for the young man. For many years he had felt that there was a connection between them. He was only about two inches taller than Colt and had a keen understanding of what it was like to be the shortest guy in the room. He also liked Colt’s work ethic and confidence as well as his passion. He was well aware of the young man’s temper tantrums, but tended to overlook them when possible.

  This kid sure has talent when it comes to computers, thought Mr. Towne.

  “Hello Mr. Towne. If you let me get in there, I can get you working again. It's just a video card.”

  “Thanks. I needed to hear that. I've got loads of email to read, even if most of it is a waste of time.” answered the kind man with a smile.

  Mr. Towne stood up and moved away from the desk as Colt pulled out the video card from his backpack. He inserted the card into a slot inside the personal computer, turned it upright, reconnected the cables, and flipped on the power switch. The entire procedure took less than five minutes. The monitor on the desk flashed and then went black with white lines of text moving up the screen. After a minute the familiar icons and menus of Microsoft Windows displayed on the screen.

  An amazed Mr. Towne said, “Thanks Colt. You did it again.”

  “Glad I could help. Uh, er, I was wondering about something.”

  “What would that be?” asked Mr. Towne.

  “I saw some people in the Tech Lab. It was like a class or something. What’s up with that?” asked Colt.

  The energetic principal smiled with pride.

  “We're starting a new computer class. It’s a new Microsoft certification. Mr. Sweden and Mr. Carbon started the program with their sons. We're now making it a part of our curriculum.”

  No goddam way. That's my territory. Screw these guys, thought Colt.

  “Why are they using the Tech Room?” blurted out Colt with a bit more force than was necessary.

  “They needed a temporary place. It won’t be for long, and I approved it. Tell the other tech guys.”

  “What's a certification? I never heard of it?”

  “It shows that you are qualified on certain computer skills. I'll tell Mr. Sweden that you have an interest in the program. He can give you the details.”

  “No need to do that. I was just wondering. I’ll tell the Tech Squad guys that it’s okay for those guys to use the lab. Uh, I better get going.”

  Colt screwed the computer back together and headed for the door.

  “You should check into this new class, Colt. I think it'll be a good opportunity for you,” said Mr. Towne.

  But, Colt O’Brien was already gone.

  Chapter 6

  ------Email-------

  From: Parks, Staci[[email protected]]

  To: O’Brien, Kelly[[email protected]]

  Subject: sad about colt

  ------------------------------------------------

  hi kel

  why can’t colt see that im as important as his stupid computers/ i miss

  him sooooo much/ Im sad, sad, sad XXXXXXX/

  can i call and cry on your shoulder

  staci

  ------Email-------

  Colt sat in the back seat of the black Lexus in the driveway of his home in Normandy Park, Washington. Cold rain pelted the car’s roof. His mother, Leona, sat in the passenger seat with his father behind the wheel. Colt's parents were respected and popular. Robert was a successful, insurance executive and Leona a stay-at-home mom who volunteered for charity work. Both were an integral part of the Normandy Park social scene. Robert O'Brien's distinguished, commanding appearance was somehow in sync with the petite, attractive Leona, in spite of their size difference.

  “Robert, let's get going. I don’t want to miss anything,” said Leona.

  “Don’t worry sweetheart, I’ll get us there on time,” answered Colt’s father in a confident tone.

  Colt sat in the back seat in deep thought. His mind jumped from one topic to another: the new computer class, his ex-girlfriend Staci, Mr. Towne… I can’t keep track of all of this stuff. Man, mental overload. Slow down, dude, or you’ll never stop your mind from spinning in circles. One thing that Colt was wrestling with was his latest unsolvable computer problem. It was a catastrophic event that happened often called “The Blue Screen of Death”. The symptom of the problem was that the video screen turned blue and the computer stopped working or “hung”. When this happened, Colt was always able to restore a machine to usability, but he had not been able to determine a root cause. Crap, I need to know why that happens. I can’t give up on this. Maybe I can find some info on the internet.

  As the Lexus entered the on-ramp to Interstate 5, heading north, Colt sensed a change in the mood. His inner vision displayed a movie-like scene where soft tentacles slithered over the front seat at him. They probed, trying to feel him out. He wanted to think that his mind was making things up, but he had a strong feeling it was his usual inner radar telling him something was coming. What now? And I thought I would be left alone back here.

  Then, he thought to himself, Oh no, not the lecture. I really don’t need the lecture right now.

  The lecture consisted of Robert telling Colt about distinguishing himself in life and making his parents proud, like his sister Kelly. She was an honor student at The University of Washington and also played on the women’s soccer team. He’d had enough comparisons to his sister to last a lifetime. Since the family’s destination was one of Kelly’s games at the University of Washington campus, he expected the worst.

  “Colt, how are you doing back there?” asked Robert.

  Colt braced himself and tried to figure out how to avoid dealing with what was coming.

  “Okay Dad. I hope Kelly wins today.”

  “Your mother and I have been wondering about your future. We thought this would be a good time to discuss some things.”

  “Yes honey, we're wondering about what you've done as far as college? You know how important that is,” said Leona.

  In spite of his mother’s loving, singsong voice, which usually soothed the teenager, he now looked at the windows and doors like a caged animal.

  “Can’t this wait? I have other stuff on my mind right now.”

  The space in the car became imbued with tension as Robert inhaled and formed his thoughts.

  “Listen to me. You're a part of a family that achieves great things. Your sister has led the way. Now it’s your turn,” said Robert.

  Crap, the old man is into it. My sister has what? Screw this. Here we go again.

  “Robert, don’t browbeat him. He tries,” said Leona.

  “I’ve had enough of his wasting time on computers. It’s time for him to grow up. The world has enough losers,” said Robert.

  “What’s wrong with working on computers? Computers will change the world,” yelled Colt.

  “Just stop now, both of you. This is supposed to be a fun family outing,” cried Leona.

  “This isn't over, Colt. I won't let you throw your life away surfing the web or whatever you do. Life is not a computer game,” said Robert.

  Colt knew better than to try to get in the last word with his father. After years of trying, he’d learned that his father would not allow it. He stared out of his window at the gray sky. These trips to his sister’s games were the only family activity that Colt still enjoyed. What a way to mess up a good thing. I hope this BS stops now. Robert, who was now incensed, gripped the wheel and glared straight ahead at the highway. Not a word was spoken for the remainder of the ride.

  In the parking lot of the soccer field on the university campus, Robert opened the trunk of the Lexus and passed out blankets and assorted pieces of clothing. It was still raining lightly and they came prepared for anything. Colt scanned the field and the stately, orange brick buildings on the hill above. His smile reflected the feelings of hope and achievement that he always sensed on this campus. Although he didn't like being com
pared to Kelly, he had great affection for her and enjoyed her success.

  In spite of the words in the car, the mood of family changed as they approached the soccer field. All three were united in their desire to see Kelly, and her team, succeed. Colt soon forgot about the ride while cheering for his sister. Robert and Leona also loved competition and became caught up in the excitement of the game. The game was especially enjoyable for the entire family because of Kelly's play and the outcome. Kelly scored one of the two goals in the win. After the game, Leona waved as her daughter walked gracefully toward the sideline. She was radiant, even though most of her purple uniform was soaking wet and muddy. Her trim, athletic, five-foot, seven-inch frame, short blond hair, and sparkling light blue eyes set her apart. Colt could see why she was receiving offers to model.

  “Hi, everyone. We kicked butt. Those California girls hate the rain,” said Kelly with a grin.

  “Great game, sweetheart. Good goals,” said Robert.

  “Oh Kelly, I was so excited. We're so proud of you,” said Leona.

  “I need to get back to the locker room, but I want to talk to little brother for a minute. Can I call you guys later?” asked Kelly.

  “Sure sweetheart. We’ll talk later,” said Robert as he and Leona headed back to the car.

  “Hi Sis, awesome game,” said Colt.

  “How is it goin'? Still fixin' those broken computers?”

  “Yeah. You know I love the techy stuff.”

  “I'm getting an earful from Mom and Dad about you. And Staci called me. She sure works the angles.”

  Colt flinched a little. He was very happy that he and Staci weren't together. And, he wanted it to stay that way.

  “Here it comes. So, do you have a Colt list or something? What did they say?”

  Sensing Colt's displeasure, Kelly put her arm around her little brother kissing him lightly on the cheek.

  “Hey little Bro, I'm just the messenger. Anyway, Staci misses you and wants to get back together. She thinks computers are the problem. I think Mom and Dad will have the big talk with you soon, the future and all that,” said Kelly.