“You should show this to Lex or Kev. They’ll lose their minds,” Tamika signs with enthusiasm.
“It’s not quite ready yet. I need more data to compare and form sentences.”
“It’s impressive, Andy. What do you need to make it work?”
“I’ve been downloading hours and hours of TV programs with a sign language interpreter in the bottom corner. I need to transcribe the spoken speech into text and then use that to turn the interpreter’s gestures into usable data.”
“Aren’t there other existing databases you can use?”
“A good start would be to have access to the national ASL data, but when I asked for it they refused,” I sourly recall.
“Whatif I knew someone who could hack into it?”
“You do?”
“Last year, my Facebook account was hacked, so I went to the nerds to see if one of them could help me out. Oliver volunteered, and he not only got my account back, but also found the asshole responsible for the hack and filled his computer with viruses.”
I let out an incredulous laugh. Oli has some mad moves. I’m touched that he rescued a damsel in distress, but it doesn’t surprise me. Oliver is the real MVP.
The rest of the day is spent considering Tamika’s suggestion. She’s right—my app is precisely the type of work Kelex would love to be a part of.
But for that to be possible, I need to ask for Oli’s help. If he can get me that data, then maybe I’ll show my app to Alexander. The man who so rudely invades my dreams.
Fun times ahead.
Sleeping often helps with the decision-making process. And that’s precisely what happens. When I wake up on Monday, I know exactly what I need to do.
Like Tami said, Kelex has the means to carry this project to the finish line with better servers and manpower. That’s why the first thing I do when I arrive at work is head to Oli’s desk.
“Hello, son of Paul,” I greet him.
He turns around, already grinning. “I’m sorry to break it to you, but while my surnameisPaulson, my dad’s name is actually Jared.”
I let out a false, shocked gasp. “Is everything a lie?!”
He chuckles. “It gets worse. My mom’s also named Paulson, but she’s the son of no one. She’s a daughter.”
Another gasp, with my hand on my chest this time. “When will it stop?!”
He laughs frankly this time, and I break character to grin with him.
“What can I do for you on this fine morning?” he asks.
With a low voice, I explain, “I need you to… hack into something.”
Surprise has his eyebrows raising and his eyes widening. “Say what now?”
“Well, Tamika told me you have a very particular set of skills, skills you have acquired over a very long career. Skills that I really, really need right now.”
The movie quote seems to work on him, and his smile returns as he shakes his head with amusement. “Okay, I guess the secret is out. What do you need from me?”
Making sure the others can’t hear, I explain everything to him. It’s not a big hack, but I lack the knowledge to do it. I’m too scared of my mom to do anything remotely illegal like this. “I’d do it myself, but I have a Tamagotchi to take care of,” I pretend with humor once he’s up to speed.
“I have an actual living cat that needs to be fed twice a day.”
“Oh, right! I actually saw it on your Facebook profile.”
“You stalked my Facebook?”
