Chapter 62: The Youngest Doctor
(Late May 2007 – Caltech, Pasadena)
Thursday – 6:32 a.m. – Brentwood
Jake Harper was already dressed. Dark gray suit—tailored, sharp, no tie. He hated how they felt around his neck. Too stiff. Too fake. His FacePhone buzzed with a single message from Sheldon:
> Sheldon: "They'll ask questions they don't understand. Answer as if you're tutoring someone. Not arguing."
Jake smirked and slid the phone into his pocket.
In the kitchen, Judith was pacing. She looked sharp in a navy blazer and heels, way too formal for the occasion, but she couldn't help it. Her nerves were louder than her outfit.
"You sure you don't want something to eat?" she asked.
Jake shook his head. "If I eat, I'll probably throw up halfway through explaining quantum cluster diagrams."
"Fair," she said softly, half-laughing.
Alan shuffled in from the hallway, button-down tucked in, hair combed like he was interviewing for a job he didn't want.
"Big day!" he said, chipper. "Should I make flyers or a banner or something?"
Judith gave him a look. "It's a dissertation defense, not a pep rally."
"I was just trying to be supportive," Alan muttered, a little deflated.
There was a knock. Jake opened the door to find Evelyn standing there, elegant in a lavender blouse and silver earrings.
"There he is," she said warmly. "My genius grandson."
Jake's smile came easy. "You showed up."
"Of course I did. This is the most impressive thing anyone in this family has ever done. Your father included."
Judith raised an eyebrow, but let it go.
Behind Evelyn came Dr. Herb Melnick, quiet, steady, in a charcoal blazer and loafers. He gave Judith a soft smile.
"You look beautiful," he said.
Judith blushed. "Thanks, Herb. I'm glad you're here."
"Hey, Herb," Jake said.
"Doctor Harper," Herb replied with a proud nod.
Jake grabbed his laptop case and glanced at the group. "Let's go before this turns into some weird group therapy session."
Evelyn chuckled. "Wise call."
---
8:15 a.m. – Caltech – Faculty Auditorium
The room buzzed with low voices. Ten members of the academic review board sat in a line in front of the stage, including Dr. Kass and two visiting professors from MIT and Princeton. A few students lingered at the back. No cameras—just note-taking press, invited under strict rules.
Jake stood behind the podium. His eyes scanned the crowd once and landed on the front row.
Judith was sitting between Herb and Alan, who couldn't stop fidgeting with his sleeves. Evelyn, sunglasses tucked into her neckline, sat with her hands folded and a look of quiet pride.
She leaned toward Judith and whispered, "Would you believe I'm actually nervous?"
Judith smiled. "Welcome to the club."
---
8:31 a.m. – The Defense Begins
Jake tapped the remote.
> Slide 1: "Foundations of Distributed Intelligence and Quantum-Linked Communication Protocols" — Jake Harper
He started speaking—calm, steady, confident without trying to be. His words landed with clarity, walking the room through a complex system of decentralized communication models and quantum-linked routing protocols. He didn't just explain the ideas—he taught them.
Simulations. Real-world applications. Predictions. He kept the momentum without rushing.
In the front row, Alan leaned toward Herb. "I don't understand a single thing he's saying, but it sounds incredible."
Herb nodded. "That's because it is."
Evelyn added, "I always thought he'd end up hosting Jeopardy! someday. I'm glad I was wrong."
Judith just watched her son, eyes glassy, heart full.
---
9:09 a.m. – Caltech – Faculty Auditorium
The last slide faded to black. For a second, the room was silent.
Then Dr. Perrin—a sharp-eyed physicist from Princeton—leaned forward.
"Thank you, Mr. Harper. We'll now open the floor for questions."
Jake gave a small nod, setting the remote aside.
The first few questions were technical. Clarifications. Deeper dives. He handled them like a seasoned professor—measured, precise, but not arrogant.
Then Dr. Kass spoke, her voice thoughtful.
"You've shown impressive technical range. But what about ethics? These systems you've built—what if they evolve beyond our control?"
Jake took a breath.
"I think responsibility doesn't scale with age—it scales with intent and awareness. I'm not building systems to control people. I'm building them to connect people. And I build guardrails into the code… because I know what I'm capable of."
A quiet murmur of approval.
Then came the one he expected.
Dr. Perrin again: "You're thirteen. That's not a criticism—it's just the truth. How do you convince us you're emotionally mature enough to carry what comes with this degree?"
Jake looked straight at him. Calm. Unshaken.
"I don't think maturity means being perfect. I think it means recognizing when you've messed up, and learning from it. I've already made mistakes—some personal, some professional. But I don't run from growth. I lean into it." He glanced at his family. "My age is surprising. My work isn't."
Dr. Perrin leaned back, visibly impressed.
---
10:12 a.m. – Private Deliberation Room
The committee disappeared behind closed doors. Jake paced backstage, hands in his pockets, focused but silent.
In the audience, Judith gripped Herb's hand. Alan tapped a rhythm against his knee. Evelyn whispered, "They're taking too long."
Judith just smiled. "That's a good thing."
---
10:27 a.m. – Caltech Auditorium – Main Stage
The board returned. Dr. Perrin stepped forward again.
"Jake Harper, the committee has unanimously approved your dissertation. You are hereby awarded the title of Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Physics and Computer Science."
Applause. Not wild. Not roaring. But warm. Real.
Jake didn't react right away. He just stood there, letting it sink in.
And when he smiled, it wasn't for anyone else.
---
10:45 a.m. – Outside the Auditorium
The courtyard was lit with late morning sun.
Judith wrapped her arms around Jake and held him close. "You did it. I'm so proud of you."
He hugged her back harder than she expected. Quiet. Full.
Alan stepped in next and clapped Jake on the back. "You're officially smarter than me now. Not that the bar was high."
Jake chuckled.
Herb shook his hand. "Dr. Harper. That has a really nice ring to it."
Evelyn gave him a quick, soft hug—rare for her. "You made history," she said. "Don't let it crush you."
Jake nodded. "Thanks for coming."
She smiled. "I wouldn't have missed it."
---
Later That Night – Brentwood
Jake sat at his desk in the quiet of his room. A small silver box sat beside his keyboard.
Inside: a pen. Simple. Custom-engraved.
> Dr. Jake Harper – 2007
A gift from Judith.
He turned it slowly in his hands, then opened his encrypted journal.
He typed a single line:
> "Now what?"
He closed the laptop and leaned back in his chair.
For the first time in a long while…
He didn't have an immediate answer.
Note. I won't be posting any chapters for a few days, I'm upto chapter 91 but I've decided to change a few things #give the fans what they want . New chapter will be released on Sunday.