Chapter Four, Part Two

Clarissa said, "How about geeks? You said you were a geek on your Facebook profile."
Jake answered, "Ah, geeks. Most people think of a geek as a computer-loving techie. In reality, the geek is a person who specializes on one topic and knows esoteric knowledge that no normal person would ever know. The stranger the topic, the better. By specializing, I mean an intense, laser-like focus on one topic. As an example, I met a person online who memorized all the scripts of every episode of The Simpsons. He also can tell you minute details like how many times Bart has said "Eat my shorts" during the lifetime of the show. It's almost obsessive-compulsive in a way. One might consider it unhealthy. You can consider a person who watches sports religiously and can tell you the number of RBIs any player had in any particular year would be a baseball geek. You just call them a fanatic or a nut."
Clarissa nodded and asked, "I see. Jake, what sort of geek are you?"
"Well, you could say I'm a Japanese sword fighting geek. I love it and I could go talk about it all day. I could also do it all day. So, I'm a geek in that respect. I also am an obscure trivia geek. That's the best label I could come up with, a jack of all trades in obscure trivia knowledge, which might explain why I know so much about illegal drugs and weapons. I could go on Jeopardy and whip all comers easily. Trivia Pursuit, you can't beat me. I was a natural for academic quiz tournaments in high school. I lettered all four years in high school. I won the state tournament and a televised high school tournament twice. Yeah, I'm an obscure trivia geek."
Will said, "What did you say about illegal drugs?"
Jake shrugged his shoulders. "Ask me or Clarissa later. It's a long story."
Will said, "OK. What about nerds?"
Jake continued his explanation. "You remember Screech from Saved by the Bell? Now, he was a classic nerd. Another good example is Steve Urkel from Family Matters. The true nerd is motivated by academics and the pursuit of knowledge. They're the ones who shoot for the perfect 4.0 average, the overachievers who people consider gifted. One might say that they're geeks, but the normal geek does not care about other topics. They only want to achieve perfection on that one topic they specialize in. The last time I checked, knowing all the lines of a television show is not a topic you can get an A-plus in. A math-geek only cares about math. Anything else is a trifle and is something they ignore or put little effort in. Just enough to pass. Well, you could say I once was a nerd. I still retain the urge to get good grades, but not the intense urge I used to have."
Will and Clarissa laughed at the last comment. Clarissa jokingly said, "I can believe that. You're so casual, if not apathetic about studying for finals, but you're getting B's and B-pluses in your classes. If you put in some effort, you might have a 4.0 GPA."
Jake grinned. "Yeah, that might be so. But really, with the mandatory curve the law school has, a whole lot of people are going to get B's. Besides, someone has to get an A in the class and that's a subjective thing, despite what all the professors say. It ain't an objective process."
Will said, "You're cynical, but it's true. What about dorks?"
Jake replied, "Dorks are simpler to understand. The best example of a dork is Napoleon Dynamite. One could say they are one-dimensional characters. Basically, dorks are pure representations of social ineptness lacking any social grace whatsoever. They are truly outsiders of the highest degree. They are the proverbial sore thumb that sticks out. Despite their best efforts to fit in with others, one automatically recognizes them. Other outsider groups like Goths can't and possibly don't relate or associate with dorks. Even Goths can form relationships with others in some basic way. Hell, nerds and geeks can associate with others also. It just takes a bit more time. I'm a prime example of this. Dorks just cannot associate with anyone, even among themselves. That's a dork in a nutshell. Do you have any other questions?"
Clarissa said, "No, I don't think I have any other questions relating to this topic. Do you have any other questions about this topic, Will?"
Will shook his head. "No. I think you've answered our question. I've also got to go to class. I have Labor Law in five minutes. See you in Con Law with Stacy. If you and Clarissa show up."
Jake laughed. "We'll be there, despite our dislike of the class. When I think about it, staying here does sound like a good idea." Jake waved and said, "See you later Will."
After Will left, Clarissa said, "Now that I think about it, you don't seem to be a very hardcore geek. For a geek, you seem normal. You have a sense of color coordination, an understanding of style, and you can interact with people, well, almost. OK, you're more conscious of what you do."
"You're right," Jake said. "I'm not very focused when compared to other geeks. I know a little bit from different topics. I dabble in them, which gives the impression of smartness. I'm just an average, everyday person, but I was blessed, maybe one could say cursed, with an unusually high IQ and a very good memory. Oh, and I am self-conscious. One could say I'm at least aware of when I am not functioning correctly, at least socially. I'm a blind man without a cane, walking into moments of non-functioning. Somehow, I managed to walk into your life. Or was it the other way around?"
"Perhaps it was both. We collided into each other at the same time." Clarissa felt the sun beam warm rays on her face. It was nice outside, very nice outside. She contemplated skipping Con Law and spending that time outside, anywhere other than Con Law. Clarissa rested her head on Jake's shoulder. She sighed and asked Jake, "What do you want to do?"
Jake thought for a moment and said, "Just sit here on this bench, watch people, waste some time for a while. Maybe eat lunch downtown at La Plata, stop by at Manny's for Oreo ice cream, forget about Con Law. After that, I don't know. How does that sound to you?"
Clarissa nodded in agreement and said, "Very good."
Jake smiled and said, "I knew you would like it. Oh, by the way, do you have any plans next week on Wednesday night?"
"Next week on Wednesday? No, I don't. Why do you ask?"
He blandly said, "I just wanted to know. Your birthday is next week on Wednesday and I made dinner reservations at your favorite restaurant. I somehow managed to get the nice table by the windows."
Clarissa looked at him with wide-open eyes. "You did?"
Jake nodded and said, "Of course I did. Remember what I said earlier? With reckless abandon."
"What else have you planned?" Seeing that she wasn't getting an answer, she kissed him and said, "I'd like to know."
Jake said, "I'm not going to tell you. It would ruin the surprise."
"I'll find out. Then again, I like surprises." She closed her eyes and murmured, "I'll be waiting. Wake me up in an hour."
Jake kissed her forehead and whsipered, "I'll wake you up. Go to sleep."
He had planned something special for her and he wasn't going to let the secret out to anyone. One could never be too careful with secrets in law school. All Jake had to do was shut his mouth for a few more days. Nothing and no one was going to get the secret out of him. Jake smiled. Clarissa was going to be surprised. Some other people would be surprised as well.