Albert was a tall gangly genius. He was 6'3" tall and weighed only 155 pounds. He was an average looking guy, but was quite skinny. His bachelor's degree was in mathematics, his masters in systems analysis and his two doctorates in quantum physics and molecular physics. He was the co-founder and chief engineer for a software company headquartered in New York.
Although Albert is a member of the board of directors by virtue of his stock holdings in the company, he chose not to become one of the managing officers. His true love was in design and implementation of their products.
The company was founded to write software for the many thousands of games created each year. Eventually, the government and local police departments contacted him and they began writing police simulations and expanded into guidance systems for aircraft and missiles. As the money rolled in, the company purchased a new multilevel building for their headquarters and development.
Each day when Albert came to work, he would scan his badge at the security station while his mind was usually elsewhere. One day as he was scanning his badge, he happened to look at the counter and saw mathematical equations. He knew they were simple equations, but he stopped and looked briefly at them and then looked up at the security officer behind the counter.
"You're working on multiplying polynomials," he said.
"Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Roberts. I was just doing my homework and got stumped on these problems," the security officer said.
Albert looked at the name badge of the attractive woman about 5'9" tall and he guessed about the same weight as him. That's where any similarities ended. Even though they may have been the same weight, he was six inches taller. And where he was skinny, she appeared to be quite muscular.
Since there were very few things that interested Albert as much as mathematics or physics, he said, "Hello . . . Judy. Is there something I can help you with?"
She was stuttering, "I-I am s-sorry Mr. R-Roberts. I w-would never ask you t-to help me with this. That's kind of overkill."
He smiled, scanned his badge and walked behind the counter. "Please call me Albert, Judy. Let's see what is giving you trouble." She was too stunned to speak. Albert didn't notice because he was looking at the problem. He smiled as he explained how to multiply polynomials. He said, "This brings back memories. Can I help with anything else?"
"No sir," Judy said. She had noticed that some of the other employees were giving them the eye as they passed by. "I think I finally understand what I'm doing just from your brief explanation. Thank you, sir."
He smiled and said, "Albert. Please."
Each day after that, Albert looked for Judy and always said good morning to her. Three days later, he asked if she was having any more problems. She looked kind of frustrated and said, "Factoring polynomials."
He smiled and said, "I can help with that, but why are you taking an Algebra class?"
"I'm only one semester away from my college degree and I had put math off until the end. I was kind of hoping they would drop it as a requirement, but . . . "
He said, "I have a meeting in a few minutes, but if you want to come up to my office when your shift is finished this afternoon, I can help you."
"Sir, I couldn't ask you to do that."
He smiled at her and said, "You're not asking. I'm volunteering. Just go to the 8
th
floor and ask the secretary, Mary Kay, where I am. OK?"
"OK. Thank you sir."
"Please call me Albert."
"OK, thank you Albert."
When she was finished work, she changed into her street clothes and found her way to the 8
th
floor and asked where she could find Albert. Mary Kay said," Mr. Roberts is the last door at the end of the hall. Is he expecting you?"
"Yes Ma'am," Judy responded.
When she walked in to his office, he was in the middle of working on his computer, but when he saw her, his face lit up in the first smile Judy had ever seen on him. "Hi Judy. Come in. Have a seat at the table over there. Do you want a Coke or something?"
"No sir; I mean Albert."
They spent the next hour with him explaining factoring polynomials and making sure she understood them. When they were finished, Judy asked, "How can I repay you, Albert? I finally get these pesky polynomials. Can I buy you dinner or something?"
"Really?" Albert asked in surprise. "You'd take me to dinner? Really?"
"Well, yeah. I mean; if you'll go to dinner with me."