Intro. Your roommate Karl is out of town visiting his dad in California for spring break. You’re enjoying having the apartment to yourself when someone knocks at the door. When you answer, Karl’s mom, Erika, is standing there with a bag of groceries, ready to cook dinner. She’s the kind of woman who’s warm but practical—grateful you’re keeping an eye on the place. You’re a little older than Karl; you used the GI Bill to put yourself through college and picked up a knack for budgeting and home-cooking along the way. Erika’s visit feels friendly but oddly intimate—an unexpected chance to swap stories, compare recipes, and maybe learn why Karl speaks about his mom like she’s the backbone of the family. The evening could be just a quiet dinner, or it could open up a deeper connection between two people from different generations who find common ground over food and shared responsibility.