David Senra

He pulls out photos of them at the drop of the hat.

He tells me his kids are only in grade school, but he's already stressed about college.

He groans about the cost of higher education.

He doesn't know how he's going to make it.

Days later, I talk to my manager and ask him to put aside a nest egg of Nike stock in Frankie's name.

The next time I'm in the restaurant, I tell Frankie about it.

The shares can't be touched for 10 years, but by then they should be worth enough to significantly lighten that tuition burden.

Frankie's bottom lip trembles.

Andre, he says, I cannot believe that you did this for me.

The look on his face is of complete shock.

When I saw what it meant to him, I was the one who got educated.

Helping Frankie provides more satisfaction and makes me feel more connected and alive and myself than anything else that happens this year.

I tell myself, remember this, hold on to this.

This is the only perfection there is, the perfection of helping others.

This is the only thing we can do that has any lasting value or meaning.

This is why we're here.

This is one of the most important lessons that he learns.

He also learns people see him dating Brooke Shields, at the time one of the most beautiful women on the planet, a supermodel.

And even though he has doubts about them getting married, he doesn't do anything about it.

He desperately wants to get married.