Ellis started bringing me lunch every day. The nice weather was holding, so we got to eat outside on the campus picnic tables. Every day, his meals got a little better. I was almost able to actually enjoy them.

Of course, he’d always bring something from a restaurant too, something that I could really eat and enjoy after giving his unpredictable cooking a try. I was surprised Ellis never got frustrated or upset with my reactions to his culinary skills, or lack thereof.

At ...