In this story, a woman waits impatiently for her mother, who is catching up with an old friend. The friend boasts about her son’s accomplishments—graduating from Stanford and starting a successful business—while subtly belittling the narrator's son, who didn’t go to college and works for a non-profit. However, the narrator proudly defends her son, explaining that he chose to care for her during her illness and values making a difference over financial success. The story highlights the pitfalls of comparing lives based on superficial achievements and underscores the importance of character and choices that reflect true values.