It starts with Lorraine and John finding a strange advertisement in the newspaper, the kind that only appears on "dead" pages that haven't been paid for. The ad reads: "Lonely? Call me, John Pignati." Intrigued by this unusual plea, they decide to call Mr. Pignati, who is initially hesitant to talk to them.
They convince him to let them visit his apartment, only to discover that he is a kind and lonely old man who is living a rather eccentric life. He is easily charmed by their genuine interest in him, and they begin to visit him regularly, eventually becoming his "adopted children."
The initial meeting doesn't involve any dramatic events; it is a simple, yet significant, moment where two lonely teenagers find a connection with a man they later discover to be full of surprising kindness and humor.