He was witty

 Opinionated

 And smart.

 I especially loved his hands

They were lily white

 Completely unblemished

I noticed a slight twitch

Of his fingers.

I imagined them caressing me

The blotches and pimples

On his face

Combined with a button nose

Was an endearing package.

We met in Mr. Mingo’s

Creative writing class.

Two awkward

Seventeen-year-olds.

I had loved movies and theater

But when Sy entered my world

I discovered a universe of film knowledge.

We bonded

And became buddies. 

We telephoned every day.

Sy had a thing

About angelic Mark Lester

In the film Oliver.

The second run of the film

Was playing a few blocks

From his apartment.

The Pan Pacific Theater

Charged less than $1.00

In 1970.

We watched Oliver every day

Just so Sy

Could get his obsession

Under control.

As Sy was swooned

by Lester

I imagined his snow white hands

Gripping me.