It was true, I did not remember him. But looking at him now, shaking the hand he held out to me, it was difficult to understand why.

"Yes, I'm afraid you're right. I don't remember you. But then, I was rather preoccupied in those days."

"I thought you were wonderful." And he meant it.

"Would you like to join me for a drink after the show?"

"Love to."

The tavern was crowded when we arrived so we quickly had our beer and then, at my suggestion, went for a drive along the shore.

"How old are you, Steve?"

"Nineteen."

"Why, you were just a kid when I was here before."

"A little more than 'just a kid.' I had already learned a lot. In fact, you taught me a great deal without realizing it."

"You mean about acting?"

"That, too."

A pause.

"You knew about Marvin and me, then?"

"I wasn't sure. I knew it was somebody but I wasn't sure it was Marvin.' "Was I that obvious?"

"Oh, no. Not to everybody."

I took my eyes off the road to look at him and found him watching me intently. For a moment our eyes held and then I had to turn my attention back to driving. "What are your plans for the Fall?"

"I'm going back to school. I'm a senior at the University. But first, I'm going to New York for a visit."

"Oh... what are you studying?"

"Architecture."

"You want to be an architect?" I was surprised.

"Yes. Why not?"

"Well, I just never though of acting and architecture together before."

"Both are means of self-expression."

"Yes, I know. But they seem so different somehow."

"They're not really. A good architect puts something of himself into everything

he builds just an actor puts a little of himself into every role he plays. A thorough understanding of yourself is necessary in both fields.

"And do you feel that you completely understand yourself, Steve?"

He hesitated a moment and then said,

"Yes, I do."

We had come to a deserted Coast Guard station. I pulled off the road and stopped. I turned off the ignition and then turned to Steve.

"Tell me what you understand about yourself... and about me."

There was no hesitation now but rather a feeling of desperation, as if he felt that time was passing quickly and soon this moment would be lost. "This is the first time I've talked to you and yet I feel as though I've known you for a long time and that we had had many talks together before. Do you feel that, too?”

"Yes, Steve, I do."

"You were right awhile ago. I was just a kid when you were here before. And, like a kid, I used to daydream a great deal about you. I wanted to be the same kind of actor you are, act the same roles. I tried to think up some excuse to be alone with you but I'm glad now that I never got the chance."

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