He scared me that mole
in the middle of his forehead
a large puddle
I didn’t want to fall into
He stared from across our kindergarten desks
anytime
he turned away from the blackboard with its squeak of chalk
I knew
anytime to get his lunch box
or line up for recess he faced me
sick, dizzy
sour milk from our mid-morning snack
a fire hydrant of churn
I had to force down
my throat bursting.
His family ran Moshman’s
an Italian bakery on Hunts Point Avenue
that sold black & white cookies
chocolate icing still warm and gooey
vanilla
a smooth ice-skating rink of tongue-taste
I never knew which one to bite first
centered my mouth
along each side of the divide
and answered my question
His name was Frankie
No one but me knew he had a third eye
He never said hello
I never said hello
He was fat and chubby like me
He had a fringe of brown bangs like me
He was my other half
I always knew I was magic