jaw and nodding his head in affirmation of a new discovery. “So,” he

jaw and nodding his head in affirmation of a new discovery. “So,” he observed, “it’ s against the law to get you horny.” When we were about to leave the room, he stood in the doorway. “Did you steal anything?” he asked furtively. | took my watch out of my pocket since | didn't like to wear it on my wrist, and without saying a word | placed it on the bureau. Lenny laughed one loud staccato “Ha” and kissed me on the forehead. We developed a friendship integrated with stand-up comedy. In_ his act Lenny had broken through traditional stereotypical jokes about airplane food, nagging wives, Chinese drivers, annoying mothers-in-law. Instead he weaved his taboo-breaking targets--teachers' low salaries versus show-business celebs, religious leaders’ hypocrisy, cruel abortion laws, racial injustice, the double standard between illegal and prescription drugs--into stream-of-consciousness vignettes. In each succeeding performance, he would sculpt and re-sculpt his concept into a theatrical context, experimenting from show to show like a verbal jazz musician. Audience laughter would sometimes turn into clapping for the creative process itself. “Please don't applaud,” he’ d request. “It breaks my rhythm.” HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_015361