Forever...: a novel by Judy Blume Page A

never looked carefully.
    He sensed my feelings because he said, "You want to know me inside out, don't you?" So I looked. His hair down there is almost the same color as on his head, but curlier. Mine is very dark, much darker than on my head. "Hello, Ralph … " I said, kneeling in front of Michael. Ralph was small and soft and just hung there. I shook some Moustache into the palm of my hand but when I reached out toward Michael, he caught my hand and said, "Don't … it stings … "
    "How do you know?"
    "I just do … "
    "But you said … " He didn't let me finish. Instead, he kneeled with me and as we kissed Ralph grew bigger and hard. I undressed myself, while Michael watched. Ralph stuck straight out, as if he was watching too. We made love on the bathroom rug, but just when I was getting really excited, Michael came. I wondered if it would ever work out right between us.
    "I'm sorry," he said. "I just couldn't wait … it's been a few weeks."
    "That's okay."
    We got into his bed and fell asleep for an hour and when we woke up Ralph was hard again. This time Michael made it last much, much longer and I got so carried away I grabbed his backside with both hands, trying to push him deeper and deeper into me—and I spread my legs as far apart as I could—and I raised my hips off the bed—and I moved with him, again and again and again—and at last, I came. I came right before Michael and as I did I made noises, just like my mother. Michael did too. While he was still on top of me, catching his breath, I started laughing. "I came … " I told him. "I actually came."
    "I know," he said, "I felt it … is that what's so funny?"
    "I don't know why I'm laughing."
    "Did you like it, Kath?"

    "What a question … I felt so close to you … I've never felt so close to you before."
    "Same here."
    "Can we do it again?" I asked.
    "Not right now … I've got to rest for a while."
    "Oh. Michael … "
    "Yeah?"
    "How'd Ralph get his name?"
    He looked at me and smiled. "I named him just for you."
    Tasha jumped up on the bed and snuggled next to Michael. I'd forgotten she was in the room. Michael petted her for a few minutes, then put his arm around me and fell asleep again. I watched him. I love to watch him while he sleeps. Besides everything else he is really my best friend now. It's a different kind of friendship from the one I have with Erica. It makes me wish I could share every day with him—forever. After half an hour I shook him gently. "It's 10:30," I said.
    "Mmm … we better get going."
    "I'm starving," I told him.
    "Me too."
    "I need a shower."
    "Want company?"
    "That'll be fun … are you sure we have enough time?"
    "If we hurry."
    We went into the bathroom and Michael got clean towels out for both of us and adjusted the water over the tub. "Do you always wear your necklace in the shower?" he asked.
    "Of course," I said. "I never take it off."
    He soaped my back. Then I did his.
    We dried each other off and I used one of his deodorants. He put Moustache on his face, then we got dressed and went out for something to eat.
    Over hamburgers I asked him, "Well … how does it feel to have made it with an older woman?" He gave me a blank look so I added, "I'm eighteen now, remember? But you won't be for another month." He polished off his Coke. "There's a lot to be said for older women."
    On the way back to my house I said, "I'd like to meet your parents."
    "You will … one of these days."
    "What are they like?"
    "They're okay … a little stuffier than yours, but basically they're good guys."
    "What would they say if they knew about us?"
    "My mother would think you'd seduced me … and my father would say I've got good taste."
    "Oh, you!"
    When we got to my house we sat in the den for an hour—otherwise my parents might have been suspicious. I thought how nice it would be if we could just go upstairs, to bed, together. I was hoping we'd make love again but Michael said he was kind of exhausted. Probably from just getting over