Forever
by Judy Blume
Publisher-Recommended Age: 12 years and up
Library section: Young Adult Fiction (13 years and up)
“Katherine and Michael’s romance progresses rapidly from kissing to sexual intercourse after Katherine gets the Pill– but will their love last forever?”
Page 77 reads, “After we kissed for a while he took off his pajama top, then said, “Let’s take yours off too…it’s in the way.” I slipped my nightgown over my head and dropped it to the floor. Then there were just my bikini pants and Michael’s bottoms between us. We kissed again.
Feeling him against me that way made me so excited I couldn’t lie still. He rolled over on top of me and we moved together again and again and it felt so good I didn’t ever want to stop- until I came. After a minute I reached for Michael’s hand. “Show me what to do,” I said. “Do whatever you want.” “Help me, Michael…I feel so stupid.” “Don’t,” he said, wiggling out of his pajama bottoms. He led my hand to his penis. “Katherine…I’d like you to meet Ralph…Ralph, this is Katherine. She’s a very good friend of mine.” “Does every penis have a name?” “I can only speak for my own.” In books penises are always described as hot and throbbing but Ralph’s felt like ordinary skin. Just his shape was different- that and the fact that he wasn’t smooth, exactly- as if there a lot going on under the skin. I don’t know why I’d been so nervous about touching Michael. Once I got over being scared I let my hands go everywhere. I wanted to feel every part of him. While I was experimenting, I asked, “Is this alright?” And Michael whispered, “Everything’s right.” When I kissed his face it was all sweaty and his eyes were half-closed. He took my hand and led it back to Ralph, showing me how to hold him, moving my hand up and down according to his rhythm. Soon Michael moaned and I felt him come- a pulsating feeling, a throbbing, like the books said- then wetness. Some of it got on my hand but I didn’t let go of Ralph.”
Page 101 reads, “Do belly buttons have a taste?” I asked. “Yours does…it’s delicious…like the rest of you.” He unbuckled my jeans, then his own. “Michael…I’m not sure…please…”
“Shush…don’t say anything.” “But Michael…” “Like always, Kath…that’s all…” We both left on our underpants but after a minute Michael was easing mine down and then his fingers began exploring me. I let my hands wander across his stomach and down his legs and finally I began to stroke Ralph. “Oh, yes…yes….” I said, as Michael made me come. And he came too.”
Page 103 reads, “Okay…okay…” he stood up. “I’ve got a rubber in my wallet…if I can just find it.” He looked around for his pants, found them on the floor next to the bed, then had to put on the light to find the rubber. When he did he held it up. “Satisfied?” he asked, turning the light off again. “I will be when you put it on.”He kneeled beside me and rolled on the rubber. “Anything else?” “Don’t be funny now…please…” “I won’t…I won’t….” he said and we kissed. Then he was on top of me and I felt Ralph, hard, against my thigh. Just when I thought, Oh God…we’re really and truly going to do it, Michael groaned and said, “Oh no…no…I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…”
“What’s wrong?” “I came…I don’t know what to say. I came before I even got in. I ruined it…I ruined everything.”
Page 105 reads, “This time I try to relax and think of nothing- nothing but how my body felt- and
then Ralph was pushing against me and I whispered, “Are you in…are we doing it?” “Not yet,” Michael said, pushing harder. “I don’t want to hurt you.” “Don’t worry…just do it!” “I’m trying, Kath…but it’s very tight in there.” “What should I do?” “Can you spread your legs some more…and maybe raise them a little?” “Like this?” “That’s better…much better.”
I could feel him halfway inside me and then Michael whispered, “Kath….” “What?”
“I think I’m going to come again.” I felt a big thrust, followed by a quick sharp pain that made me suck in my breath. “Oh…oh,” Michael cried, but I didn’t come. I wasn’t even close, “I’m sorry,” he said, “I couldn’t hold off.”
Page 139 “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 mad love on the bathroom rug, but just when I was getting really excited, Michael came. I wondered what 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 bed and fell asleep for an hour and when we woke up Ralph was hard again. This time Michael made it last 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 too.” “I know,” he said, “I felt it…is that what’s so funny?”
Page 174 reads, “I kissed his ears, running my tongue around the edges. I used my hands on his body while I worked my way down, kissing his neck, his chest, his belly. “You’re aggressive tonight…” I hadn’t thought about that until he said it. I was surprised myself. “Do you mind?” “I like it.” I lay on top of him, feeling Ralph against my stomach. “Can we try it this way?” I whispered. “Any way you want,” he said. I straddled him, helping Ralph find the right angle, and when he was inside me I moved slowly- up, down and around- up, down and around- until I couldn’t control myself anymore. “Oh God…oh, Michael…now…now” And then I came. I
came before he did. But I kept moving until he groaned and as he finished I came again, not caring about anything- anything but how good it felt.