Now that Linda’s virginity was a thing of the past, it was no longer fitting and proper that she live the life of a virgin. She was a woman now, a whole and complete woman, and it was time for her to begin to live like a woman instead of like a girl. The following evening she told Ruthie. She went to her room looking for the other girl, anxious to tell her, aching to tell somebody of what she had done. Ruth was the obvious one to tell—a girl admittedly experienced herself, a girl who wouldn’t moralize or condemn, and a girl who was Linda’s best friend at school. “You didn’t come home last night,” Ruth said. Linda tensed at first. Then she relaxed and a smile spread over her face. “I know.” “Where were you?” Linda smiled in answer. “Oh,” Ruth said. “With a guy?” The smile grew wider. “Offhand,” Ruth said, “I would guess that something or other has been lost in the course of the past evening.” “Not lost. It wasn’t worth keeping.” “Okay,” Ruth agreed.
