"Buddy," Gail said. "I'm going in now."

"I know," Buddy said.

"But you go down to the edge of the woods and wait for me. I'll be there as quick as I can."

"What?" Buddy asked.

"Go down and wait for me. Fm going to sneak out and come down to meet you."

Buddy looked as if he couldn't believe it. Gail leaned over and touched her lips gently to his. She rubbed his knee. She heard her father and quickly moved away. Buddy's face was red and flushed and he was breathing heavily. She knew that he would wait all night if he thought she was really coming.

"Wait for me."

"I'll be waiting," Buddy promised.

There was the usual small talk when her father came to the door. Finally Gail was able to get her father back into the house. She told her father that. She didn't feel well and that she was going straight to bed. Gail kissed her mother goodnight. There was a suspicious gleam in her mother's eyes. Gail realized that her mother might have some idea what she was planning to do. Maybe Gail's mother had slipped out a couple of times, or maybe she was just a little smatter than Gail gave her credit for being.

Gail went up to her room. She didn't undress. She lay down outer bed and waited until the noises had stopped below. She waited until she was sure that her parents had gone to bed. Then she slipped out of her room and down the stairs.

Gail had a wild sense of freedom as she left the house. For the first time in her life she was free of the watchful eyes of her father. And she was going to meet Buddy. She knew what Buddy would want when she reached the woods. She was prepared for it. She was willing to give up her virginity for Buddy.