I kept thinking about all of it the whole time I was at school — one of my teachers even kinda yelled at me for not paying attention. I know I should maybe wait for Mom to get home from work, but she always has to work late on Thursdays, and she's usually pretty tired when she gets home. I don't want to bother her if I don't have to, so I was hoping that maybe you could explain what those girls at school were talking about to me, so I understand. We don't usually talk about stuff like this, but I figure if I can talk to you about touching myself and all that, then it should be okay to talk about this stuff, too. So would you?"

"Well, I can, if you want. But from what you said, there was some of it that you kinda understood, but not really, because even though you've talked with your Mom and everything, you've never really done some of it. I don't know how much us just talking about it is going to help with stuff like that. Then there's the things that you said you aren't sure if they make any difference, or not. I don't think they would, but I'm not you, so I can't be sure. I'm perfectly willing to sit and talk with you like this about all of it, for as long as you want. I just don't know how much good it will do, just talking. I'm sure you would understand better if you had actually done some of the things they were talking about, but whether or not you want to… that's something you're going to have to decide. Why don't you think about it for a little bit, and I'll go get us some sodas?"

She nodded her agreement, and I got up and went into the kitchen. To give her a little more time, I didn't just grab a couple cans of soda; I actually put it into glasses, with ice cubes to help keep it cold. By the time I got back and settled myself at the other end of the couch from her again, a few minutes had gone by. I handed her a glass, and after she'd taken a sip from it, I asked "So what do you want me to help? Talking? Doing? Both?"