"Places on your body that when touched get you excited."
He opened and closed his mouth, then smirked skeptically. "What is this, another joke? I know you're up to stuff. Alanis."
"What you know couldn't fill a button hole. Stuart. You're either going to participate or go home."
"Participate? What do I have to do?"
"Just shut up for a moment while I read and think about it:' she said. "We'll all sit on the floor. Go on. You know. I'm really doing this for you and Jordan. I know all about it. I don't need any sex science projects."
Slowly, he sat across from Alanis and me.
She shook her head. "It's not going to work with clothes on."
"What?"
"You have to take off your pants and
underpants at least. Stuart."
"Get outta here. I'm not taking off my clothes in front of you."
She put the book down slowly and turned to me. "Are we doing an important scientific experiment or not?"
I looked at Stuart.
"Jordan?" I nodded.
"Jordan is not afraid to take off her clothes. Stuart. She knows it's important. Jordan." She nodded at me. "Do it or he won't," she whispered.
I looked at him. Do it?
"Just slip off your skirt for starters,'" she added. I still hesitated. No boy except far Ian had ever seen me. without clothes. "It's important or I wouldn't tell you to do it," she insisted. "You'll ruin things if you don't," she whispered. "He's scared. Go on. Do it."
Reluctantly. I stood up and unbuckled the Western style skirt. Stuart's eves widened with surprise when I let it fall.
"See? Jordan's not afraid. Pants. Stuart," Alanis said. He looked at Inc, and then at her, and shook his head.
"Do you want help? Is that it?" Alanis asked. She put the book down and started toward him.
"No," he said, pushing himself backward with his feet. "I don't need help."
"It's no big deal. Stuart. I've seen it many times," Alanis told him. "You like Jordan, don't you?"
"Yeah, but... I don't like you being here, too," he said. "But I'm the teacher. Stuart. I'm the one who's reading the book. You're not ashamed of what you look like, are you?"
"No. That's not it. Look. I'd better go," he said. standing. "My father might call the house and find out I'm gone. It's late_ and it'll be dark soon, and the motor scooter's light isn't too strong."
"I can't believe you're running away, Stuart," Alanis said. "What would your friends say, if you had any friends?"
"I have friends."
"Running away, like some frightened little mouse," she taunted. "I'm not running away. I'll be back when I can."
"We might not want you back. Stuart. We might find someone more grown up to participate in our p
roject, someone else who might like to be with us. with Jordan," she emphasized.
He hesitated at the doorway.